With the draft nearing, all eyes are on Shilo Sanders. His performance at the Shrine Bowl might have sparked a debate among the critics, but others see the bigger picture. Injuries slowed him down during his senior season, but his grit and resilience never wavered. Through every setback, Shilo has kept grinding and scouts are taking notice. His journey hasn’t been easy, but one thing is clear — Shilo Sanders isn’t backing down.

And just like that, Shilo made his statement. The son of NFL legend Deion Sanders delivered a solid performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl on January 30. His West squad took a tough 25-0 loss, but Shilo stood out. Six tackles. A clutch pass breakup. A relentless presence on the field. His ability to cover ground and make plays was on full display. And according to NFL Rookie Watch, “Shilo Sanders might be the HARDEST-HITTING safety in this year’s draft.” Doubt him if you want — but the boy is built for the next level.

Safe to say: Shilo is making noise, and the NFL is listening. On February 11, he shared a bold statement on Instagram — one scout believes he can deliver “highlight-worthy hits” in every game at the next level. And the numbers back it up. Over six college seasons, he allowed just 589 yards and three touchdowns in 52 games. That’s 11 yards per game. Half a TD per season. Lockdown numbers. His hard-hitting style mirrors some of the NFL’s all-time greats, and his playmaking ability is undeniable. As of now, his mother, Pilar, couldn’t hold back her pride — watching her son rise, one hit at a time. She’s doing everything she can to maintain the hype around Shilo.

Pilar is going all in on boosting Shilo’s draft stock. She’s not just cheering from the sidelines, but making sure the world sees what her son can do. She shared his Shrine Bowl highlights on her IG story with the bold caption, “BIG SHILO.“ But she didn’t stop there. She took it to her feed, showing love and pride with a message straight from the heart: “Welp 🤷🏽‍♀️ …..Baby you did good!!! @shilosanders #21savage for real! #💯.“ Looks like Shilo’s making plays, and his mom is making sure everyone’s paying attention.

But Shilo isn’t done making statements, and neither is Pilar. After showcasing his Shrine Bowl highlights on Instagram, he kept it humble, showing gratitude for the moment. “Very grateful to participate in the @shrinebowl!” he wrote. But Pilar had a different energy. She wasted no time dropping a fiery two-word message in the comments — “League him!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️.“ No explanations. No hesitation. Just a mother’s unwavering belief that her son is NFL-ready. And she’s making sure the world hears it loud and clear.

However, the road to the 2025 NFL Draft is still uncertain for Shilo Sanders. Will his name be called in April? That’s the big question. Pro Football Focus has him ranked No. 271, just outside the 257 draft slots. But rankings don’t tell the whole story. Shilo’s talent, work ethic, and hard-hitting style could make him a late-round steal.

But now, it looks like the birthday boy just got outshined — by his own mom! And Pilar Sanders is stealing the spotlight, making waves with her bold support.

Pilar’s way of celebrating son Shilo Sanders’ birthday

Pilar made sure her son’s birthday was a moment to remember. She took to Instagram with a heartfelt post, sharing footage of herself watching Shilo at the Shrine Bowl. But this wasn’t just any birthday shoutout — it was a full-on celebration.

“It may be Super Bowl Sunday, The Big Game, but more importantly IT’S BIG 21, BIG SHILO’S BDAY! HAPPY BORN DAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAPPY SOLAR RETURN! KEEP BEING GREAT RIGHT IN THEIR FACE😂👏🏽😂💗💗💗💗🥰🥰OH HOW I LOVE IT! NO matter what ‘they’ say because ‘they’ don’t matter! You are the Author and Finisher of YOUR OWN Fate!” she wrote. Pilar’s message was loud, proud, and full of love — because, for her, Shilo’s big day was even bigger than the Super Bowl.

And wait, Pilar wasn’t done yet. She kept the love flowing with another powerful message for her son. “Son you really live what I’ve always taught you and I am sooooooo proud of you! Let your talents speak for themselves because those ‘they’s’ will be silenced! I LOVE YOU BEYOND LIFE! And will forever be your DAY1! Can’t nobatay say that! Hahhaha no matter how much ‘they’ try to convince the world. 😂😂😂😂👏🏽👏🏽🎉🎉♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️,” she wrote.

Pilar made it clear — Shilo doesn’t need to prove anything to the doubters. His game speaks for itself. And through it all, his mom will always be his biggest cheerleader and loudest supporter.

And Pilar isn’t one to hold back — especially when it comes to her son. In the comments, a fan tried to call her out, saying, “Happy birthday Shilo, Pilar don’t make this about you, it’s his day.” But Pilar had the perfect clapback. “Sassy who else bore this young king? Only I can do this,” she fired back.

Mic drop. She made it clear — this is a mother’s love, not a spotlight grab. And when it comes to celebrating Shilo, Pilar is always going to do it her way.