Pat Shurmur drops clear verdict on Shedeur Sanders & Travis Hunter as the duo prepares for their NFL futures

The Colorado duo of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and the Heisman Trophy-winning Travis Hunter will play their last game in college football when the Buffaloes lock horns against the BYU Cougars in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday. The pair were projected as the top two picks in the latest ESPN mock draft.

During Thursday's news conference before the Alamo Bowl, Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur praised the NFL-bound Shedeur and listed the qualities that will make him a success in the NFL.

"I’ve told all the pro scouts if you need a quarterback take Shedeur and if you don’t take him you’re taking the second-best guy,” Shurmur said. "Most players that make it in the NFL obviously have great skill and ability, which Shedeur has, have performed at a high level, which he does, has a true love for the game, which he has, and then is going to be an outstanding teammate.

"Really those are the four cornerstones of what makes a great pro. You gotta have talent, you gotta perform, you gotta love the game. That’s where a lot of times guys fall short — they don’t love the game.

"It’s the greatest team sport in the world, so you have to have an appreciation for being a good teammate. I don’t think we [at Colorado] realize how good Shedeur is, and we won’t until he’s gone.”

Pat Shurmur not only reserved his praise for Shedeur Sanders but also pinpointed the desirability of Travis Hunter to NFL franchises.

“If they can pull that off, good for them. I’ve told all the pro scouts, if you need a quarterback, take Shedeur, and if you don’t take him you’re taking the 2nd-best guy, in my opinion," Shurmur said. "And if you don’t need a quarterback… you should take Travis.”

Shedeur Sanders' replacement leaks his NFL future

Shedeur Sanders has been extensively linked to both the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants, who are poised to have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft and are both in need of a quarterback.

In a clip posted by the Bleacher Report from the Buffs' dressing room on Friday, Sanders' expected successor, five-star quarterback Julian Lewis, who has been practicing with the team, seemed to leak which franchise Shedeur would join.

"I'm just spectating future New York Giants quarterback," Lewis said. "I'm so inspired. I get to watch him and Travis Hunter every day."

Despite Lewis' slip of the tongue, Shedeur Sanders' future in the NFL will be one of the most scrutinized picks in the 2025 NFL draft.