Joel Klatt explains why Shedeur Sanders should return to Colorado in 2024

Shedeur Sanders might have NFL prospects at the end of the season, but Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt argued why the quarterback should return to Colorado in 2024.

Colorado could be much better than it is now. At 3-0, the Buffaloes are No. 19 in the country but still behind teams like USC, Washington, Oregon and even Oregon State.

A move to the Big 12 is on the horizon and Sanders could be the star college football needs and wants next fall.

“Deion’s gonna be there next year,” Klatt said on The Herd. “So is Travis Hunter because he has to be there, he can’t transfer, he hasn’t graduated. So he can’t have that free second transfer. He’s going to be there and they’ll probably clean up their line play a little.

“I would assume that they would do better in the portal. They’re having the recruits, by the way, call them at a staggering rate right now in the 2024 class, 2025 class. So there’s in my estimation, this is the worst they will be right now. 

Klatt also argued NIL could play a factor in addition to familiar faces and a potentially better team in 2024.

“So Shedeur can think to himself, listen, I’m gonna be with my dad and Travis and give this another year,” Klatt said. “And there’s every reason to believe that he could be the No. 1 pick next year (in the 2025 NFL Draft). 

“Now, whether it’s all just about where you’re picked, I’m not sure, but this NIL thing is so different and think about, by the way, you see the numbers of these broadcasts. We think of NIL like oh yeah, he can make a couple million bucks. I think Shedeur might be able to make 10 million dollars.”

Shedeur Sanders back to Colorado in 2024?

The NIL argument is interesting to think about regarding Sanders. As it stands, Sanders’ NIL valuation per On3 is listed at $5.1 million, in terms of an annual value. In college football, that’s No. 1 out of all athletes.

Overall, Sanders only trails Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, in all sports. Sanders is also ahead of athletes like LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne and Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter is No. 6 overall at $2.2 million and Shilo Sanders, Shedeur’s brother, is No. 51 overall at $719,000.

Just imagine that valuation doubling next year and Shedeur Sanders could be the face of college football. It’s not out of the realm of possibility, especially with a loaded team and his father Deion running the show in Boulder.