"Best quarterback year of anybody": Joel Klatt breaks silence on why he picked Shedeur Sanders in Heisman ballot

Earlier this month, Colorado’s Travis Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy. However, another Colorado standout also garnered significant recognition.

FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt explained why he placed Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders third on his Heisman Trophy ballot, sparking debate among college football enthusiasts.

Klatt, who played quarterback for Colorado from 2002 to 2005, faced criticism for his choice. He addressed the backlash during "The Joel Klatt Show," where he detailed the thought process behind his decision.

“The third slot was really difficult. And there was a lot of players that I considered,” Klatt explained. “Ultimately, I landed on Sanders and the reason is, I just think he had the best quarterback year of anybody. And again, there are a sector of people that just don’t want anything to do with Sanders and with Deion and with Colorado.”

Klatt emphasized that his decision was rooted purely in performance.

“But if you actually look at Shedeur’s season, what you’re going to find is that nobody had a better quarterback year than Shedeur Sanders because no one was under the amount of pressure he was — both from a production standpoint and a pressure standpoint,” he added.

Shedeur Sanders had a strong 2024 regular season, amassing 3,926 passing yards and 35 touchdowns while throwing just eight interceptions. He completed 74.2% of his passes, the highest completion percentage in the nation.

In addition to leading the Big 12 in passing stats, Sanders set career highs in completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns.

Despite Colorado's struggles in pass protection, allowing 39 sacks, the ninth-most in the country, Sanders consistently delivered high-caliber performances.

Shedeur Sanders may have to look past the Raiders

Shedeur Sanders has long been linked to the Las Vegas Raiders, with rumors swirling about his desire to join the franchise. His social media activity, frequently featuring Allegiant Stadium, has only fueled speculation about his NFL ambitions.

However, recent developments may complicate this possibility. The Raiders’ narrow victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday diminished their chances of securing the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father and Colorado coach, has expressed his preference for the Raiders. However, without the top selection, the Raiders’ ability to secure Shedeur Sanders’ services remains uncertain.