Is there any comparison between the best quarterback in college football and arguably the best quarterback in the NFL? As per Shedeur Sanders’ teammate, that’s how it is. With just a season since he stepped foot into the NFL, C.J. Stroud is already one of the biggest names in the league with his caliber, and if Dallan Hayden’s words are to be believed, Shedeur is quite similar to the Houston Texans’ quarterback.

Shedeur Sanders, the QB for the Colorado Buffaloes, is touted as the best quarterback in the 2024 class. With predictions already landing him as a top-3 draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, this year will make or break Shedeur’s career in the NFL. Names like Carson Beck and Quinn Ewers contend for the same position, so it is improbable that Shedeur’s draft stock will be drastically delayed, come rain or shine. As per Dallan Hayden, Shedeur and Stroud mirror each other in many ways, despite being in different leagues.

Shedeur Sanders and C.J. Stroud are really similar, as per Dallan Hayden

At the Colorado Buffaloes’ press conference, Dallan Hayden was asked about the similarities between Shedeur and his former teammate CJ Stroud, and the RB had a great answer prepared. Though Stroud is a brilliant talent in the NFL, and Shedeur dominates the NCAA, Hayden had quite the list of pointers to list.

As per Hayden, Shedeur and Stroud are similar and said, “To be honest, him and CJ emulate each other, like, both business oriented when it comes to the game, both smart quarterbacks and both great teammates, like, encouraging.“ The two might get to compare their business orientations on the gridiron together next year when Shedeur heads to the NFL and faces off against Stroud from the rival or maybe the same team. That said, let’s compare C.J. Stroud’s last college year to Shedeur’s 2023 season to see how they rank in terms of their statistics.

Shedeur Sanders vs. C.J. Stroud: Who has the better college numbers?

Shedeur Sanders has a long way to go if he’s striving to equal C.J. Stroud’s skills and abilities. And yet, Hayden’s comparisons between them might just hold a lot of weight since the numbers between the two quarterbacks don’t differ all that much from each other. During his last season with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2022, Stroud recorded phenomenal stats, but they were not too indifferent from Shedeur’s 2023 season.

In 2022, Stroud recorded over 3,688 total yards and 41 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Whereas Shedeur, in 2023, recorded 3,230 yards covered, 27 touchdowns, and three interceptions, which is the only area where he has the former Buckeyes’ star beat. This is Shedeur’s last season with the Buffaloes, and he has a clear shot at one-upping the Texans QB in the upcoming months. Still, he will focus on the overall development of the team rather than his accolades since this is the year for the redemption of the Buffaloes.