Colorado Buffaloes football coach Deion Sanders reportedly won’t try to get his son, Shedeur Sanders, or Travis Hunter to “be an Eli” during the 2025 season. USA Today’s Jarrett Bell shut down the possibility ahead of the 2025 NFL draft.
“Deion insists that although he’s met with team owners, GMs and coaches, he’s never tried to influence where Shedeur lands – even if trying to be on the right side of the 50-50 success-to-bust rate for first-round quarterbacks. No, this would not be an Eli Manning-type of power play,” Bell wrote.
Sanders created the “Be an Eli” rumor when he claimed last March he’d make sure Shedeur and Hunter, and even Shilo, who’s not projected to be selected at all in the 2025 NFL draft if he isn’t taken on day three, got their way.
“All this is subjective because I know where I kind of want them to go,” Sanders said on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast. “And let's not forget Shilo (Sanders). But I know where I want them to go. There's certain cities where it ain't going to happen. ...It's going to be an Eli [Manning].”
At this point, Coach Prime would be bold attempting to get Shedeur to a preferred destination. While he was once seen as a potential contender to Cam Ward for the No. 1 overall pick, he’s now being linked to a second-round descent.
Hunter, meanwhile, has multiple guarantees that he’ll be playing both positions in the NFL. The ex-Buffs two-way star and Heisman winner threatened retirement in the event he couldn’t be granted that wish.