"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." These words by Toni Morrison sum up why I got into writing after being an avid reader for most of my childhood. After juggling with words for years, it still comes as a surprise how much there is to write and read. Despite being a software engineer, the will to keep on writing got me involved with poetry and later content creation. 

The additional desire for storytelling and my history of athletics paved the way for EssentiallySports. With the dream to return to my athletic roots and absorb as much knowledge as I can, I am grateful to keep on learning new things every day about various sports.

Despite being more of an off-court reader, the thrill that game coverage instilled within me got me more involved with the NFL. Even though the stories revolving around the NFL are very intriguing, the hype and energy of the games is the literal cherry on top for me. When I am not immersed in NFL gameplays and off-court stories, I am usually lost in writing poems, cooking, and playing with colors.

When Shedeur Sanders was snubbed from the EA Sports CFB 25 cover for Travis Hunter [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-ncaa-news-despite-topping-big-twelve-qb-rankings-shedeur-sanders-snubbed-by-ea-sports-twenty-while-travis-hunter-steals-the-show/], there were sizzling talks. What would happen if Shedeur Sanders is ditched in the first-round draft in NFL 2025 and Travis Hunter is drafted as a top-5 pick? As wild as the prediction sounds, an NFL veteran believes it could be a strong possibility. Travis Hunter, the two-way star expected to redefine what it means to be a player playing on both sides of the ball in the league, is a hot topic of discussion among the early mock draft experts. Darrin Chiaverin, a former Colorado student and the current head coach of Northeastern State football, strongly iterated his view of Hunter in the 2025 NFL draft on the Pregame Network show. With no ifs or buts attached, Chiaverin dropped the straightforward opinion on the Pregame Network. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_J87joildg] “Travis Hunters’s a top-five pick next year in the draft,” the NFL veteran said. Meanwhile, there will be one requirement from Hunter: to swiftly overtake the “wide-open offenses” of the top teams in the Big 12. Chiaverin believes it would be “interesting to see what Hunter does.” The two-way star might as well drop some of his finest strategies this season to lock his widely talked about draft position as a top 5 pick. The 2023 Paul Hornung award recipient and the possible 2024 Heisman Champion is indeed a top favorite among draft experts. Looking at all the positions he is securing in various mock drafts, Hunter might as well end up being the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft. TRAVIS HUNTER 2025 MOCK DRAFT RANKINGS Although Hunter has yet to secure a top spot in the 2025 mock drafts, he has already secured a first-round spot in them. Draft Kings awarded Hunter +2000 betting odds, the sixth-highest, to be the No.1 pick in the NFL draft. Even the Athletic has fair trust in Hunter’s abilities, ranking him the 9th draft off the board in their mock draft, along with being the first Buff to be drafted in 2025. Ranked as a five-star prospect by ON3, the 6-1, 165-pound two-way star is compared with not one but two icons in the NFL. Justin Jefferson offensively and Trevon Diggs defensively. Ryan Wilson from CBS Sports ranked Travis Hunter as the No.2 overall pick in his mock draft, closely following the No.1 overall Shedeur Sanders. Based on how well he has perfected his skills, Travis Hunter’s draft stock is expected to be largely dependent upon his performance this season. 

Two-way star Travis Hunter was touted as a top 5 player by NFL veteran and Colorado alum in the 2025 NFL mock draft.

Pankti Parmar is an NFL writer at EssentiallySports. She combines her
educational background in psychology with a passion for sports to delve into the
minds of athletes and their game strategies. She's our resident expert on Jim
Harbaugh and played a pivotal role in our play-by-play coverage of Harbaugh's
journey from the Wolverines to the Chargers. Pankti's fascination with football
began with notable quarterbacks like Brock Purdy and Tom Brady. When away from
ES Desk, she can be found on the combat mat, practicing self-defense and
kickboxing.

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Colorado Alum & NFL Vet Makes Bold Prediction on Travis Hunter’s Future as He Assesses CU's Upcoming Season

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Deion Sanders

Who is Deion Sanders? Deion Sanders is a former NFL cornerback, MLB outfielder, and present-day college football coach. Nicknamed Prime Time and &#8216;Neon Deion&#8217; during his collegiate football career, Sanders won 2 Super Bowl rings during his 14 years in the National Football League. Teams like the Atlanta Falcons, the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Redskins, and the Baltimore Ravens witnessed his prowess. Former NFL player and sportscaster Deion Sanders visits the SiriusXM set at Super Bowl 50 Radio Row at the Moscone Center on February 4, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM) In 2020, Prime Time entered the coaching hemisphere as he took charge of the Jackson State Tigers football program. Sanders turned the Tigers&#8217; losing record into back-to-back winning years and South West Athletic Conference Championships. Sanders left the JSU program to take the University of Colorado head coaching job for the Buffaloes in December 2022. Deion Sanders&#8217; Early Life, Family, and College Life Born on August 9, 1967, Deion Sanders resided in Fort Myers Florida with his parents—Connie Sanders and Mims Sanders. Since he was a kid, Sanders had a strong inclination toward athletics and played a variety of sports like football, baseball, and track and field. However, his family was mostly inclined toward football as his dad coached the local high school team. At the age of two, his parents separated, and Sanders&#8217; mother later got married to Willie Knight. While Connie Sanders has been an inspiration for Deion Sanders, his step-dad Knight has played a big role in influencing the young Sanders. Prime Time attended North Fort Myers High School and later continued his journey at Florida State University to pursue his dreams in football and baseball. In 1985, Prime Time entered the Florida High School Association All-Century Team. He played for the Florida State football program from 1985 to 1988 after rejecting an offer to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals, being selected in the sixth round (1985). April 3, 2004 &#8211; U.S. &#8211; KRT STAND ALONE SPORTS PHOTO SLUGGED: FSUSPRINGGAME KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY PHIL SEARS/TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT (April 3) TALLAHASSEE, FL &#8212; Former Florida State University and NFL American Football Herren USA star Deion Sanders talks to the media during halftime at the Seminoles Garnet &amp; Gold spring game in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday, April 3, 2004. Sanders, one of over 30 former Seminoles attending the game, discussed plans to get former FSU student-athletes more involved with the university and its future student-athletes. (cdm) 2004 News Archive &#8211; April 3, 2004 &#8211; ZUMAm67 During the four years at Florida State, the Seminoles used Deion Sanders in their football, baseball, and track programs. In his final two years, Prime Time became a back-to-back unanimous All-American cornerback. Deion also made the third All-American team in 1986. Sanders left his mark in the history books as he broke Fred Biletnikoff&#8217;s interception return record with his 100-yard return and touchdown. Sanders also added the Jim Thorpe Award to his collection in 1988. Florida State even retired Sanders&#8217; No. 2 jersey after his iconic interception in the 1989 Sugar Bowl against Auburn with five seconds left on the clock, clinching the 13-7 win. Prime graduated with 14 interceptions, which was the second-highest in Florida State history at the time. An interesting fact in Deion Sanders&#8217; life concerning his name is the addition of the alphabet &#8216;e&#8217; in &#8216;Deion&#8217;. During his appearance in 2017 on the Rich Eisen show, Sanders disclosed how his name is &#8220;Dion&#8221; on legal documents. Referring to the same, he said, &#8220;I spelled it D-E-I-O-N. When we were kids we knew the Old McDonald song, Old McDonald had a farm. What is the next line? E I, E I O. So I implemented the E I O N. I just did it. I have to show it and when I have to show credit cards to a company that when I go through the airport. Every once in a while, somebody say, `You gotta go back to the front desk. This is not your name.&#8217; I just look at them.&#8221; Deion Sanders: Marriage, Custodial Battles, and Suicide Attempt In 1989, Deion Sanders married model Carolyn Chambers. They had been dating for a year, and for them, marriage was the next step in their relationship. Chambers and Sanders have two children together—son Deion Sanders Jr and daughter Deiondra Sanders. Deiondra, as per her LinkedIn profile, has been the director at Sc3 Sports Management for communications since June 2019. On the other hand, Deion Sanders Jr. entered the realm of football in his college days at Southern Methodist University. But, later on, he shifted his career toward fashion. Further, he released a rap track called &#8220;Swaggin&#8221; and has been in the music industry for a while now. His latest songs &#8220;Money Old&#8221; and &#8220;Kandy&#8221; were released in 2022. Alas! The relationship between Deion Sanders and Carolyn did not last, and they parted ways in 1998. While the reasons for their split were never made clear, and it was reported that the separation was due to &#8220;unresolved issues,&#8221; it led to some serious setbacks in Deion Sanders&#8217; life. The court, post-divorce, granted Carolyn Chambers the custody of their two kids, and Sanders was able to visit them as he liked. This phase was very difficult in Deion Sanders&#8217; life. Not only was his marriage falling apart, but his father was quite ill. The stress and depression from these traumatic events pushed the coach to take a consequential step. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Sanders tried to commit suicide in 1997. He drove his car off a cliff in Cincinnati. Concerning this, Sanders said, &#8220;I attempted suicide, but God had his hands on me, and it was like 40-30 foot drop.&#8221; As he felt &#8220;empty&#8221;, he recalled how this incident helped him to connect with God. This brush with mortality was explained in-depth by Sanders in his autobiography &#8220;Money &amp; Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life&#8221; in 1999 as he decided that life is worth living and became religious. In the same year, he remarried. His second marriage was with model Pilar Sanders. They were married for over three decades and share three children—sons Shedeur, Shilo Sanders, and daughter Shelomi Sanders. Credits: Imago Shilo Sanders is a talented football player who received a scholarship for the same from Florida State. Right now, he plays as a safety for the Colorado Buffaloes. Shedeur, Sanders&#8217; third son, is also a football protégé. His career took off as a QB in high school and carried on in his college life. Initially, he had committed to joining Florida Atlantic University but eventually chose Jackson State. Currently, he is the quarterback in the same team in which his brother is a safety and his dad is the coach. In the Sanders clan, Shelomi Sanders is the youngest and is an eminent basketball player. Just like her brothers, she is quite athletic. The evidence of the same was provided when, during her JSU debut in 2022, she sank a three-point shot. However, in 2013, he parted ways with her as well. This time, though, the custody of the three kids remained with Prime Time. After his split from Pilar Sanders, he got into a relationship with Tracey Edmonds. The duo first met in 2012 and eventually got engaged in 2019. However, soon, the two decided to go their ways in December 2023. The split was made public through an Instagram post uploaded by Edmonds. The most recent update concerning Deion Sanders&#8217; love life has been a rumored relationship with Latina fitness model Qiana Aviles. While nothing has been confirmed from the coach&#8217;s side, Aviles was spotted at one of the Colorado Buffaloes&#8217; games What is Deion Sanders&#8217; net worth in 2024? According to Celebrity Net Worth, Deion Sanders has a net worth of around $45 million. In his high school days, Deion Sanders was offered $75000 to participate in Minor League Baseball. However, he took a different route and went to college at Florida State. This decision eventually paved the way for Sanders to amass big earnings. Starting from the 14-year NFL glory, the coach has accumulated 45.650 million dollars and his baseball earnings add up to approximately $13.3 million. Therefore, his total career earnings as a sports star are around $58 million. However, that is not where Deion Sanders stopped with his career. He went on to become one of the eminent coaches in the world of football. CBS analyst Deion Sanders on the sidelines during the NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Credit: Getty Images) The evidence of the same was the four-year $1.2 million contract signed by Sanders in 2020 with the Jackson State Tigers. Soon though, Sanders&#8217; decision to join the Buffaloes program before his JSU contract expired needed him to buy out of his contract. That set him back by nearly $300,000. In addition to that, Sanders also had to pay Jackson State half of the remaining salary on his deal, as per the university&#8217;s athletic director Ashley Robinson. But, this setback was soon met with a positive, thanks to the current five-year contract signed with the Buffaloes worth $29.5 million. This turns out to be a salary of around $5.5 million per year. According to Sports Illustrated, this lucrative contract excludes potential bonuses and incentives.  The elements of Sanders&#8217; first-season contract worth $5.5 million  $500,000 for basic compensation  $1.75 million for radio, television, and other public appearances  $1.75 million for promotion and fundraising  $1.5 million for the development of the student-athletes  Apart from this, he has also worked as a TV sports analyst on channels like CBS, NFL Network, and Barstool Sports. This helped him earn an annual salary of $1 million, as per reports. Besides his love for sports, endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Pizza Hut, and American Express have helped him amass considerable wealth. Away from the gridiron, his autobiography, rap album, and reality shows have also added value to Sanders&#8217; net worth. His business savvy has allowed him to dabble in ventures like owning an arena football team and launching a fashion line. Deion Sanders Dabbles in College Baseball and Track Under head coach Mike Martin, Deion played baseball for the Seminoles, where he amassed a batting average of.331 in 1986 and stole 27 bases in his penultimate season. One memorable collegiate moment for Deion that he will never forget was when he competed in a 4*100 meter track relay as the Seminoles were playing Southern Mississippi in the conference semifinal baseball game. Deion Sander Professional NFL Career: Achievements and Accomplishments Deion Sanders is an athletic coalescence of a football defensive back and a baseball star outfielder. After a 4.2 and 4.29 40-yard timing in the 1989 NFL Scouting Combine, the Atlanta Falcons drafted Deion Sanders fifth overall. Sanders spent five seasons with the Dirty Birds in the NFC South before taking his talent to the Bay Area to join the San Francisco 49ers. Since his rookie days, Deion Sanders showcased his talent on the gridiron as he gathered a touchdown and recorded five interceptions. At one point, Deion was playing football for the Falcons and baseball for the Braves, and Atlanta was his house. He was the first to play two professional leagues on the same day when he played for the Falcons in 1992 and flew to Pittsburgh to play baseball the same day. Bildnummer: 00716988 Datum: 01.09.1995 Copyright: imago/Eduard BoppDeion Sanders (Atlanta Braves) am Schlagmal; Deon, Vdia, quer, Schlag, Batter, Schlagmann, Legende, Sportlegende, MLB, Major League 1995, Atlanta Braves, American Football, New York Dynamik, Baseball Herren Mannschaft USA Einzelbild Aktion Personen &#8220;Image Credits: Imago&#8221; In 1991, Deion Sanders received his first Pro Bowl selection. As Prime Time became a free agent in 1994, he enjoyed the pinnacle of his footballing career in San Francisco. After 6 interceptions a league-best 303 yards pick returns and 3 TDs, Deion won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and his first Vince Lombardi trophy in Super Bowl XXIX. Prime Time caught an end zone interception in the fourth quarter, beating the San Diego Chargers 49-26. After a fallout with the Niners, Deion Sanders joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1995. Here, he got the opportunity to fully show off his offensive prowess when his friendship with Cowboys wideout Michael Irvin blossomed into deadly on-field chemistry. Despite having arthroscopic surgery in the starting weeks, the Cowboys clinched the Super Bowl championship, making Deion a back-to-back Lombardi winner. Sanders returned an 11-yard punt and picked off a 47-yard throw while on offense, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX. November 2, 1997 &#8211; San Francisco, California, U.S &#8211; San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys at Candlestick Park Sunday, November 2, 1997. 49ers beat Cowboys 17-10. Dallas Cowboys defensive back Deion Sanders NFL American Football Herren USA 1997: 49ers 17:10 Cowboys &#8211; ZUMAg52_ 19971102_zap_g52_019 Copyright: xAlxGolubx &#8220;Image Credits: Imago&#8221; At that time, he was also the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL with a $35 million contract. The legendary football player got a chance to play four seasons with the Cowboys and in all those seasons he received a Pro Bowl selection. Prime Time signed with the Washington Redskins for a seven-year $56 million contract at the end of the 2000-01 season but decided to hang it up in July 2001. However, Sanders came back from retirement in 2004 to join Ray Lewis in the Baltimore Ravens. He retired at the end of the 2005-06 season after the Ravens failed to make the playoffs, ending his career with six first-team All-Pro and eight Pro Bowl selections. In his entire NFL career, he contributed 22 and 3523 yards on punt and kickoff returns. In the year 2011, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Deion Sanders as an NFL Analyst The only person in professional sports history to play in the World Series and the Super Bowl Deion Sanders worked as an analyst for the NFL Network since 2006. He made an impromptu appearance during the Cowboys vs Falcons match in the broadcast booth. In 2007 and 2008, he returned to the channel to cover Bengals vs 49ers, Steelers vs Rams, and Ravens vs Cowboys. Earlier he worked as an analyst on CBS&#8217; NFL Today (2001-2003) and subordinate appearances on ESPN. He spent 14 years as an analyst for the NFL Network, appearing on various shows including Thursday Night Football. In 2020, the sports network and the football star decided to part ways. Per the New York Post, the two bodies couldn&#8217;t come to an agreement. The NFL Network required Deion Sanders to take a pay cut from his salary as a part of the overall NFL budget cut. Deion Sanders looks on after being inducted into the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class during an announcement at the Super Bowl XLV media center in Dallas, Texas. (Credit: Getty Images) After dedicating his 14 years with NFL Network, Prime Time turned to Barstool Sports to host a podcast &#8220;21st and Prime” and participated in &#8220;Po Football Show.” However, in 2023, Dan Katz on X confirmed that the legendary athlete won&#8217;t be returning to Barstool Sports&#8217; Pro Football Show for the upcoming season. Deion ‘Prime’ Sanders Entering the World of Coaching Deion Sanders is already accoladed for his achievement as an athlete. However, that is not where his expertise stops. Popularly known as &#8216;Coach Prime&#8217;, he kicked off his coaching career when he became the head coach of his co-founded Prime Prep Academy. The school soon shut down in 2015. In 2020, Deion Sanders officially entered a proper coaching profession when he became the 21st coach of the Jackson State Tigers. Sanders led the team to the Southwestern Athletic Conference title with a record of 11 wins. This prompted his name as the recipient of the 2021 fall Eddie Robinson Award for FCS head coach of the season. Also, the next two seasons witnessed a disheartening result at the Celebration Bowl. Thus, making the overall bowl record for the new coach to 0-2. Nonetheless, over the three seasons with Jackson State, the numbers 27-6 inclined in the coach&#8217;s favor as he led the HBCU school to back-to-back South West Athletic Championships. However, he soon shifted to Colorado Buffaloes as he graduated to the Pac-12 conference when he joined the University in December 2022. His sons Shilo and Shedeur also moved also joined the Buffaloes. The 2023 season for the Colorado Buffaloes started satisfyingly with more than a couple of wins. This garnered massive fame as the team was featured in a Times Magazine profile in October. The rest of the season was upsetting for the Buffaloes, they ended up with a 4-8 record. Despite this, Sanders&#8217; efforts for college football allowed him to be nominated for Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. The passion and hard work behind leading the Buffaloes can be followed on Season 2 of Coach Prime on Amazon Prime. Deion Sanders in Popular Media Deion Sanders received his iconic name &#8220;Prime Time&#8221; from an old friend and high schoolmate, Florida Gators DB Richard Fain. Besides being known for the Bandana on his forehead and his celebrated high-step running stance into the end zone, Deion also released his own rap album. With the help of friend and rapper MC Hammer, Neon Deion belted out the rap album in 1994. After winning the Lombardi with the Niners in 1995, Sanders hosted NBC&#8217;s Saturday Night Live, where he performed a few singles from his album, notably &#8216;Must Be the Money&#8217;. Prime Time and MC Hammer also collaborated on &#8220;Straight To My Feet&#8221; from the &#8216;Street Fighter&#8217; soundtrack in 1995, in addition to appearing in Hammers&#8217; &#8220;2 Legit 2 Quit&#8221; and &#8220;Pumps and a Bump&#8221; music videos. Sanders is also fondly remembered for taking the Kardashians on during his appearance on an episode of Celebrity Family Feud in 2008. Additionally, he featured in other prime time slots like &#8216;Running Wild With Bear Grylls&#8217;, a cameo appearance in the TV show—The League, and competing against Justin Bieber in an episode of Spike&#8217;s Lip Sync Battle. Apart from all these, Deion Sanders starred in a reality show in 2008 called &#8216;Deion and Pilar: Prime Time Love&#8217; with his second wife, Pilar. In 2012, Sanders founded the Prime Prep Academy Charter School and also made appearances on the Oprah Network for &#8216;Deion&#8217;s Family Playbook&#8217; in 2014. Deion Sanders social media  Twitter @deionsanders  Instagram  @deionsanders  Facebook  @deionsanders  &nbsp;  Full Name Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr.  Popular Name Prime Time, Coach Prime  Birth Place Fort Myers, Florida, USA  Birth Date August 9, 1967  Height 6 ft 1 in  Weight (in pounds) 198 lbs  Parents Connie Sanders, Mims Sanders  College Florida State University  Siblings Tracie Knight  Relationships/Marital Status Divorced  Children 5  Nationality American  Ethnicity Black  NFL Draft 1989  Position in NFL Cornerback, Wide Receiver  NFL Teams Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens  Coached Jackson State Tigers (2020-2022), Colorado Buffaloes (2022- )  Retirement 2006  Touchdowns 22  Interceptions 53  Popular Media SMAC Entertainment   &nbsp;

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