Shedeur Sanders says defensive line is biggest difference between FBS, FCS

Colorado made itself the talk of college football in Week 1 with its upset of No. 17 TCU, a stunning result that immediately validated much of what coach Deion Sanders has done since taking over.

One of the things Sanders has done is bring over a lot of talent from the HBCU ranks, including starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders, his son. The biggest difference Sanders noticed in moving to the FBS level?

“Nothing really, I would say the only difference between FCS and this level is the D-line get off blocks if you try to scramble up faster,” Sanders said. “That’s it. Everything else, you’ve got good players, good DBs, good receivers, everything like that.”

Still, there is a talent gap between the FCS and the FBS. It might not be as wide as perceived, but it certainly exists.

Sanders did his best to explain that it’s how you approach it that matters the most.

There are a higher percentage of NFL-caliber players on the rosters of most FBS teams than FCS ones, but that doesn’t mean that every single player you’re going up against is elite.

“You just have more of those on the field at once,” Sanders said. “You’ve got to think. Everybody on the field ain’t going first round. A lot of people on the field may not get drafted. So don’t let; people fear names. I don’t fear names because I really don’t care.”

Sanders certainly showed no fear on Saturday in a historic performance.

He finished with 510 yards passing and four touchdowns, putting on absolute aerial show in the back-and-forth shootout with the Horned Frogs.

For Sanders, the big game was all about not fearing anything he was up against. He explained that you can lose games before they begin if you operate that way.

“That’s the biggest thing, if you fear names,” Shedeur Sanders said. “That’s happened. You’d already lose the game, we were playing TCU. I respect the university, I respect everything about them. But personally I just never cared about names.”

Given the results on Saturday, something tells us Sanders won’t start caring about names any time soon.

Colorado returns to action in Week 2 against Nebraska, hosting the Cornhuskers at home. The Buffaloes will be a 2.5-point underdog.