The hype around Shedeur Sanders is soaring high ahead of his NFL draft debut! The Colorado Buffaloes quarterback is quickly becoming a big name with the potential to surpass Georgia’s Carson Beck. Now, Shedeur isn’t just relying on his raw talent. A recent confirmation from a Colorado staffer reveals his relentless work ethic mimicking a Heisman winner.

For the past month, Shedeur has been showcasing his leadership qualities. He’s been organizing training minicamps for his wide receivers and is even making strong connections with his offensive teammates in the locker room. Now, it looks like these efforts hint at a bigger ambition brewing — the Heisman Trophy.

Corey Phillips, the team’s Director of Player Personnel, can attest to Sanders’ dedication. On a recent DNVR Sports podcast, Phillips was asked about his experience with former LSU quarterback and last year’s Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. When questioned about similarities between Daniels and Sanders, Phillips enthusiastically confirmed, “There’s a lot of similarities in the way they go about their business.”

He then painted a vivid picture where “Shedeur’s out there throwing in the quarterbacks’ net… working by himself on an off day.” Philips then added, “The work that goes on when nobody else is around, that’s what makes those kids special.” For him, Shedeur’s dedication echoed Daniels who was found working on his skills in the “virtual reality room” at dawn.

Now, Phillips’ confidence is infectious. He even went on to declare, “I’ve seen what a Heisman looks like, and I think we’ve got one in our locker room.” With this trajectory, it looks like Shedeur could be a much stronger threat than anyone anticipated. 

Shedeur Sanders challenges Beck for the top spot

Shedeur Sanders was a Heisman hopeful last year, and this year, betting odds favor him to win the prestigious award. However, recent “way-too-early” mock drafts threw a wrench in his plans, placing him behind Georgia’s QB Carson Beck. In fact, both ESPN and PFF had Beck as the top pick.

But there’s still hope for Buffalo fans. The latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft by Walter Football throws a curveball, placing Shedeur Sanders at No. 1 overall. They even included a mock trade scenario with the Denver Broncos, who would need a disappointing season to land the top pick. With Bo Nix already on their roster, a Sanders-led offense could make them quite unstoppable.

Of course, this is all speculation, but it shows Shedeur is emerging as a serious contender. In the same mock draft, Beck falls to the New York Giants at number two.  With his dedication to “unseen” practice sessions, Shedeur seems to put in the work to make both his Heisman and NFL draft dreams a reality.