Shedeur Sanders sends message to NFL doubters with Colorado gesture

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders responded to his critics with an impressive performance and a telling gesture after a big win over bitter rivals Colorado State on Saturday night.

Sanders was heavily criticized for his play and attitude after the Buffaloes suffered a heavy defeat to rivals Nebraska last week, but the senior bounced back in style on the road at Sonny Lubick Field.

Sanders completed 36 of 49 pass attempts for 310 yards and four touchdowns as the Buffs improved to 2-1 on the year with a 28-9 victory in Fort Collins. The 22-year-old made a conscious effort to recognize the efforts of his offensive line on Saturday night after being slated for appearing to criticize his teammates in the aftermath of the Nebraska beatdown.

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Sanders was sacked five times by the Cornhuskers, continuing the woes of last season when the Buffs' offensive line was the second-worst in the nation, and he said in his postgame press conference last week: "I mean, how many times did [Dylan] Raiola get touched? Of course, when you're able to run the ball consistently, that opens up the pass, you know?

"But it's just like, you've got to understand what your team's good at. Why would we keep running the ball when we get out there, and there's a must-get situation, and we don't get it?"

Sanders' comments were widely criticized, with pundits saying they were a red flag for NFL Draft scouts ahead of him heading to the pro ranks next year.

He had a much more comfortable evening in Fort Collins, taking just one sack, and he was sure to pay tribute to the big men in the trenches. Sanders brought his offensive linemen into his postgame press conference alongside two-way superstar Travis Hunter.

Sanders says his words were taken out of context after the Nebraska loss and he insists team spirit remains strong.

He said: "It was a change in everything. We all got together and understood that we've got to do it. That's when the family and the friendships got together when everybody tried to push us against each other, flip words and do everything like that.

"Together, we stand as a family and all as one. That's just one example of the media with regards to what they try to paint everything, [but] you can't push us against each other."

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Head coach Deion Sanders was delighted with the efforts of his linemen. He said: "I’m truly proud. I mean coming down the street from the time we walked out the locker room [last week], I heard how much we sucked.

"And I hate using that word and that terminology, but that was said. These guys stood up. C’mon man, we could hear it. We have ears. We have two of them as a matter of fact, and we heard all of the foolishness, and [how] we might as well abandon the season with one darn loss. Do you know many people have lost one game in college football?”

The Buffs are back in action next Saturday on home turf at Folsom Field, playing their first Big 12 opponent since joining the conference when Baylor heads to Boulder.