Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, one of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, has opted out of participating in Shrine Bowl practices this week. The Colorado Buffaloes standout will also sit out the game itself, making himself available only for interviews with teams in attendance.
This news came just a day after Sanders stood out during a ‘Wilson Throwing Session’ from the event.
Shedeur Sanders Will Not Participate in Shrine Bowl Activities
It’s clear this may have been Sanders’ plan all along. He met with teams earlier in the week and reportedly already made a lasting impression.
Sanders, who met with the Tennessee Titans earlier this week, left a strong impression on the team’s leadership. Head coach Brian Callahan had high praise for Sanders, expressing disappointment that he won’t have the chance to evaluate him on the field.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be an interview only participant at the Shrine Bowl this week. He will not be practicing but will meet with teams.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 25, 2025
Callahan had glowing things to say about Sanders, whom he had never met before this week.
“You can tell he’s been raised right,” Callahan said of his first impression of Sanders, son of Colorado coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. “He’s mature, he has a really poised way about him, and he seems like a really good kid. I enjoyed talking to him. And, you could tell he’s a guy who has been in the spotlight.”
“He knows how to handle himself, he’s been paid money, so he has a financial perspective. It was a really good first impression.”
Bill Callahan Impressed by Shedeur Sanders’ Toughness
Callahan said Sanders impressed him with his toughness.
.@ShedeurSanders just went into this interview room at the @ShrineBowl headquarters to meet with the @Titans, among others.
Chad Brinker, Mike Borgonzi, Brian Callahan and many others from Titans staff in there. pic.twitter.com/RoqxBHTzpf
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) January 24, 2025
He stood in the pocket often in college with a patchwork offensive line and took hit after hit. In a game against UCLA in 2023, he was reportedly forced to get a pain-killing injection at halftime after he was beaten up so badly.
“The thing that stands out the most is his toughness,” Callahan said of Sanders. “He took some pretty big shots and he kept rolling. He can stand in the pocket and deliver it. He can move and create a bit, he has some ability to move out the pocket, and he does create on his own.
More: Check out our latest 2025 Mock Draft
“He’s not a high-end dynamic scrambler necessarily, but he is productive when he does. And he really has a good feel for anticipation and timing, you can tell he’s been coached in that regard. Those things show up on tape.”
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