It is seemingly we’ll see 4 or extra quarterbacks chosen within the first spherical when the 2024 NFL Draft will get underway on Thursday. We would even see quarterbacks go along with the primary three picks. Why? Properly, not simply because groups choosing early within the draft usually want a QB or as a result of it is an important place in sports activities.
Ask NFL personnel evaluators, they usually’ll let you know one other massive motive: There is not a lot confidence in subsequent 12 months’s crop of quarterbacks.
Waiting for the 2024 school soccer season, there isn’t a alpha QB — the man everyone appears to be like at as the perfect participant within the nation and favourite to win the Heisman Trophy. The race to be the primary QB chosen subsequent spring is large open, and one of many names usually talked about as a risk is Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders is a polarizing prospect to many, and loads of individuals would reply to the concept of Sanders being the primary QB chosen subsequent 12 months with a hearty guffaw. Those self same individuals would have had the identical response a 12 months in the past for those who had advised them Jayden Daniels would win the Heisman and find yourself because the doable No. 2 choose on this 12 months’s draft, but right here we’re.
The wonderful thing about gamers is they will enhance! Because the numbers present, Sanders has his strengths and loads of weaknesses to handle. This is a take a look at how Sanders carried out final 12 months in some key statistics and the place they ranked amongst Energy 5 quarterbacks.
|
Shedeur Sanders |
151.7 (18th) |
69.3% (seventh) |
7.5 (thirty fifth) |
6.13 (forty fifth) |
6.3% (twentieth) |
0.7% (4th) |
49 (Final) |
3.96 (sixty fifth) |
Greater than the variety of video games Colorado wins subsequent season, NFL evaluators will wish to see Sanders present enchancment in key areas. The most important can be his propensity to carry onto the ball. Sanders was sacked 49 occasions final season, and whereas a few of these sacks had been the results of enjoying behind a foul offensive line, he bears loads of accountability himself. Few gamers within the nation held onto the ball so long as he did ready for a goal to emerge.
Sanders is not alone in having this fault. USC’s Caleb Williams held onto the ball too lengthy final season, and he would be the first choose Thursday night time. The distinction is Williams was much more cellular and used his legs to maneuver the chains much more successfully than Sanders, who will not wow anyone within the open area. I might describe him extra as quick sufficient than quick.
Except Sanders all of a sudden emerges as a real dual-threat able to outrunning defenders, his prime precedence subsequent season needs to be processing faster (each earlier than and after the snap) and eliminating the ball. Essentially the most spectacular side of Sanders’ sport, in my eyes, was that regardless of holding onto the ball too lengthy and continuously discovering himself beneath stress, he took care of the soccer. He tucked it away when hit and did not hearth it into harmful areas when throwing.
One other space Sanders can enhance is his means to push the ball vertically. Solely 79 of the 430 passes Sanders threw final season traveled additional than 15 yards previous the road of scrimmage, and he didn’t carry out effectively when doing so.
Sanders is not prone to develop superior arm energy over the course of an offseason, however even with out it, he can enhance his accuracy and timing on these throws.
Whereas enchancment of any sort can be necessary, it additionally issues who you do it towards. There is a distinction between lighting up an FCS workforce and going off towards probably the greatest groups within the nation. Fortunately for Sanders, he’ll have loads of probabilities towards sturdy competitors because the Buffaloes return to the Huge 12 subsequent season and have just a few massive nonconference opponents lined up, too.
Let’s take a look at 5 video games on Colorado’s schedule the place Sanders may separate himself from the remainder of the pack within the eyes of NFL scouts.
Saturday, Sept. 7
That is the second sport of the season and Colorado’s first street check. Not solely is it a rematch of final season’s Colorado upset victory, but it surely’s prone to be one of many largest on the schedule that weekend. Loads of eyes can be on this one.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Kansas State is among the most constant applications within the Huge 12 and is yearly one of many stronger defenses within the league. If Sanders balls out right here, it is a good omen of what is to come back.
3. Colorado at Arizona
Saturday, Oct. 19
This street journey to Arizona would be the first time Colorado runs into one in every of its previous Pac-12 mates within the Huge 12, and the Wildcats are thought-about one of many favorites to win the convention this season. Additionally they have a extremely touted quarterback in Noah Fifita, who emerged as probably the greatest within the nation final season. It isn’t a head-to-head duel … but it surely’s a head-to-head duel.
4. Colorado vs. Utah
Saturday, Nov. 16
Utah was a top-20 protection in loads of landmark statistics final season, which is nothing new. Below Kyle Whittingham and Morgan Scalley, the Utes have lengthy made life troublesome for opponents (simply ask Caleb Williams). If Sanders performs effectively on this sport, it will not go unnoticed.
Friday, Nov. 29
This sport is included for 2 causes. The primary is that it is on a Friday, giving it a a lot larger highlight on the finish of the season. Extra importantly, given the expectations, this could possibly be a must-win for the Buffaloes in the event that they wish to attain a bowl sport. In different phrases, it could possibly be an opportunity to see how Sanders performs in a must-win sport towards a workforce that has completed ranked within the closing School Soccer Playoff Rankings seven occasions within the final 9 seasons.
