Shilo Sanders shares biggest challenge for Colorado's defense

Colorado safety Shilo Sanders will be one of many new faces starring on the Buffaloes defense when the team takes the field in less than two weeks time. Getting all those new faces to mesh as one in defensive coordinator Charles Kelly‘s system is not an easy task.

When asked about the biggest challenge facing the defense ahead of the start of the season, Sanders talked about that quest to get everyone aligned.

“We got a lot of new players so just everybody getting the same page,” Sanders said Monday after practice. “We’re running a pro defense with Coach Kelly’s playbook so we have to play like pros, so just getting everybody on the same page. Just doing all that. I wouldn’t say it’s the biggest challenge but we’re working towards it.”

Kelly arrived from Alabama where he was the associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach. He was also previously the defensive coordinator at Florida State.

Sanders played two seasons at South Carolina before transferring to Jackson State to play for his father. In his two seasons with the Tigers, Sanders notched 59 tackles, 12 pass deflections, five interceptions and two forced fumbles.

He earned All-SWAC second team honors during the 2021 season.

As a fifth-year college football player, Sanders will be one of the leaders in the defensive backfield for the Buffaloes, which might be the team’s most talented group. In addition to Sanders, Colorado has two former five-star recruits at cornerback in Travis Hunter and Cormani McClain.

Sanders will also be one of the faces of the Colorado rebuild this year alongside his younger brother and the team’s starting quarterback, Sheduer Sanders. Sheduer Sanders was a star with Jackson State the past two seasons, leading the team to a 23-3 record while earning 2022 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year.

The two not only have the expectations of leading the Buffaloes turnaround but also have the expectations of being the sons of Deion Sanders. Shilo Sanders addressed those pressures, saying that he has a higher expectations for himself because of those backgrounds.

“If I play good, then that’s average,” Shilo Sanders said. “So I have to be great. So that’s what I’m striving for right now. I don’t know, I’ve worn No. 21 since I was like six-years-old. It’s always been, for me and Sheduer, you’ve got to expect us to be great. You can’t even be good, because that’s just average.”