How Shedeur Sanders leads college football in passing backyards –

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

• Senior WriterOct 13, 2023, 08:00 AM ET Close College football reporter.
• Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
• Graduate of Northwestern University.Late in the 3rd quarter last

Saturday, Colorado routed Arizona State 17-14 with the offense near midfield dealing with second-and-3. The previous Buffaloes belongings had actually ended like so

numerous others this season, with quarterback Shedeur Sanders getting sacked behind a patchwork offending line. Three Sun Devils defenders converged on Sanders for the sack and he walked off the field with among his shoulder pads exposed.The next drive would be different, however, as Sanders noticed the rush and rushed upfield for an initially down. He

ended the run by decreasing his shoulder into ASU defensive back Jordan Clark. The message Sanders sent was twofold– both to his colleagues and his challenger.”That was truly a scare strategy,”he said.”They understand I’m going to reduce my shoulder, so they’re not going to think anything sweet with me.

“Colorado went on to win 27-24, improving to 4-2 thanks in big part to its quarterback. But the concern moving on becomes: For how long can he withstand

the pummeling he takes in the pocket?”If Colorado didn’t have Shedeur, they wouldn’t win a game, point blank, it’s that basic,”a Power 5 coach told ESPN.”He’s getting killed, though. I feel bad. He’s such a difficult kid.”Sanders, the youngest son of Colorado coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, leads college football in passing backyards (2,020). He set Colorado’s single-game group passing record (510 yards )in his Buffaloes debut at TCU. He has assisted Colorado conquered sluggish starts, especially during an overtime win against Colorado State, and recently at Arizona State. He rallied his team from a 34-7 deficit to within a single score versus USC.Sanders also goes into Friday night’s home game against Stanford(10 p.m. ET, ESPN) leading the country in getting sacked– 30 times in six games, four more than second place. He has 4 games of 348 passing backyards or more and three with four touchdown passes, however has been sacked a minimum of 3 times in every contest– eight in a win over Nebraska and 7 in a loss to Oregon.One of the nation’s most valuable quarterbacks is also amongst the most at-risk. Editor’s Picks 2 Related”It’s tough to be a successful quarterback when you have people hitting you,”Oregon coach Dan Lanning told ESPN.”He’s done an incredible task of still having success, still playing truly

well, in spite of being hit. “The hits and sack numbers for Sanders are staggering.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Sanders is the first player in the previous 20 seasons to lead the FBS in passing yards and sacks taken through six games (West Virginia’s Will Grier was third in both classifications in 2018). He’s the very first player to be sacked 30 times in the first 6

games since Idaho’s Matt Linehan in 2014, and has taken in the most hits( 93)of any FBS quarterback through six games in the past 5 seasons.Sanders is on pace to connect the FBS single-season record for being sacked at 60– currently owned by Pitt’s Tino Sunseri in 2011 (the NCAA began to recognize sacks as a main fact in 2000 ).”The hardest thing to do in sports is quarterback when you’re not secured always, “Stanford coach Troy Taylor, a quarterback at Cal and in the NFL, informed ESPN.

“He’s safeguarded often, just not always. To be able to go back with the objective to get great security whenever, and continue to complete and keep your eyes downfield, what he’s done is amazing. He’s taken a number of hits

and he simply keeps playing.” The installing hits, while confirming Sanders’nerve, are likewise a source of issue. Arizona State sacked Sanders 5 times, including twice on the opening belongings. Deion Sanders opened his press conference by saying he’s”tired of this, “including,”How do you start out a game like that, with a quarterback like this?”Inquired about Shedeur sitting alone on the bench at one point during the game, Deion said, “He’s disturbed with the method it’s going, he’s disturbed with hit after hit after hit. You think he’s happy being the most-sacked guy … in college football, and he’s still doing what he’s capable of doing? He’s ill of it.”Shedeur minimized disappointment in those minutes, stating he was concentrated on not holding the ball too long, and ultimately

switching into”legendary mode “to lead a scoring push. He hasn’t blamed Colorado’s offending line or anybody for the sacks and hits. The junior has acknowledged being sore, but always with a smile.After the USC game, he stated his ankle “hurts a bit, I ain’t gon na lie,”before rotating to how his shins are frequently inflamed

because he was”a clumsy kid”who banged them on desks in school. Days later on, he confessed taking an ice bath for almost an hour following the USC loss. “Shedeur don’t complain,” Deion Sanders said today.” It’s simple for him to stay up here and say,’ I’m getting hit left, right, in between.

‘I understand he’s sore, since he remains in a hot tub and he’s doing things to make sure his body is directly. But he does not complain. He’s not gon na toss his linemen under the bus. He’s not gon na do any of that, that’s simply who he is. ” Shedeur Sanders leads the FBS in passing backyards, however also in sacks taken.” He’s such a hard kid.” Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images Deion Sanders raised his sons to approach the game that way– to not blame their battles on others. Shedeur always played quarterback and Deion, one of the best ever tosafeguard QBs, would whiteboard defenses for him at their home. The information of the game mattered, therefore did the pressures it presented.”He’s a darn Sanders,”Deion said of Shedeur.”That was understood around the baby crib that you’re gon na be mentally and physically hard.”Darrell Colbert Jr. teamed with Shedeur’s brother, Deion Sanders Jr., at SMU in 2014 and 2015 and kept in mind Shedeur, then in intermediate school, visiting to throw passes. Colbert began training quarterbacks in Houston after he finished playing, and started dealing with Shedeur in 2019. Colbert is stunned by the number of hits Sanders has taken this season–“

They said he had actually been struck 55 times in [the first] three games, which is actually insane, “he said– however not by Sanders getting up each time.”I have actually seen him take some hits throughout the years and bounce right back up, “said Colbert, who has attended every Colorado

game.”I understood taking a couple of sacks each game, getting tackled, none of that was going to stop him from performing. That’s simply the kind of guy he is, a goon.” Among the factors Sanders has actually endured many sacks is the offseason lineup flip at Colorado. Deion Sanders upgraded a number of positions, namely quarterback, however left Colorado’s offending line alarmingly thin entering the season. Veterans such as Jake Wiley(UCLA ), Casey Roddick (Florida State )and Austin Johnson(Purdue )moved, and Colorado’s inbound transfers, while solid players, weren’t overly decorated.Colorado has had three linemen start every game, including tackles Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan and Savion Washington, and two others are set to start their fifth game tonight. Coordinator Sean Lewis’ scheme includes quick passes, but also a great deal of them. Sanders leads the FBS in dropbacks per game at 51.5, 5 more than the next-highest QB(Hawai’i’s Brayden Schager). Colorado ranks fourth nationally in passing attempts, but

its pressure rate– the percentage of dropbacks where the quarterback is sacked, under pressure or hit– is just 23rd highest at 38.1%. Get your favorite live sports, stories and originals with ESPN+, Disney+and Hulu. Update to a Disney Bundle strategy and begin streaming something for everybody today! Stanford enters tonight’s game with just eight sacks, connected for 104th nationally, however sophomore outside linebacker David Bailey has four. “Pass rush is going to be a huge aspect,”Taylor said,”and then having the ability to keep him in the pocket and stand back there.”Like any quarterback, Sanders is accountable for some of the sacks and pressures. He spoke before the ASU game about needing to”accelerate up “and acquire higher convenience in the offense. Although Sanders has movement and has acquired 221 yards with three hurrying goals, his preference is to run from the pocket.”The last thing he wishes to do is remove running,”Colbert said.”A great deal of times, people see [

a defender] coming complimentary, so you take off and run … however what he does is remain in the pocket, takes the heat

if he has to, or tries to make people miss in the pocket and keeps his eyes down the field to find an open guy. We talk about it, however that’s simply who he is.”However the length of time can Sanders keep the mix of production and discomfort? He’s durable at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, however every hit increases the danger for

injury. Sanders understands the requirement to be both wise and tough.He texts regularly with Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, and also has talked with Colorado analyst Pat Shurmur, the former New York Giants and Cleveland Browns coach, about maintaining himself in spite of the penalty.”He’s had a lot of quarterbacks in the [NFL], and was like,’The best quarterbacks can stay healthy,'”Sanders stated of Shurmur.”That’s the main thing, just investing your time in things that matter, which is your health, and doing the daily things to make

sure you’re proactive and not reactive. “Deion Sanders made it clear after the ASU win that Colorado’s practices, particularly beginning gradually and not safeguarding Shedeur, will require to alter down the stretch. The Buffaloes are”waiting on him to place on his cape and do what he does,”which has equated to a strong start, but might not be a sustainable formula for the second half of the season. The last quarterback to finish in the leading 3 in both passing and being sacked, New Mexico State’s Chase Holbrook in 2006, was part of a team that went 4-8. Colorado might want to become more balanced on offense. Running back Alton McCaskill, a first-team All-AAC choice at Houston who missed all of last season with an ACL injury, is set to take on a larger function together with Dylan Edwards and Anthony Hankerson.But when games are on the line, Sanders desires the ball in his hands, in the pocket, looking to make a play and deal with whatever comes his method.”It’s simply something that kicks in,”Sanders said. “Losing’s just not in me.”