Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback Shedeur Sanders is a polarizing figure in college football. He earned this year’s Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, but was somehow not among the finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Two other quarterbacks — Miami’s Cam Ward and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel — received more votes than Sanders. This situation has left his teammate, Travis Hunter, puzzled.
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“How can you be the top quarterback pick in the NFL draft, and you’re not even considered to be in the Heisman race?” the two-way star said on the The Travis Hunter Show.
The Buffs superstars have been each other’s biggest fans all season long. Sanders, undoubtedly, appreciates Hunter for having his back. At the same time, he doesn’t let naysayers affect his mindset.
“I’m not really tripping on [the Heisman race]. I don’t need others’ validation to know who I am, you know? So I don’t really care. As long as they give at least one of us the respect we deserve, that’s all that matters to me,” Shedeur said on his 2Legendary podcast.
As things stand, Sanders need not worry about Hunter, who happens to be the betting market’s runaway favorite for the Heisman Trophy. His odds (-2500) are followed by Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty’s (+900). Gabriel (+35000) and Ward (+50000).
Shedeur talks about winning the Johnny Unitas Award
Sanders considers that the Heisman honor would get Hunter the respect he deserves. Part of that could be because the QB feels he received due recognition through the Johnny Unitas Award. Another reason could be the perceived bias people have against Colorado (Sanders’ exclusion from the Heisman ceremony indeed goes against recent trends).
Golden Arm Winners to Heisman Finalists in Recent Years ➡️
Shedeur Sanders / ‘24 Not a Finalist.
Jayden Daniels / ‘23 Heisman Winner
Max Duggan / ‘22 Heisman 2nd runner up
Kenny Pickett / ‘21 Heisman 3rd runner up
Mac Jones / ‘20 Heisman 3rd runner up
Joe Burrow / ‘19…— Taylor Sadusky (@taylorjsadusky) December 10, 2024
If respect is what Sanders is after, he would get more by being the No. 1 pick and/or first quarterback taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. The possibility of that happening is pretty real. However, he’s not resting on his laurels. Despite his status as the Unitas winner and the favorite to go No. 1 overall, he’s focused on becoming a more complete player.
“It’s truly a blessing, but I just feel like it’s a lot more work that has to be done… [there’s] a couple flaws in my game that I gotta fix to be for me to be perfection. That’s the only thing that don’t keep me excited, because I know there’s some things I got to fix within myself to be the best quarterback ever,” said Sanders.
Sanders’ final collegiate game will come on Dec. 28 against BYU. The kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. E.T. on ABC.
