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Where Former Colorado Buffaloes Star, NIL Standout Could Land in NFL Draft

Published

2 months ago

March 16, 2025

Where Former Colorado Buffaloes Star, NIL Standout Could Land in NFL Draft

While Ward garners much attention as the top overall prospect, another quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, is generating significant buzz leading up to and following the draft festivities. It’s mid-March now, so let’s gear up for the NFL draft for the next 42 days.Assuming the Tennessee Titans, who have the No. 1 overall selection, choose Cam Ward, the spotlight turns to Cleveland (No. 2), the New York Giants (No. 3), the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6), New York Jets (No. 7), the Carolina Panthers (No. 8), and the New Orleans Saints (No. 9).There will be no shortage of rumors, especially with the Giants, Raiders and let’s not forget the Jets looking to steal the Giants’ spotlight.It is entirely possible that the Raiders will have to mortgage the farm to make their move to three. If I were the Giants, I would hold this pick for ransom. The Giants are not ready for a quarterback, especially one who isn’t immediately prepared to play. They are several players away from being competitive, let alone contenders.One factor that could influence this decision is the uncertainty surrounding Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, who may be on the hot seat. The smart thing to do would be to trade down for more talent, but why do that if someone else will be coaching the team and watching those players develop?It’s Vegas Baby! – If you are looking to give your franchise an injection of excitement, why not look to Shedeur Sanders and Coach Prime? This is a match made in marketing heaven. Mock drafts are abundant and widely varied.Chip Kelly – Carroll brought in Kelly to run the offense. Kelly has not been the hot name in coaching for some time but coming off of a national championship at Ohio State, he will continue the trend of implementing college style offenses for athletic quarterbacks.Had they signed running back Saquon Barkley, they wouldn’t have this draft selection. But the Philadelphia Eagles wouldn’t have won the Super Bowl either.The NFL draft is around the corner, and the NFL world will converge on Green Bay, Wis. with an attempt to surpass the attendance record set by Detroit in 2024.Sanders, the 2024 Champion of NIL (.0 Million) and son of Colorado head coach and legendary defensive back Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, raises the question of whether he will don his father’s signature jerry curl and gold chains from 1989.According to scouts, Sanders is projected to be selected within the Top 10 picks. His statistics at Colorado are impressive. In two years, he threw for 7,364 yards with 64 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions. Notably, he was sacked 94 times over 25 games, which complicates the evaluation of his pocket presence and footwork.When it comes to projecting where he might land, it is unlikely that a team outside the Top 20 could assemble a trade package to move into the Top 10.The Giants’ front office likely regrets their decision to participate in HBO’s “Hard Knocks last offseason. One executive said, “We can’t pay a running back million per season; we need to build this franchise around Daniel Jones.” Oops.Tom Brady – It’s no coincidence that the Raiders have been making sensible decisions over the past three months. Tom Brady is likely influencing this direction, or, more importantly, owner Mark Davis is paying attention to Brady’s input. The pairing of Sanders and Brady could be a match made in football heaven.Cleveland recently traded for quarterback Kenny Pickett. This note is significant to mention, but it actually means nothing in terms of Sanders. There are questions about Sanders’ desirability as the Browns being a landing spot. While the Browns boast a strong defense and an opportunity for Sanders to learn behind Pickett, the organization may not be a preferred destination for him.The Raiders have added veteran quarterback Geno Smith and welcomed the ageless Pete Carroll as their new head coach. The Las Vegas situation is ripe for something of this magnitude. Smith could serve as an ideal mentor for a year while the Raiders continue to strengthen their roster, particularly after making many defensive free-agent acquisitions, including retaining defensive star Maxx Crosby. For any team selecting him, he may not be an immediate starter. His skills will need refinement, but this should not be seen as a drawback. Not every great NFL quarterback starts from week one. Teams that are willing to allow time for development can lead to better opportunities, improved talent around him, valuable coaching experience and a system that aligns with his skill set.Sanders’s throws can be categorized into two groups: quick screens and extended drops featuring deep crossing patterns. He possesses all the attributes of a potential great quarterback: a strong arm, size and athleticism. His highest-rated traits are toughness and leadership. Sanders demonstrated his resolve by leading Colorado to multiple victories, showcasing a never-say-die attitude.Three factors make this situation particularly intriguing:Several teams can be eliminated. The New England Patriots at No. 4 seem satisfied with quarterback Drake Maye. The Jacksonville Jaguars, which picks at No. 5, is committed long-term to Trevor Lawrence. The Chicago Bears pick at No. 10 and selected Caleb Williams No. 1 overall last season. This setting could benefit Sanders, given the New York media spotlight and the presence of talented young receiver Malik Nabers. More to come on the Giants…University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward appears to be the consensus first pick for the Tennessee Titans, though there are rumors the Titans may be considering trading the pick.

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ESPN boldly predicts that Georgia football will miss the playoff

With the 2025 college football season less than 100 days away, the Georgia Bulldogs are expected to be near the top of the college football world again after winning the SEC championship in 2024. However, some predict that Georgia won’t get anywhere close. In fact, according to a recent ESPN article with a few hot […]

Published

59 minutes ago

May 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

“For the better part of three seasons, the Bulldogs seemed invincible,” said David Hale. “Only an injury-plagued one-score loss to Alabama in the 2023 SEC title game might have prevented Georgia from winning three straight national championships.”

Georgia enters the 2025 season with more modest expectations after losing a combined 36 players to the transfer portal and NFL draft this offseason.

“And yet, by the end of 2024, it was clear some of the shine was off the once-dominant program. Carson Beck struggled without much help from his skill positions. The Dawgs lost to Alabama, were whooped by Ole Miss, and nearly fell to Georgia Tech before escaping in eight overtimes,” continued Hale.

Georgia’s season ended with a rough loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs will look to regroup in 2025, but will have to do so with Gunner Stockton at quarterback and have to replace a ton of departing talent in the trenches.

Georgia had a daunting schedule in 2024, with almost all of the marquee matchups taking place on the road, which something Kirby Smart called out after the SEC championship game. Now, almost all of those top-ranked rematches take place in Athens, but it’s still a tough schedule nonetheless.

Georgia plays five teams in Joel Klatt’s top 25 (No. 2 Texas, No. 9 Alabama, No. 13 Florida, No. 20 Ole Miss and No. 22 Auburn), showing how tough their schedule is expected to be. With the transition at quarterback and the amount of defensive talent Georgia lost from last year, Georgia could be heading towards a rebuilding year.

Then again, there’s a reason why it’s a hot take. Georgia won against three teams (Clemson, Texas (twice), Tennessee) that made the CFP last year, and their two regular season losses came against teams that barely missed (Alabama, Ole Miss).

They also won the SEC despite playing down to competition against Kentucky, Mississippi State, Florida, and Georgia Tech. ESPN’s Heather Dinich also puts Georgia as No. 5 in the section of the “10 projected first-round bye teams” in the same article, so it is clear that they’re playing both sides of the argument. However, there’s definitely mixed preseason expectations for Georgia this fall.

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Will House v. NCAA Settlement Actually Solve the Real Problems With NIL?

The House v. NCAA settlement has placed the world of college sports in an impractical waiting period. The proposed date pending approval is July 1—the same day that marks the start of the 2025-26 athletic fiscal calendar. But there’s not a clear direction for what the enforcement entity will be or look like. Yet, many […]

Published

59 minutes ago

May 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Will House v. NCAA Settlement Actually Solve the Real Problems With NIL?

The House v. NCAA settlement has placed the world of college sports in an impractical waiting period.

The proposed date pending approval is July 1—the same day that marks the start of the 2025-26 athletic fiscal calendar.

But there’s not a clear direction for what the enforcement entity will be or look like.

Yet, many in the college football world expected that decision to come last week. There’s frankly no guarantee Judge Claudia Wilken will approve the terms as they stand with her noted problems involving roster limits.

States are enacting laws that directly support schools’ rights to ignore the limits imposed on NIL by the salary cap and collective restrictions. Amidst that, the Power Four is attempting to wrangle members into signing a document forcing adherence.

Has this chaos truly addressed the core issues with NIL and college sports?

Justin Giangrande, CEO and founder of NETWORK, a sports marketing and management agency, spoke exclusively with NIL Daily on SI about the settlement’s impact on college sports at every level and what is really at the heart of the matter.

It is evident that a power vacuum has emerged due to the NCAA effectively withdrawing from its role in enforcing college amateurism, which has changed the responsibilities of individuals involved in the sport in unexpected ways.

“All of these athletic directors are meant to be like powerful CEOs now, but that’s not how they were built,” Giangrande said. “Then each school has a different power dynamic: President, magistrate AD. Who is making the decisions?”

The lack of federal legislation or the implementation of the revenue-sharing era through the settlement has led to that vacuum causing power struggles at every level: the conferences with the NCAA, state-by-state laws that are trying to catch an advantage.

“Life is about momentum,” Giangrande continued. “We’ve learned through this, you give people time and thought to pick you apart, and they will. I think the toughest thing in this environment is that every school has an agenda and can decide how they want to move.”

The NIL situation has reverted to square one.

There are schools that will adhere strictly to the cap and NIL clearinghouse guidelines. It would feel foolish to assume that others with powerful boosters won’t find ways to circumvent those restrictions in chasing a championship.

The Power Four conferences are actively attempting to prevent this by coercing schools into signing an agreement that explicitly forbids such actions.

No one wants to treat the athletes like employees in all of this, despite making a system that dictates their earning potential and market value with limitations on earnings paid directly by schools.

No one has even bothered to include the athletes in any discussions of this.

Giangrande believes that the settlement and revenue-sharing is a way to skirt that and prolong this untenable world of non-employment.

“When you do an endorsement deal with a pro player, that brand chooses to pay that player based not only on what he’s currently worth but also on if they think that he’s going to have a good career; they’re projecting his upside,” Giangrande said. “If I invest in, let’s say, a wide receiver who was drafted in the second round, but I think he’s going to be really good, and I do an endorsement deal with him, I’m taking a chance and hoping that I catch upside, that he really becomes good. So how do you determine fair market value? I think that’s a very tough stance to have.”

As Giangrande aptly and humorously put it, the state of college football reads more like Yellowstone meets Succession.

It’s a state with no clear end date, despite July 1 feeling all but imminent.

Will schools even follow it if it receives approval and is it effective in addressing the fundamental issues within the sport?

With athletes left out of the conversation, it’s hard to feel like this is the solution best for them and not one created out of a concern to gain back control from players.

NIL

Alan Bratton Named Finalist For Coach Of The Year

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Oklahoma State’s Alan Bratton has been named one of five NCAA Division I finalists for the 2025 Dave Williams Award it was announced today by the Golf Coaches Association of America. The Williams Award honors the national coach of the year. The five finalists are Bratton, Nick Clinard of Auburn, JC Deacon of […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Oklahoma State’s Alan Bratton has been named one of five NCAA Division I finalists for the 2025 Dave Williams Award it was announced today by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

The Williams Award honors the national coach of the year.

The five finalists are Bratton, Nick Clinard of Auburn, JC Deacon of Florida, Armen Kirakossian of UCLA, and Bowen Sargent of Virginia. The recipient will be announced on Tuesday, June 3.

This season, Bratton has led the second-ranked Cowboys to six wins, including victories in their last four starts.

OSU has not finished outside the top three this spring and has logged three runner-up finishes and a third-place showing. The Cowboys logged their first win of the year in the fall finale at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup.

Bratton’s squad won the program’s 12th Big 12 Championship last month at Southern Hills before capturing its nation-leading 17th regional title at the NCAA Urbana Regional. The Cowboys have been led on the course by 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup selections Ethan Fang and Preston Stout.

Stout has a pair of victories on the year and has been joined in the winner’s circle by Eric Lee.

Bratton won the award in 2018 after guiding the Cowboys to a historic season capped with the program’s 11th NCAA title. He was also a finalist for the distinction in 2021 and 2016.

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Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt makes donation to Pat Tillman Foundation in honor of ex-Sun Devil

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, who dazzled in his first season with the Sun Devils and projects as a potential first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft, gave back to the community after his splendid debut in Tempe. Leavitt made a $15,000 personal donation to the Pat Tillman Foundation, which supports military service members and […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Pat Tillman Foundation awards academic scholarships, paves the way to leadership opportunities and fosters a community for active duty service members, veterans and their families. Each year, it selects up to 60 recipients from a pool of thousands of applicants. The foundation invested $37 million to date and supported more than 900 Tillman scholars.

“I just want to give back to the community and the people that support me and my programs,” said Leavitt. “Just to be able to do something like that in a way that’s super beneficial, I’m happy to be able to give back. It’s a big thing to me and my family. I’ve got a cousin who’s a Green Beret. It means a lot to me. It’s a big-time story at ASU. So to able to do that and give back in a situation where I’m helping kids out, at the same time, it just makes me feel like a better person.”

Arizona State retired Tillman’s No. 42 jersey, and the former Sun Devil is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. The Arizona Cardinals also retired his No. 40 NFL jersey and inducted him into their Ring of Honor. Tillman was a first-team All-American in 1997 and collected 374 tackles across four years in the NFL.

“It’s an incredible gift and an honor to see a young kid that really understands what we do here at the foundation and wants to invest in what we call the ‘ripple effect’ of Pat’s legacy,” Pat Tillman Foundation CEO Katherine Steele said. “And so for a young kid to recognize that and want to give back to the foundation and the mission of what we do — proud. Proud and honored and humbled, for sure.”

This is not the first time Leavitt used his college football fame for good. Late last season, he donated proceeds from his personal merchandise sales to Arizona State’s NIL collective and urged Arby’s to sign eight Sun Devil offensive linemen to NIL deals of their own.

Leavitt established himself as one of college football’s top quarterbacks last season and was one of the primary catalysts — along with running back Cam Skattebo — behind an unforeseen breakout Arizona State campaign. He guided the Sun Devils to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff quarterfinals appearance with his 2,885 yards passing, 442 yards rushing and 29 combined touchdowns.

Leavitt joined the Arizona State program as a four-star transfer after he opened his career at Michigan State. He carries three years of eligibility into 2025 but will be draft eligible at the end of his upcoming redshirt sophomore season.

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‘No Balance, Terrible Energy’ – $3.8M Nil-Valued AJ Dybantsa Gives Honest Take During BYU Facility Tour

The next batch of college basketball stars is getting ready to step into the light. A lot of them have committed already and are locked in and ready to go ahead of the new season. AJ Dybantsa is one of the most popular names in the 2025 recruiting class. Dybantsa is the number one recruit […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dybantsa is the number one recruit in the 2025 class, and he’s playing college ball at BYU next season. He visited the campus earlier this month in a bid to acclimatize with the environment where he’ll be showcasing his talents for at least the next year.

college basketball transfer portal tracker — College Sports Network’s Men’s College Basketball Transfer Portal tracks the comings and goings of every athlete who has entered the transfer portal. Find out who’s entered and where they’re going now!

AJ Dybantsa Gets Honest During His BYU Visit

Dybantsa visited BYU campus and vlogged his experience, posting it on his YouTube channel. Through his lens, he took fans on a tour of the program’s facilities, and he introduced some of the staff he’ll be working with over the next few months. He even put in a few workout reps.

Dybantsa also revealed a part of his chill and laid-back personality as he attempted to do a dance on his vlog, but he did admit that he’s a terrible dancer.

“No balance, terrible energy,” he said when attempting a dance routine.

Dybantsa also did a Q&A session with the fans where he mentioned he would be picking a business major at BYU. He also mentioned that he doesn’t like the cold at Provo.

Dybantsa, who will wear No. 3 at BYU, will be draft eligible next year and is currently projected to be the No. 1 overall pick.

Dybantsa grew up in Massachusetts and was named the Massachusetts Boys’ Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year following his freshman season for Saint Sebastian school after averaging 19.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game.

KEEP READING: Way-Too Early Top 10 Prospects for the 2026 NBA Draft

Dybantsa was recently invited to train with Team USA from June 14–16 in Colorado Springs as coaches try to select a roster that will represent the United States at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland.

Dybantsa is not new to the national team, as he was a gold medalist with the U17 National Team in Turkey last summer, and as well as with the U16 squad in Mexico in 2023.

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

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Women’s College World Series: Texas Tech, Oklahoma first teams to advance from super regionals

The first two teams in the Women’s College World Series are set, with Texas Tech and Oklahoma riding to victory in the NCAA softball super regionals. Texas Tech, a 12-seed, became the first team to punch its ticket to the Women’s College World Series with a super-regional sweep of No. 5-seeded Florida State on Friday. […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The first two teams in the Women’s College World Series are set, with Texas Tech and Oklahoma riding to victory in the NCAA softball super regionals.

Texas Tech, a 12-seed, became the first team to punch its ticket to the Women’s College World Series with a super-regional sweep of No. 5-seeded Florida State on Friday. Oklahoma, the seven-time NCAA champs, joined them on Saturday with a mercy-rule sweep over Alabama.

NiJaree Canady, who transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford for the largest-ever softball NIL deal, led the way for the Red Raiders, pitching seven innings each in Games 1 and 2, allowing just one total run. Canady added a hit, RBI and a walk in Game 1. Texas Tech finished the regular season No. 11 in the USA Softball rankings.

After a 3-0 win over the Crimson Tide on Friday, the Sooners punched their ticket with a 13-2 win on Saturday, with the matchup ending after five innings due to the college softball mercy rule. Freshman shortstop Gabbie Garcia hit two two-run homers, including one that began a nine-run third inning for Oklahoma.

It will be Texas Tech’s first appearance in the WCWS. For Oklahoma, however, it’s familiar territory: The Sooners have appeared in the event 18 times since 2000, winning the past four championships.

South Carolina, which won Game 1 of its series against UCLA 9-2 thanks to catcher Lexi Winters’ 3-RBI performance, had a chance to clinch its spot on Saturday. But the Bruins had another idea, with junior Jordan Woolery slugging a two-run walk-off homer to keep UCLA’s title hopes alive. The Gamecocks and Bruins will now face off in Game 3 on Sunday.

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