Kansas State HC Chris Klieman talks Shedeur Sanders' NFL draft stock before Colorado matchup 

Shedeur Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes return to action in Week 7 as they look to continue their impressive outing in the 2024 college football season. The Buffaloes were off in Week 6, taking their first break of the season while holding a noteworthy 4-1 record.

Colorado hosts Kansas State, who holds a similar record, in Boulder on Saturday and this comes as a big challenge for the Buffaloes. Ahead of the encounter, Wildcats coach Chris Klieman shared a lot of praise for the quarterback, making a bold prediction about Sanders as well:

"There's a lot of concerns that we have, obviously," Klieman said. "[If you] go over to the offensive side, I think [Shedeur] Sanders will be the first quarterback picked off the board. He should be – in the film that I've seen of a lot of the top [NFL prospect] guys, I think he's an excellent thrower.

“You can't really confuse him. I've seen a lot of different teams try to manipulate coverage in disguise. And he does a really good job pre-snap to post-snap. And he can make all the throws and has a lot of guys to throw the football to," he added.

Mel Kiper sees Shedeur Sanders as 2025 NFL draft QB1

Chris Klieman is not alone in his opinion about Shedeur Sanders regarding the upcoming NFL draft. A host of notable people in the football world also feel the same. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper also believes Sanders will be the first quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL draft.

The signal-caller’s ability to persevere under relentless defensive pressure is a key reason why Kiper considers him to be the top quarterback prospect for next year's NFL draft. Sanders has had to play the whole of his time in Colorado behind a poor offensive line.

“Shedeur Sanders has had to survive," Kiper said while analyzing the quarterback for the draft via SI.com. "I don't know any other quarterback that could, and still be out there... to keep getting back up and competing. I'm ready to put Shedeur at QB1, I really am, just because of that reason."

Despite facing intense pressure, including enduring 17 sacks in just five games this season, Sanders has demonstrated exceptional resilience and composure. His poise in critical moments and his consistent performance, such as completing nearly 68% of his passes, have set him apart as a premier talent.

A brilliant outing against Kansas State will further increase his reputation as the season progresses. The Wildcats were considered contenders for the Big 12 title during the offseason and they look to be on the route for that.