The Colorado Buffaloes, led by Deion Sanders, upset North Dakota State in their season opener, winning 31–26. The victory served as a platform for two budding talents, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, as well as a declaration for the club. Their performances caused their draft stocks to skyrocket, and many analysts were speculating about their possible NFL careers.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, right, hugs his son, safety Shilo Sanders, after he returned an interception for a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
In the discussion of who would be a more sought-after talent in the 2025 NFL draft, Stephen A. Smith offered his opinion. Shedeur has an advantage because the ESPN analyst recognized that the league is quarterback-driven. He was unable to ignore Hunter’s adaptability, though:
“He can definitely play wide receiver with his speed, what can you say? I got to look at that and say ‘Yo! It’s not that easy of a decision.’ Now me personally, I’m going to go with the quarterback because I see how important the quarterback position is in the National Football League but it (drafting Travis) does give me cause to pause.”
The numbers support the hype. With 445 passing yards, four touchdowns, and just one interception, Shedeur led the offense. Hunter demonstrated his two-way ability as well, hauling in seven passes for 132 yards and three scores, not to be outdone.
As the season progresses, a lot of eyes will be on these two standouts. They hardly scratched the surface of their potential in their efforts versus North Dakota State. How high can they rise in the 2025 draft rankings is the current question.
