Deion Sanders delivered a brutally candid assessment of Shilo Sanders’ performance on Saturday.
After missing three games with a forearm injury, Shilo returned to record seven tackles in Colorado’s 31-28 loss to Kansas State. Most of the attention has gone to a tackle he couldn’t make, as Wildcats running back DJ Giddens sent the safety slipping on a nifty juke.
Coach Prime didn’t mince words when asked about his son’s production.
“I thought he played horrible,” Deion Sanders said his his post-game press conference (h/t On3). “I thought he was rusty. I thought he didn’t have his footing. I thought he wasn’t breaking down. He was coming up trying to make the play but open field, one-on-one tackle, with that kind of back, that ain’t an easy task. But he’s gonna do better. I know what he has in him.”
After following his dad to Colorado, Shilo tallied 70 tackles, four forced fumbles, and a pick-six last season. However, his senior year took an early detour when suffering an injury that required surgery during Colorado’s Week 2 loss to Nebraska.
In his return, the Buffaloes allowed 426 total yards to the Wildcats at Folson Field. Colorado again faltered in the ground game, allowing 188 rushing yards, while Dallan Hayden and Isaiah Augustave combined for 21 yards on 10 carries.
Coach Prime shouldn’t be as down on his other son’s play. Shedeur Sanders completed 34 of 40 passes for 388 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.
Although Colorado welcomed back Shilo Sanders, Coach Prime has other key injuries to monitor this week. Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., Omarion Miller, and Terrell Timmons Jr. all left the game.
“Losing Travis and Jimmy and others was tremendous because they’re a vital part of our team, a vital part of our identity. They’re a vital part of who we are. So that took a blow,” Deion Sanders said. “That took a lot out of us.”
Related: Deion Sanders Had Perfect Response To Question About Travis Hunter