The fortunes of the Colorado Buffaloes continue to trend upward under Deion Sanders, and they’re set to have multiple players selected in the NFL Draft for the first time since 2020.
Coach Prime’s son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and two-way star Travis Hunter are considered locks for the first round, but several other players will be aiming to boost their stock at Colorado’s pro day on Friday, April 4.
All 16 Players Participating in Colorado’s Pro Day
While Sanders skipped throwing at both the NFL Scouting Combine and the Big 12’s pro day, he’s expected to participate at Colorado’s pro day to help showcase the Buffs’ wide receivers. Hunter will also be in action after sitting out on-field drills at the NFL Combine.
The other 14 players set to work out are:
LB LaVonta Bentley
Bentley, who participated in the Big 12’s pro day last month, will try to further boost his stock. He’s coming off a solid season with 55 tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and one sack.
DL Shane Cokes
A transfer from Dartmouth, Cokes tallied 48 career tackles, one sack and one forced fumble in two years at Colorado. He’s projected to go undrafted, making his Pro Day showing especially important.
DE B.J. Green II
Green, a transfer from Arizona State, was one of Colorado’s top defensive linemen last season, recording a team-high 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Despite the production, he’s yet to climb draft boards but will aim to turn heads.
WR Jimmy Horn Jr.
Horn Jr., one of the fastest receivers in college football, failed to impress with his speed at the NFL Combine (4.46-second 40-yard dash). Deion Sanders believes he can improve, and his 40-yard dash will be one of the top things to watch at Pro Day.
S Travis Jay
Jay saw limited playing time at Colorado, logging just four tackles over 26 snaps in 2024. His most productive season came as a freshman at Florida State, where he recorded 26 tackles.
OL Justin Mayers
Mayers was one of the top-rated guards in college football last season. A key part of Colorado’s offensive line rebuild, he’ll aim to make a strong impression on scouts.
DL Chidozie Nwankwo
The Houston transfer was a key part of Colorado’s defensive front in 2024, finishing with 5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He posted four sacks during his four seasons at Houston.
S Shilo Sanders
Shilo Sanders, the second-oldest son of Coach Prime, has a bet with his father tied to his 40-yard dash time. He’s projected as a late-round pick and will look to turn heads with his speed.
WR Will Sheppard
Sheppard clocked an unofficial 4.59-second 40-yard dash at the Big 12’s pro day. He’ll try to get that number closer to 4.4 at Colorado’s pro day. He finished last season with 48 catches for 621 yards and six touchdowns.
S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig
Silmon-Craig followed Deion Sanders from Jackson State to Colorado and became a key piece of the Buffs’ defense. He posted a career-high 94 tackles and two sacks in 2024.
WR LaJohntay Wester
Wester is one of the more likely Buffs to be drafted. He was the team’s second-leading receiver last season with 931 yards and 10 touchdowns.
S Herman Smith III
Smith stood out on special teams in 2024 and will look to use Pro Day to improve his draft chances.
OL Kardell Thomas
Thomas played in just one game for Colorado but was once a highly touted recruit. He’ll try to showcase his skill set and earn a potential undrafted free agent deal.
P Mark Vassett
Vassett has been a consistent performer over four seasons, topping 2,000 punting yards each year. In 2024, he recorded 19 punts inside the 20-yard line.