Colorado head coach Deion Sanders advised Tuesday that his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and two-way star Travis Hunter might take part in a school soccer bowl recreation this 12 months regardless of being projected as excessive first-round NFL Draft picks.
The Buffaloes are technically nonetheless in Faculty Soccer Playoff competition due to the expanded discipline, although their 37-21 loss to Kansas this previous weekend made {that a} lengthy shot. They should win their common season finale Friday in opposition to Oklahoma State and have outcomes elsewhere spin their approach to even attain the Huge 12 title recreation.
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Deion Sanders stated Friday’s recreation in Boulder is “not the final time you’re going to see (Shedeur and Travis) in a Buffs uniform,” implying the duo is ready to go well with up in a postseason matchup. “We’re going to go to a bowl recreation on this factor on the precise observe as a result of our followers deserve the very best,” the coach added.
If Colorado misses the CFP and Shedeur Sanders and Hunter nonetheless play in a bowl, they’ll be the uncommon elite NFL prospects competing in a finale with out a championship on the road. No prime 5 choice within the 2024 NFL Draft performed in a bowl recreation, with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Joe Alt selecting to keep away from the chance of an harm with tens of tens of millions of {dollars} at stake.
Other than the 2024 NFL Draft’s prime 5, notable first-rounders who’ve skipped bowls in recent times embody Kayvon Thibodeaux, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Kenny Pickett and Bijan Robinson.
There’s precedent a bowl-game harm harming a participant’s earnings. In 2016, then-Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith sustained a critical knee harm on the Fiesta Bowl, and he dropped from a doable top-five choose to a second-round choices.
Smith reportedly held an insurance coverage coverage, enabling him to recoup some money following his setback, however he possible misplaced out on not less than $10 million in whole rookie compensation by falling within the draft.
Even in a brand new NIL period that permits faculty gamers to become profitable from sponsorships, the potential for harm has deterred superstars from taking part in non-CFP bowl video games.
For the newest NFL Draft, every of the highest 5 picks within the first spherical acquired a signing bonus of not less than $20 million and a complete contract worth of not less than $33 million. In the meantime, just one second-rounder noticed a complete contract worth of not less than $10 million.
5 months out from the NFL Draft, Sanders and Hunter are extensively projected as prime 5 choices by distinguished draft analysts. Hunter, who performs on either side of the ball, additionally stays within the operating for the Heisman Trophy.
Sanders entered this week ranked first within the Huge 12 in completion share (73.4%), passing yards (3,488) and passing touchdowns (30). Colorado’s ultimate regular-season opponent, Oklahoma State, is 0-8 within the convention and permits greater than 34 factors per recreation.
After Sanders and Hunter depart for the NFL, Deion Sanders’ future is an unanswered query that not less than one model has accounted for in a sponsorship take care of the college. Hypothesis that the coach would bounce ship following a buzzy two years has quieted following the recruiting dedication of 2025 quarterback Julian Lewis.
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