Colorado's Shilo Sanders on getting drafted in NFL: 'If my dad can LeBron James that thang, that'd be great'

Kyle Irving

Colorado's Shilo Sanders on getting drafted in NFL: 'If my dad can LeBron James that thang, that'd be great' image

Colorado football is looking to build on its most hyped season ever in 2023, headlined by head coach Deion Sanders' star duo of his son, QB Shedeur Sanders, and two-way weapon Travis Hunter.

Both Shedeur and Hunter are projected first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Deion's other son, Shilo, isn't as highly touted.

The senior safety has bounced around in his college career. He played two seasons at South Carolina in 2019 and 2020 before transferring to play for his father at Jackson State in 2021 and 2022.

He followed his father to Colorado when Deion took the head coaching job in 2023, and Shilo started all 11 games for the Buffaloes last season. He tallied 70 tackles, four forced fumbles, and three pass breakups, and he had several other highlights, including an 80-yard pick-six against Colorado State.

Like most college players, the 6-foot, 195-pound defensive back dreams of going to the NFL, and he had jokes about his journey when asked about it Thursday.

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Shilo Sanders cracks LeBron James joke when asked about NFL Draft

Vegas Sports Today interviewed Shilo and mentioned that some publications have his brother, Shedeur, mocked to the Raiders in the top 10 of next year's NFL Draft.

When asked about his thoughts on the city of Las Vegas and the organization as a whole, Shilo expressed confidence in himself before joking about his father's role in the draft process. 

"You know I'm going to the league, also, right? A cool little package deal [with Shedeur] would be cool," Shilo stated with a smile on his face.

"If my dad can LeBron James that thang, that'd be great. I'm just playing," he said while laughing.

MORE: How good is Bronny James? NBA scouting report for LeBron's son

Shilo was, of course, referencing how LeBron's son, Bronny, was just selected by the Lakers with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Bronny wasn't a projected first-round pick — just like Shilo — but he still heard his name called by his father's team.

The Colorado safety has the self-confidence that he'll make it to the NFL on his own merit, but he couldn't help but play into some timely banter with Bronny's career getting underway in NBA Summer League.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.