Shedeur Sanders thankful for improved wide receiver room

The Shedeur Sanders–Travis Hunter connection will likely be undeniable this coming season, but the Colorado QB1 sees potential in the rest of his receivers out wide.

Adding the likes of LaJohntay Wester from FAU and Will Sheppard from Vanderbilt to a room featuring Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. — is it safe to say there’s no shortage of weapons for Sanders to throw at in 2024?

“I’m thankful to have them,” Sanders said of his new-and-improved wide receiving corps. “Of course, I’m thankful because they all bring different things to the table. [Wester was a] 1,000 yard receiver. They both (Wester and Sheppard) were the top guys at their school and top guys in their conference that they were in. So I’m excited that they’re able to bring their knowledge into it also, so we’re able to converse and see things different ways.

“I’m really excited to have them. They all are very special and they bring different things to the table. And even the guys from last year, they’ve even improved like x10, so I’m ready to get out there.”

Wester could bring game-changing talent to Boulder after electing to spend his final season of collegiate eligibility under Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes.

He appeared in 45 games for the Owls across his four-year tenure there. In that time, he caught 252 passes for just over 2,700 yards, good for over 60 per game and over 10 per catch, and 21 touchdowns. With those stats, he led the team in receiving in each of the past three years.

For Sheppard, he also spent four years at his first school before venturing out to Colorado for his final season in college. He caught 152 passes for Vandy from 2020-2023 while compiling 2,037 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns to his resume.

Bringing those two in alongside the likes of Horn, who was Colorado’s third-leading receiver last year. He totaled 567 receiving yards and six touchdowns during his first season in Boulder, and could very well have a breakout year in 2024. Across three seasons in the college ranks, he’s totaled 1,526 receiving yards and is well on his way to break to 2,000-yard career receiving mark during the upcoming regular season.

The Buffs will begin the 2024 college football season against North Dakota State on Thursday, Aug. 29. Non-conference matchups against Nebraska and Colorado State will follow before beginning Big 12 Conference play in Week 4 against Baylor.