Shilo Sanders’ Status as Highest NIL-Valued Safety in College Football Questioned After Bankruptcy Decision Following $11.8 Million Lawsuit

Someone other than Deion Sanders and his son Shedeur has landed himself in trouble for a change. It is none other than Coach Prime’s other son, Colorado Buffaloes safety Shilo, who is known as the highest NIL-valued safety in college football. However, such status was exposed to much criticism when, in 2015, Shilo got involved in a lawsuit after being disruptive in school and getting involved in a physical altercation with the security officer. 

All Shilo did was declare bankruptcy eight years later to evade the charges that amounted to $11.8 million. Amidst this altercation, what suffers most other than Shilo’s reputation is that his NIL earnings are now under the radar. 

Is Shilo declaring bankruptcy a tactical move?

Shilo appears to be one smart kid. Back in 2015, the Buffs safety had been sued by a Focus Academics security guard for damages related to an alleged assault. He was asked to pay $11.89 million in damages. While they have yet to be paid out, per the latest claims, Shilo refuted from accurately disclosing his assets, the NIL deals he has signed in particular. 

Per the data provided by ON3 on the NIL valuation of different athletes, Shilo is known as the safety with the highest NIL valuation, amounting to $1.1 million. Going by the speculations, he thought it wise to flip the narrative to escape the damages he had to pay. In December 2023, Shilo divulged assets worth $320,477.

The amount did not match the amount that the safety disclosed in October 2023, which was $477,881. Additionally, the amount revealed did not contain any information about Shilo indulging in expensive clothing, and most importantly, it avoided disclosing the various public NIL deals that Shilo got involved with brands like TurboTax, KFC, and Oikos yogurt. 

According to court documents, “The schedules make no mention of any number of partnerships, deals, and/or contracts with any agents and/or managers including but not limited to SMAC Entertainment, Well Off Media, Colorado University, Tabetha Plummer, Georgie Moskowitz, Constance Schwartz, and any other company/agent/manager.” But what exactly happened back in 2015 that led Shilo to lose his cool?

Shilo’s disruptive behavior exposed

According to the reports, Coach Prime’s son filed a bankruptcy proceeding with the sole purpose of avoiding paying $11.89 million figure to the security guard involved in the assault, Josh Darjean. During the alleged incident, Darjean was assigned to escort Shilo to in-school suspension on the occasion of Deion Sander’s son breaking the school’s no-phone policy when he allegedly called his mother, Pilar. 

It was then Shilo got involved in a physical altercation when he slammed his elbow into Darjean’s chest. As per his 2016 lawsuit, the guard “sustained severe and permanent injuries including a broken neck, damage to his cervical spine, permanent neurological injuries and irreversible incontinence.” Later, in 2022, the trial court found that Shilo was guilty and awarded him the damages, which the safety tried to dodge by adhering to a smart path. 

Till now, Shilo Sanders, apart from being Deion Sanders’ son, had created a reputation for himself based on his NIL valuation. However, the lawsuit and bankruptcy in question put Shilo’s NFL debut, which is scheduled for next year, at stake. Will he now seek the help of his father and brothers to get himself out of the trouble?