Are we going to see a repeat of the Phillip Lindsay stint? Being denied an invitation to the combine (2018), despite putting up impressive numbers in Boulder. Lindsay would eventually land with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent and grab the starting RB job and a Pro Bowl appearance in his first season while rushing for 1,037 yards. But many believe he deserved an invitation. Indeed, he had the numbers to back this up.

At only 5-foot-7, 190 pounds, Lindsay was smaller than other RBs. But he made up for his lack of size with production and physicality. Lindsay forced 47 missed tackles as a runner, which ranked No. 6 among all FBS draft-eligible running backs. He is also a sure-handed receiving threat who only dropped 4 passes in his 4 years at Colorado. In the NFL, running backs are seemingly only allowed on the field on third down if they can pass protection, and Lindsay is an effective pass-protector. Despite all that, Lindsey was overlooked. Later, he had shared a message for the hopeful draftees who had a similar fate.

“If you didn’t get an invite to the combine, don’t sweat it. Use it as motivation. Remember you only need one opportunity and that’s your PRO DAY. 20 RBs got drafted, but how many do you hear about 🤔?” Lindsay had written on X in 2019. Jump cut to 2025 and it looks like one more Colorado product needs to get some inspiration from this.

On Thursday, the NFL released the list of 329 draft prospects eligible to attend the 2025 scouting event. As shocking as it might sound, Colorado safety and Deion Sanders’ son Shilo’s name did not pop up on that. The 25-year-old played 19 games in two seasons with the Buffaloes and registered 122 total tackles, one interception and one sack. Shilo had the highest Max Acceleration of any defender in the Shrine Bowl, hitting 6.39 yards per second squared per ZebraSports.

The Explosiveness did show up on his college film, throughout the week of Shrine Bowl practice and on game day. At the last month’s East-West Shrine Bowl, Shilo, a projected late-round draft pick, registered five combined tackles and a pass deflection during the East’s 25-0 victory. “I showed people today — don’t believe everything you read,” Sanders said afterward. “I can play football. If you say I can’t play football, just watch film,” Shilo had said. However, looks like this wasn’t enough to convince the scouting combine.

But missing out on an invite isn’t necessarily a death sentence for earning an NFL roster spot. He will get one more and maybe his last, at the Colorado Buffs’ Pro Day. Sanders joins fellow safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and wide receiver Will Sheppard among CU players who were snubbed from the event. Meanwhile, Shedeur didn’t partake in proceedings, largely to avert the risk of injury. He didn’t need to. His stock is firmly etched in the upper echelons. Notably, many think that despite not being a top-notch talent, Shilo will still make it to the NFL just for his surname. But hasn’t Coach Prime been tough on Shilo whenever he fell short?

Despite nepotism allegations, the point is that Deion Sanders has not stepped back from criticizing Shilo publicly in the past when he did not live up to his expectations. Remember what happened after Colorado’s 31-28 loss to Kansas State in October? Deion was furious at Shilo for his underwhelming performance.

Kansas State’s offense had its way with the Buffaloes’ defense. Kansas State running back DJ Giddens gave Shilo Sanders fits all night, shaking him in the open field multiple times. At one point in the game, Sanders attempted to meet Giddens head-on near the line of scrimmage and ended up on his knees while Giddens glided by. Worse, when Sanders was able to get ahold of a Wildcat, he struggled to take them down. On numerous occasions, Kansas State players broke Sanders’ tackle attempts for extra yards. It was far from his best self and his dad was not OK with that.

“I thought he played horrible,” Deion had said. “I thought he was rusty. I thought he didn’t have his footing. I thought he wasn’t breaking down. He was coming up trying to make the play but open field, one-on-one tackle, with that kind of back, that ain’t an easy task. But, he’s gonna do better. I know what he has in him.” So where is the problem? the Coach Prime docuseries might shed some light.

It had a portion that focused on Shilo during practice. Throughout, it is evident defensive coordinator Robert Livingstone and Deion are unhappy with Shilo’s efforts. “Shilo, you’re killing yourself!” shouted Livingstone repeatedly, suggesting his shortcomings were his own doing. Deion Sanders also had to add to it. He made a comment that was veiled under some humor but stabbed the point across.

“Lower, Shilo. Lower, lower, lower!” shouted Deion repeatedly in his son’s direction. “You’re high as a kite. We’re gonna drug test you,” he said. Of course, this was said in jest, but the sentiment got across. Shilo was seemingly not defending low enough, which is key to remaining nifty and changing direction on a dime. Two key facets of being a player in the secondary. All that’s required is the effort of quite literally bending your knees and grafting. Assistant linebackers coach Andre Hart has also got something to add. He doesn’t coach Shilo directly but has been an associate of Deion Sanders for decades.

“I think [Shilo] is one of the most talented guys I know,” remarked Hart. “The biggest challenge for Shilo is to get him to understand a dream is only a dream unless you work for it…and to get him to be accountable,” he added indicating a vital trait any player should have. So does that mean Shilo lacks the work ethic to excel? Whatever the reason for being left out, for now, though, Shilo has to deal with the verbal wrath of social media.

The social media verse points out Shilo’s shortcomings

The aforelinked IG post asked the question, “Was [Shilo Sanders] snubbed?” In the comments section, football fans aired their feelings on the same. “I love the Sanders family but Shilo can’t tackle” wrote one person. Another hinted at the unfortunate reality of nepotism, saying, “Not surprised. He’s an average player but he will eventually get pick up ..his pops is prime” Even a Colorado fan chimed in.

“I’M A DIE HARD BUFFS FAN AND SHILO GOT EXPOSED IN SEVERAL GAMES. ANYBODY CAN HIT, BUT HIS TACKLING SKILLS ARE POOR, HE DOESN’T WRAP UP AND HE’S SLOW.. HIS OWN TEAMMATES GAVE HIM THAT WORK IN PRACTICE…” they wrote, in all caps, as if warning NFL franchises. The tackling was a common theme of why the safety’s future in NFL secondaries is being doubted. Not everyone was as elaborate and constructive in their critique. One person said, “Bro gotta start rapping 💯” 

“6th / 7th rounder at best,” wrote another person. One of the ideas reverberating is that Shilo Sanders will indeed make it to a practice squad as a reserve. But making the actual team and playing games is deemed a step too far. Not being invited to the Combine is far from the end of the road. One of the greatest players of all time, Tyreek Hill, wasn’t invited either. That said, it is a line in the sand. Shilo Sanders will have to go about things the atypical way. Something his family is synonymous with.