Matt Leinart gushes over Shedeur Sanders' playmaking ability: 'I would be dead' behind Colorado OL
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders made magic happen last weekend in Boulder. Throwing a 43-yard, Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired in regulation to tie up and send a game against Baylor to overtime. Where he’d help lead the Buffaloes to a 38-31 win that represented Colorado’s first conference win after rejoining the Big 12 this season.
Making big plays has been just one of Sanders’ specialties since joining the Buffaloes last season, rising up NFL mock draft boards in the process and establishing himself as one of the top passers in the nation. A title that former USC quarterback Matt Leinart used to hold during his playing days, recently opening up about what impresses him about Sanders’ game.
“If you just watch Shedeur drop back, this dude is running around every single play,” Leinart said this week on the The Ryen Russillo Podcast. “If you really watch it … the fact that this kid can do what he does. Like Caleb [Williams] was really good at just maneuvering in the pocket, Shedeur is almost better in a lot of ways.”
Williams drew comparisons to Patrick Mahomes heading into this year’s NFL Draft following his two seasons at USC. Highlighted by a Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2022 and a 2023 season where the Trojans disappointed and Williams was under constant duress. Which Sanders can definitely relate to.
“One, he’s a great thrower, he’s a pure thrower. Like he’s really, really talented throwing the football, just standing back there,” Leinart explained. But the amount of times he maneuvers in the pocket, and running away, and hitting a dude in stride 30 yards downfield on a crossing route. I would be dead dude if I was behind that offensive line, like I would be dead.”
Leinart wasn’t necessarily known for his mobility during his playing days, but thankfully Sanders is. Throwing for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns last season despite being sacked 52 times to lead all players in college football.
Unfortunately, it’s been the same story this year for Sanders, sacked eight times in Colorado’s most recent win over Baylor and 15 total times through four games. Still managing to lead the Buffaloes to a 3-1 start behind his 1,340 yards and 11 touchdown passes in an effort that Leinart believes deserves early Heisman Trophy candidate consideration alongside teammate and two-way superstar Travis Hunter.
“Again, it goes to the point, Shedeur, you could even throw him in this race because what he’s doing for that team,” Leinart said. “There’s not another player in college football that can do that with the amount of little time he has to throw, the plays that he makes, it’s almost like I feel bad for him sometimes because I’m like gosh man. This kid, I hope he gets out okay and healthy this season.”
The hits started to add up last year on Sanders, leaving Colorado’s Week 12 matchup with an injury and not returning for their regular season finale against Utah. But hopefully, a fully healthy season for Sanders can not only continue to raise his draft stock, but take the Buffs to new heights and potentially take himself to New York in December.