Despite Underwhelming CU Debut, Shedeur Sanders Joins Heisman Winners Joe Burrow and Caleb Williams in Elite Company of CFB Players

When Shedeur Sanders arrived with Deion Sanders in Colorado in December 2022, the Buffs were a struggling team with just one win that year. Perhaps he couldn’t take the wins higher than four, but it was a challenging debut season for him in Colorado. He became the most sacked QB last season after taking 52 hits, showing how weak the Buffs’ offense was. 

Despite the adversity, he made an impact on the team, locking down above-average records by securing 2,320 yards and 27 touchdowns despite missing the final season game. So, it’s no wonder he secured a place for himself among some of the best college football players. 

Shedeur Sanders makes it to the list of the 10 most impactful transfers of the portal era

According to a recent report by 247Sports on X, Shedeur Sanders found a place among the most impactful transfers of the portal era at 10. This list of elite CFB players includes Heisman winners Caleb Williams at No. 3, who the Chicago Bears recently drafted as the No. 1 overall pick, and Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow at the top of the list who won the Heisman Trophy in 2020. 

Caleb Williams was a valuable weapon at USC and took his team from a disheartening 4-8 record in 2021 to 11-3 in 2022. He holds numerous program records, including the single-season record for total offense with 4,919 yards, among others. Joe Burrow also brought waves of changes to LSU when he scored 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns, leading his team to a CFP Championship in 2020. He’s followed on the list by Justin Fields, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The other stars on the list

Justin Fields played college football at Ohio State, where he earned the title of the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year two times. He also led the Buckeyes to the 2021 National Championship Game. At No. 4 after Williams, LSU Jayden Daniels takes the honor after winning the 2023 Heisman Trophy, followed by Washington Huskies Michael Penix Jr., who led his team to a CFP appearance last season. 

Shedeur Sanders may not have had a highly successful season in 2023 or locked similar records like these fellow players, but his being on the list shows his capabilities as an elite QB — something that might be on display in 2024. The Buffs will open the regular season with a game against North Dakota State on August 29. Their first-game performance would be crucial in setting the foundation for wins that Deion Sanders and Colorado are fighting for.