Shedeur, Shilo Sanders debate difference between Deion Sanders, Coach Prime personas

Colorado players Shedeur and Shilo Sanders discussed the difference between in their coach and dad, Deion Sanders, at home and on the practice field. Shedeur has spent his entire college career playing for his father after also being coached by him in high school at Trinity Christian (TX).

Similarly, Deion Sanders also coached Shilo in high school before the defensive back committed to South Carolina in 2019. He eventually transferred to play for his dad at Jackson State in 2021 and again followed him to Colorado in 2023.

Speaking on Shedeur’s podcast, 2Legendary with Shedeur Sanders, the brothers opened up on balancing the coach vs. dad personas of Deion Sanders. Shilo admitted that he doesn’t see much difference in the two.

“It’s the same guy,” he said.

Shedeur, however, sees there being at least some difference and recalled something that his dad told him when he began coaching him.

“Remember dad would say, ‘hey, I ain’t your dad on the field?'” he said.

Deion Sanders has never been one to hold back, not when he was a player and certainly not as a coach. That has delivered pretty solid results early in his coaching career as he won SWAC conference titles in 2021 and 2022. The Buffaloes won four games last season in the coach’s inaugural year after managing just one victory the year before.

That personality has led to some interesting moments in practice, with Shilo often feeling like he gets coached a bit harder than some of the other players.

“Then it gets back to me like, ‘your dad on one today,'” he said. “Come on, bro. I don’t know what affect his day. He don’t be over there messing with you. He’s too busy with me. Watching me every day, the whole practice. Standing right behind me. I can’t even make the right breaks because he’s in my way.”

Perhaps Shilo receives a bit more attention because he plays defensive back, which was also Deion Sanders’ position in both college and the NFL. His father’s watchful eye has even led to some pretty humorous moments in practice.

“One time I did bump into him and you know how he always preaches, ‘run to the ball,'” the safety said. “I ran into him and I’m like, ‘are you good?’ He’s like, ‘man, get to the ball.’ I’m like, ‘nah, I have to check on you and make sure you good.’ So I used him as an excuse one time.”

It is the final season that Shilo will be able to play for his dad in college as his eligibility will run up after this year. Shedeur is likely gone too as he is a projected top pick in the NFL Draft.

That in mind, both will look to make the most of it as Colorado aims to achieve bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016.