Deion Sanders calls son Shilo a 'dog'

Shilo Sanders is prepping for his first full season playing under his father Deion Sanders at the collegiate level entering the 2023 season.

Electing to commit to South Carolina out of high school, Shilo spent two seasons in Columbia before transferring to Jackson State to play for his father in 2021. He wound up tearing his ACL halfway through his first season and forced him to miss time into last season.

Now, he’s healthy and at Colorado where he has been reunited with his father and little brother — Buffaloes QB1 Shedeur Shanders. Shilo has put in extra work since his arrival, and his father is expecting big things from his oldest son in 2023.

“Shilo is a dawg, man. Shilo is a leader of men. Shilo is not shy with his words. He’s practicing his butt off. He’s trying to hit everything he sees out there. But he’s doing his job,” Buffs coach Deion Sanders said. “Shilo, amongst a couple other DBs, they take their lunch in the meeting room, they’re watching the film before the coaches even get a hold of them.

“So by the time the coach is getting in, they’ve already made the adjustments and understand what they did wrong. They are just taking it serious. They know they only have a couple more years in this thing and they’re really taking it serious. They want to be dominant. They don’t just want to win. So I’m proud of him. I’m proud of him, not only as a coach but as a father.”

Shilo is the older of the two, is a defensive back and began his career in Columbia and spent two seasons there before transferring to Jackson State to play for his father in 2021. In the first season after his transfer, Shilo played four games for JSU and logged four interceptions in that span before tearing his ACL and missing the remainder of the season. 

He was still recovering entering the 2022 season and was only able to compile 11 solo tackles, three passes defended and one interception. If he can stay healthy in 2023 — he could be one of the Buffaloes’ top secondary defenders.

The Sanders family makes their debut in black and gold when they travel to No. 17 TCU on Sept. 2 for the season opener. The Horned Frogs are fresh off a run to the College Football Playoff National Championship game, and is expected to be a tall task for Colorado and friends.