Saturday’s stunning win over No. 17 TCU gave Deion Sanders and his family plenty of reason to celebrate following headline-grabbing days for the coach and his son, Colorado quarterback Shedeur. But, lost in the midst of the excitement was the story of the standout efforts of another player with very close ties to both men.
Safety Shilo Sanders, Deion’s second-oldest son, showed up and showed out alongside his father and little brother to help lead the Buffaloes defense in a wild 45–42 season-opening victory.
Sanders, a graduate transfer from Jackson State, logged 10 tackles, nine of which were solo, to tie with CU linebacker Marvin Ham II for the team and game-high.
Given Shilo’s position, it’s understandable how the 23-year-old’s performance slipped under the radar on a day where Coach Prime earned his first win and Shedeur, 21, recorded a school-record 510 passing yards along with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
He’s a formidable player in his own right, though, with an undeniable pedigree. And, against TCU, Shilo still managed to impact the game in a big way, and could play an even bigger role down the stretch, despite not receiving the same level of attention.
A former safety at South Carolina, Sanders, who was named an Under Armour All-American in high school, transferred to Jackson State to play for his dad prior to the 2021 season. At JSU, he tallied 59 tackles, 12 pass deflections, five INTs, and two forced fumbles in 20 games (15 starts).
