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Stephen Holder
INDIANAPOLIS — Shedeur Sanders didn’t tone down his overt displays of confidence at Jackson State or Colorado.
Now, as the draft prospect continues his path to the NFL, there’s no reason to expect him to modify that approach.
Speaking at the NFL scouting combine Friday morning, Sanders — one of this year’s top quarterback prospects — made a bold prediction about the kind of impact he expects to make in the NFL.
“We went from Jackson State to Colorado and changed two programs back to back,” said Sanders, who played at both programs under his father, Colorado coach Deion Sanders. “So, you don’t think I could come to an NFL franchise and change the program again? It’s history. We’ve done it again. It’s always going to repeat itself.”
Sanders’ confidence was a theme of his media session, per usual. He was also followed, as always, by a personal videographer documenting his every move in Indianapolis.
The source of Sanders’ confidence — besides his father instilling it — is the college success he enjoyed. Along with star two-way player Travis Hunter, Sanders helped turn around Colorado’s fate from a 1-11 team in 2022 before their arrival to 4-8 a year later to 9-4 (7-2 in the Big 12) in 2024.
And he adamantly promised to do it again in the NFL.
“That’s the plan,” Sanders said. “If that’s not what you’re trying to do, don’t [pick] me. If you ain’t trying to change the franchise or the culture, don’t [pick] me. You should know history repeats itself over and over and over and I’ve done it over and over and over. So, it should be no question.”
Sanders said he wouldn’t alter his confident approach even while meeting here with NFL clubs. He was unapologetic when asked about those interactions.
“It was easy meeting with people because I’m going to just be myself,” he said. “It’s like you either like it or you don’t.”
Sanders is viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the class, Miami’s Cam Ward could potentially be selected before him. Sanders begs to differ. He said he views himself as the top quarterback available and questioned why some might feel differently.
“I’ve [turned around teams] at two locations already,” he said. “So, it’s simple. So, that’s why when people say I’m not one of the top quarterbacks or the top quarterback, [I say] what are y’all going based off of? Because I did it year after year after year and you see the progression. So, it’s, like, obvious it’s got to be some type of external hate that you have for the family, for the last name — for anything. Because I know I proved myself on the field.”
Among the topics Sanders addressed at length was his relationship with former NFL quarterback — and now Las Vegas Raiders part-owner — Tom Brady. Brady has become a close mentor of Sanders’ and continues to advise him through the predraft process.
The Raiders’ need at quarterback plus their possessing the sixth overall pick has become an interesting subplot around Sanders.
Asked about possibly joining forces with Brady in Las Vegas, Sanders said, “He’s an all-time great. Being able to have that resource, being able to have that person I’m able to talk to and call whenever I’m having questions about the game, and he’s able to relate to it — he did it at the highest level — is truly amazing. I’m thankful for that.”
The relationship, Sanders said, dates back a couple of years and began with an overture from Brady, who invited Sanders to Tampa, Florida, to work out with him. Sanders said he filmed each of those sessions and still refers to the advice Brady offered.
“Sometimes I go back and just listen to the things that he said at that time and it registers,” Sanders said. “Everything that he said back then registers now and it applies.”
Sanders, like his close friend Ward, won’t participate in Saturday’s on-field quarterback workouts. Both are expected to do so at their campus pro days instead.
Whatever anyone might think of that decision or anything else Sanders chooses does not seem to trouble him. “You think I’m worried about what critics say or what people have to say,” he said. “You know who my dad is? They hate on him, too.”
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