Is Shilo Sanders playing today? Colorado Safety's Availability for Week 13 examined

Shilo Sanders has been one of the strong points of the 16th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12) defense this season. He has made 42 tackles this year and one fumble recovery to score a touchdown, which led to an incident with a ball boy from Texas Tech.

This week, the Buffaloes will face the Kansas Jayhawks (4-6, 3-4), where a win would bring them one step closer to making the Big 12 Championship game in their first season back in the conference.

Is Shilo Sanders playing today?

Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders has not indicated Shilo Sanders's availability for the game.

Shilo was out for a few games earlier in the season due to an injured forearm in the 10-28 defeat to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Week 2.

Following surgery and a few weeks of recovery, Sanders returned to the Buffaloes in their 31-28 Kansas State Wildcats win on Oct. 13. He recorded 10 tackles in the game.

On Wednesday, Shilo spoke with The Gazette about his and the Buffaloes' recent improvement in form, saying:

It’s great. There’s ups and downs in this game. It is what it is. Coming back, I’m finally making plays and now I can do interviews and stuff. It’s nice.”

The Importance of Shilo Sanders against the Jayhawks

Shilo Sanders attempts a tackle for Colorado Buffaloes (Credits: IMAGN)

This season, Shilo Sanders has been a vital asset for the No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes's defense (32 solo tackles and 10 assist tackles). This is something that they have struggled with in the past, so knowing that they have a strong safety as part of their roster will only give Deion Sanders hope.

However, Shilo must give it his all in the game against the Kansas Jayhawks this weekend.

The Jayhawks have one of the best running backs in College Football this season on their roster. Devin Neal has recorded 926 yards and has scored 12 touchdowns this season from 126 carries. He is the main threat for the Jayhawks, who will use him throughout the game.

Should Shilo limit the talented running back's yardage, the No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes' chances of winning the game will increase.

If not, and if Neal can dominate the Buffs' defense, Colorado's chances of winning the Big 12 Championship game will be reduced.