SAN ANTONIO — Colorado secured what it mentioned was file insurance coverage protection for quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter as the celebrities opted to finish their faculty careers within the Alamo Bowl somewhat than sit out and put together for the NFL draft.
Colorado didn’t disclose the quantity of insurance coverage protection every obtained, citing privateness legal guidelines. Coach Deion Sanders and athletic director Rick George mentioned it was the biggest in faculty soccer historical past.
“We occur to have two gamers which might be most likely going to be the primary two picks of the NFL draft,” Sanders mentioned Monday. “We all know who these two are and so they have obtained, I feel, the very best variety of protection that has ever been lined in faculty soccer. It far exceeds anybody that has ever performed this recreation of school soccer.”
Though faculty packages preserve insurance coverage insurance policies for his or her athletes in case of harm, Colorado elevated incapacity protection for its complete roster within the Alamo Bowl. Sanders, the coach of the No. 20 Buffaloes, ensured his QB son and two-way star Hunter obtained bigger insurance policies as a result of each are anticipated to be among the many prime 10 picks within the upcoming NFL draft.
“It was his thought we should always get incapacity insurance coverage for our athletes for this recreation to make sure that they performed and if there was some form of harm, that they might be nicely taken care of,” George mentioned. “So, we labored collectively on that. We’re enthusiastic about it. We suppose it is nice that each one our gamers are enjoying within the recreation. That’s what all bowl video games needs to be like.”
Colorado (9-3, No. 23 CFP) will face the Seventeenth-ranked BYU Cougars (10-2, No. 17 CFP) within the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.
While most groups are scrambling as a result of starters are opting out of bowl video games this yr to enter the switch portal or NFL draft, the Buffaloes didn’t lose any participant on their two-deep roster.
“It’s greater than what I bought [when I played at Kansas State],” Colorado linebackers coach Andre’ Hart mentioned. “They gave us a helmet and mentioned, ‘Pop this in your leg and get on the market and play.’ For them to get that [increased insurance coverage], I simply suppose it is helpful. To discuss the place the sport is, the place it is going and the way management is caring for the gamers, I believed that is glorious.”
Shedeur Sanders accomplished 337 of 454 passes for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. Many scouting companies have Sanders rated as the highest quarterback on this yr’s draft.
Hunter obtained the Heisman Trophy as a two-way standout at cornerback and broad receiver. He had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns and as a cornerback had 4 interceptions, broke up 11 passes and restricted the opposition to 22 receptions in 688 defensive snaps.
“They’ve taken care of us, everyone,” Colorado working again Micah Welch mentioned. “It actually means quite a bit to have each teammate up right here. That’s an enormous factor. What I like about Coach Prime, they’re caring for us.”
