Who is Darrell Colbert Jr.? Meet the QB guru responsible for the rise of Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders

Teddy Ricketson

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Who is Darrell Colbert Jr.? Meet the QB guru responsible for the rise of Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders image

Growing up playing football, players dream of making the NFL. While they envision hoisting several Lombardi Trophies, at the end of the day, all they really want to do is have an impact on the game.

When you're a kid, you think the only way to achieve that is to play in college, get drafted, and play in the NFL, hoping to make the Hall of Fame and enshrine your legacy forever. As players get older, they may realize there are other ways to make an impact on the game. Many turn to coaching and work their way up, starting with preps, advancing to the college game, and maybe one day breaking into the NFL that way. 

Others, like Darrell Colbert Jr., realize that their calling from the game isn't to be a player, but rather to work with individual prospects to try to help them become the best versions of themselves as they try to recognize their dreams.

Colbert Jr. has become one of the most sought-after private coaches in the country, working with high school and college quarterbacks. 

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Here is more on Darrell Colbert Jr. and the impact he has had on the 2025 NFL Draft class. 

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Who is Darrell Colbert Jr.?

Colbert began playing football at a young age. His father, Darrell Colbert Sr., played at Texas Southern from 1983-86 and spent two years in the NFL with the Chiefs. The younger Colbert found his natural position under center. With a strong mental toughness instilled at a young age, the quarterback would often pick up his wide receivers after practice to continue getting in work. He went to Lamar High School in Houston and won a 5A state championship. 

After high school, Colbert had several Division 1 offers, including Missouri and Iowa State. They all wanted him to convert to a different position because he is only 5-11. Most wanted him to play wide receiver or defensive back, except for Southern Methodist (SMU), which was willing to let him play quarterback. He went there in 2014, but it was almost all for naught, as he started with three injury-riddled seasons and then transferred to Lamar University in 2017. 

Colbert played two seasons there before training with Jerrod Johnson. He was a former quarterback, who, at one point, led Texas A&M in all-time passing yardage before his record was beaten by Kellen Mond. Colbert was training with Johnson as a quarterback, but it developed more into a mentor role as Colbert learned how to teach being a quarterback. Johnson took a role with the Colts and needed a new trainer to send his clients to. He ended up recommending Colbert, and a new career was born. 

Colbert founded Select QB Athletics in 2019 and initially reached out to more clients through Twitter DMs, per Martenzie Johnson. He got one client, Cameron McCalister, who was a high school student. Word of mouth started going around, and by the end of the year, he was up to 15 clients.

You've likely heard of some of his early students. Colbert worked with D'Eriq King who spent time at Houston and Miami, as well as Florida's Kyle Trask. 

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How did Darrell Colbert Jr. meet Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward?

Colbert played with Deion Sanders Jr. at SMU and ended up forming a relationship. He would work out with Sanders Jr., and his younger brother, Shedeur, would often come to work out. As he got older, Shedeur became a client of Colbert's once his father Deion signed off on it.

Colbert found Miami's Cam Ward through word of mouth. Colbert was working with Baylor and Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones, who happens to be Ward's cousin. 

When the viral clip came out earlier this offseason of Sanders and Ward working out together despite being considered the top two quarterbacks in the class, they were working out with Colbert. 

With the 2025 NFL Draft finally here, Colbert's work will be front and center when Ward goes No. 1 overall to the Titans and Sanders likely follows him at some point in the first round. It will stamp a relatively meteoric rise for the burgeoning QB guru, who's sure to get even more high-profile clients going forward.

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Teddy Ricketson

Teddy Ricketson is a Digital Content Producer at The Sporting News. He joined the team in 2024 after spending the last three years writing for Vox Media as part of its DK Nation/Network team. Teddy does his best to support the South Carolina Gamecocks and Carolina Panthers, but tends to have more fun cheering on the Atlanta Braves. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, Brooke, and their two dogs, Bo and Hootie.