"More than ready to lead the Colorado defense": When Coach Prime's ex-wife Pilar Sanders hyped up son Shilo Sanders ahead of Washington game

Shilo Sanders transferred to Colorado ahead of the 2023 season. The defensive back followed his father, Deion Sanders, to Boulder after spending two seasons at Jackson State. He immediately established himself as one of the leaders in the Buffaloes defense.

The season started well for Colorado in 2023, with the team winning its first three games and Shilo showing glimpses of brilliance. However, things went south for the Buffaloes at the commencement of the Pac-12 play as they recorded just one victory in nine games.

Ahead of what was Colorado’s penultimate matchup of the season against Washington State, Pilar Sanders had some hype for her son Shilo. She commented on the safety’s preparation for the game as the Buffaloes got the last chance for bowl qualification.

“My son is more than ready to lead the @cubuffsfootball defense to victory tonight! Get your #picksix baby and high step in the end zone again and again! Go @shilosanders ❤️” Pilar Sanders wrote.

How Colorado and Shilo Sanders fared in the game

Despite Pilar Sanders' pregame hype on Shilo Sanders and the team’s readiness, Colorado went on to record its biggest defeat of the season. The matchup finished in favor of the Washington State with a stark 56-14 scoreline at Gesa Field, ruling the Buffaloes out of bowl qualification.

Shilo Sanders recorded three tackles in the game, including two solos and one assist. He also recorded 0.5 tackles for loss for a yard and a forced fumble. This wasn’t enough to stop the Cam Ward-led Cougars offense from dominating the game all through.

Deion Sanders commended Washington State for the level at which it played the contest. The Cougars ended their longest losing streak since 2013 in an emphatic fashion with the win.

“They came to play from start to finish,” Coach Prime said. "They executed early, they executed often, they came to play. And with Shedeur out on top of that, it was tough.”

Despite the loss, the Buffaloes made remarkable strides, significantly surpassing the 2022 win total. However, Deion Sanders underscored after the matchup that the true measure of the program’s success lies in meeting its own rigorous expectations.

“We’re falling short of what we’re capable of, that’s the part of this that’s tough to digest. We’ve got high expectations here, so this is tremendously disappointing,” said Coach Prime.

Shilo Sanders was one of the standouts in what was a disappointing season for Colorado. He led the team in tackles with 70, while recording one tackle for loss, four forced fumbles, three passes defended and one interception which he returned for a touchdown.