Coach Prime’s son, Shilo Sanders, has had a rocky collegiate career. From injuries to skepticism, flashes of brilliance have kept scouts interested in the safety.
He recently partnered with Zybek Sports to host an action-packed youth football combine.
Shilo Sanders Football Future is in Flux, But the Hard Hitting Safety is Determined to Shape His Own Future
Sander’s brother Shedeur is one of the top talents in this year’s upcoming NFL draft. He’s projected to be selected with one of the top three picks.
On the other hand, it’s unknown where or if Sanders will be drafted altogether. While the safety’s future is unclear, he’s shown no signs of stress or intimidation.
“Right now, there’s a tight competition between us to see who’s No.1 in the son rankings — He’s a good guy. I need to make sure he’s telling these scouts we need to play on the same team. We’re still a package deal.”
A package deal with the Sanders brothers may not seem as far-fetched as you might think. If Sanders is selected in this year’s draft, it will most likely be in the later rounds.
With that, all jokes aside, Sanders recognizes he might need a career shift, which may come in coaching.
He recently enjoyed himself during the Big 12 Pro Day, with former teammates commenting on the man rather than the player.
Fellow safety Herman Smith III had this to say about his teammate; “Shilo is a good player and a good human being — He brings that great energy. In football, you have to have fun. He’s the definition of having fun.”
Wide receiver Jimmy Horn piggybacked on Smith’s words; “One thing I like about Coach Prime is he doesn’t like to surround himself with jealous people. That’s real… I’m pretty sure his kids are the same way. Ain’t nobody jealous of nobody. They’re brothers. That’s the kind of bond they have.”
While family ties can only take you so far, Sanders is determined to shape his legacy. Last season the now 25 year old recorded 67 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and two pass deflections.
Sanders has been described as a hard-hitting safety who isn’t afraid of contact. He described his play style during the pro day; “I really feel like I belonged in another era like in the 90s when my dad played… Play near the line of scrimmage and hit”.
As Sanders contemplates his next steps, he’s currently giving back to youth football and those aspiring to make it to the NFL one day.
During his 40-yard dash challenge, Sanders was seen coaching kids on maximizing speed while staying true to the game. He described the keys to being a successful football player as “Play disciplined football and listen to your coaches.”
During the challenge, each participant raced against pro-level and middle-school athletes. The winner of each race was granted $100 from Sanders, and some even challenged the safety of a race.
Through all the fun and games, Sanders recognizes the reality of his situation. He’ll need to listen to his own words from a coaching perspective, as his 40-yard dash time could determine whether he’s selected in this year’s draft or brought in as a priority free agent.
The expectations as a son of a Hall of Fame player are certainly a tall order, but he’s his own man, ignoring distractions while making it a point to control his future.
“I just care about what the scouts think. I care about what Coach Prime thinks and what my family thinks, and I have a good circle around me, so I won’t let that stuff affect me. It’s just really stupid how people always try to destroy you, and I don’t do nothing bad to nobody.”
If he’s going to make a career for himself in the NFL, he’s going to have to make sure of one thing first: perfecting his 40-yard dash time. If he successfully hovers around 4.4 seconds, then Coach Prime’s car is his, reflecting the hard work he continues to put in.
KEEP READING: Deion Sanders Found a Perfect Way To Motivate Shilo Sanders Into Running a Faster 40
“I know what I have to do, and I’m going to do it.”
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