Shedeur Sanders is one of the most coveted quarterbacks in this year’s NFL Draft. His father, Deion “Primetime” Sanders, knows exactly what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Playing under his dad at Jackson State and Colorado, Shedeur has been shaped for the NFL spotlight.
Former NFL executive Louis Riddick believes Sanders has been prepared in a way that gives him a strong foundation for the league. The NFL is a different challenge, but there may not be a better mentor than Coach Prime.
Louis Riddick’s Take on Top NFL Draft Prospect Shedeur Sanders
Riddick discussed Sanders’ unique preparation on ESPN’s “Get Up,” pointing out how his last name comes with immense pressure. He said Sanders must lean on his father to navigate those challenges.
“Shedeur, in particular, is uniquely equipped to handle the media firestorm that’s going to surround him,” Riddick said. “A lot of it is going to be directed at him simply because of what his last name is and how big and larger than life his father is. A lot of it is going to trickle down to him, but Deion’s telling you you’re wasting your time because he is uniquely qualified to, and he has been schooled to deal with the kind of nonsense that’s going to come his way.”
Sanders will face the challenge of adapting to the NFL under intense scrutiny from fans and the media. His personality has been heavily dissected, especially after the NFL Combine, where his confidence didn’t sit well with everyone. Expectations for him to turn around a struggling franchise at the top of the draft will be high.
Looking at recent history, not every top quarterback in the NFL Draft has reached their full potential. However, Sanders has the talent and mindset to succeed.
“One of the things that Deion will tell you when you go out there and talk to him, just from a football standpoint, and ask him to describe the makeup of Shedeur,” Riddick said. “He’ll tell you that all his life, this young man has been wise and mature beyond his years. That he’s someone who looks out for other people. Always on the lookout for other people. Someone who, quite honestly, is a hell of a leader.
“Now, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t make mistakes. That doesn’t mean that he’s not going to continue to grow and become better in terms of lifting other people up, but he will tell you he can handle any environment that he is going to go into because Deion has been in just about any environment imaginable, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.”
Riddick continues to praise Sanders’ leadership, comparing it to Deion’s role as head coach at Colorado. Players go to Colorado to learn from one of the greatest players in the NFL, and Sanders has had that influence both on and off the field. Riddick believes Sanders will be a strong leader in an NFL locker room and grow as a player and person because of his relationship with Deion.
“Everything hasn’t always been great for Deion throughout his career, remember now,” Riddick said. “He has gone through a total transformation from the guy who invented Primetime, who took defensive backs and raised the game to a whole new level, to being at the depths of his own personal demons that he was dealing with, to now coming back and being larger than life again.
“He’s been through the entire circle, the entire washing machine. There’s nothing his kids have not been talked to about, and once they hit the ground running. And Shedeur hits the ground running; it’s going to be off to the races for this young man.”
Because of Deion’s experiences, his son has a rare advantage in understanding the NFL landscape. It could spell trouble for opposing teams if he gets off to a hot start. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and thrives on proving doubters wrong. He knows he’s under a microscope and will have to take his game to another level as he transitions to the pros.
That said, early struggles are a real possibility. Sanders is likely to end up on a rebuilding team that may not have the weapons to support him right away. However, if he can push through adversity, Sanders has all the tools to become a star — thanks to the preparation he’s had from his dad.