Top star had been anticipating this moment. After unexpectedly sliding to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback with the 144th overall pick. Heading into the end of the 2024 season, few believed “Grown” would fall beyond the first round. Sanders celebrated the milestone surrounded by close friends and family, including his mother, Pilar Sanders, who was all smiles at his father’s home in Canton, Texas. Shortly after, Shedeur posted a now-viral three-word message on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Thank you GOD,” he wrote.
In 2024, Sanders earned the Johnny Unitas Award, recognizing him as one of the nation’s top college quarterbacks. He was selected as a first-team All-American by several outlets and earned second-team honors from the Associated Press. Sanders was also the unanimous pick for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the first-team All-Big 12 by every publication that released a list.
Sanders finished his college career with 4,134 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, posting an NFL quarterback rating of 117.0 and a college passer rating of 165.9. He set an NCAA Division I record by throwing a touchdown pass in 49 consecutive games and became just the second Division I quarterback to surpass 14,000 passing yards while completing 70 percent of his career attempts across his time at Colorado and Jackson State.
Sanders was the second Colorado player selected in the draft, following his top receiver and two-way Heisman star Travis Hunter, who was picked No. 2 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. At least two more Colorado players are expected to be drafted in the final rounds.