From Faculty Stars to NFL Aspirants: Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward’s QB Journeys

CAM WARD AND Shedeur Sanders have been chirping at one another — once more.

As Sanders dropped again to cross in February throughout a predraft exercise on UNLV’s apply subject — considered one of many between the 2 extremely touted quarterback prospects — Ward watched as he ribbed his apply accomplice.

“They gave you a completion share award, as a result of all you probably did was throw checkdowns and bubble screens,” Ward stated. “That is truly loopy. If I did that, my completion share can be 90 [percent].”

Sanders rapidly retorted.

“You had a run recreation,” Sanders stated, bumping chest to chest with Ward.

The playful back-and-forth had grow to be customary for the 2 quarterbacks who had labored out collectively since 2022. Ward was a zero-star recruit in 2020 from West Columbia, Texas, and started his collegiate profession at Incarnate Phrase. He spent two years there earlier than enjoying two seasons at Washington State and his remaining season at Miami. Sanders was a four-star recruit at Jackson State in 2021, enjoying below his father, Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Deion Sanders, for 2 years earlier than following his dad to Colorado to complete out his remaining two seasons.

Ward and Sanders have been extensively thought to be the highest quarterback prospects within the 2025 NFL draft based on Scouts Inc. The 2 linked throughout their adorned school careers by means of their private QB coach, Darrell Colbert Jr., and so they skilled alongside one another all through the predraft course of — usually in lengthy periods blended with fierce competitors and respectful banter.

Their NFL journeys converge Sunday when the 3-9 Cleveland Browns host the 1-11 Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox), the primary assembly between two younger quarterbacks and associates attempting to salvage difficult rookie seasons. Ward, the No. 1 choose within the draft, has battled by means of on-field struggles and the Titans’ midseason teaching change, whereas Sanders, drafted No. 144 in a fall to the fifth spherical, has climbed up the Browns’ depth chart and is about to make his third begin.

“Cam’s aggressive, it is at all times enjoyable, getting on the market, coaching with him,” Sanders stated. “After which, we each ended up getting drafted, and we each went our separate methods. And that is actually everyone that I performed in school with nearly, everyone’s targeted on what they acquired to do, and it is all love each time we see one another.”

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HAVING PLAYED THE place in school, at SMU and Lamar, Colbert determined to start out coaching quarterbacks after his enjoying days led to 2018. He based Choose QB Athletics in 2019, leaning on his enjoying expertise to assist younger passers by means of private teaching.

Colbert first linked with Shedeur Sanders by means of Sanders’ older brother, Deion Sanders Jr., who was one of many coach’s teammates at SMU from 2014 to 2015. Shedeur was in center college on the time and used to tag alongside along with his older brother to their exercises, and Colbert would assist give Shedeur recommendations on enjoying quarterback.

Shedeur lived within the Dallas space on the time, however his mom, Pilar, lived in Houston, the place Colbert was based mostly. The 2 fashioned a bond and, at Shedeur’s urging, determined to work collectively when Shedeur was a junior at Trinity Christian Excessive Faculty in Cedar Hill, Texas. However the remaining determination rested within the palms of his father, who needed Colbert to go to Dallas so he might see Shedeur work out with him in particular person.

“Pops gave me a stamp of approval, so Shedeur and I’ve been rolling ever since,” Colbert advised ESPN.

The opposite connection occurred when Ward’s father, Calvin, noticed Colbert working with Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones, who’s Ward’s cousin. The elder Ward reached out to Colbert through Twitter, and Colbert started to coach Ward forward of his first 12 months at Washington State.

Colbert determined it will be a good suggestion to strive one thing he hadn’t completed earlier than and pair Sanders and Ward collectively previous to their 2022 school seasons to push one another whereas they skilled in Houston.

“It was pure. I believe it was a mutual respect,” Colbert stated. “Cam had the loopy numbers on the FCS ranges, doing all of the stuff that he had completed. Shedeur was enjoying like that as effectively. You noticed what Shedeur did his freshman 12 months at Jackson State.”

The pairing was excellent. Colbert pushed each of them, however in addition they motivated one another.

“I knew each of those guys have been very aggressive,” Colbert stated. “That additionally brings a lot extra to the coaching session than simply us doing one-on-one coaching.”

Their relationship grew from unfamiliarity to fixed trash-talking. Colbert watched as their mutual respect grew, and with that, so did their aggressive spirit.

“I assumed each of us can be simply nice quarterbacks when it is all stated and completed,” Ward stated.

There have been days when Colbert skilled Sanders and Ward, whereas in Houston, for his or her 2023 seasons, and he stated he would marvel at how they’d go three weeks straight, 4 occasions per week, with out lacking a throw. The younger QBs held one another accountable and by no means hesitated to get on each other if one thing wasn’t proper.

The connection grew to the purpose the place Colbert, Sanders and Ward would have group FaceTime calls after video games throughout their 2023 seasons and main into weeks the place there was crossover through frequent opponents, permitting them to share recommendations on frequent opponents within the Pac-12, the convention the place each quarterbacks starred.

Then there was the Nov. 17, 2023, recreation when Colorado performed at Washington State and the 2 acquired to go head-to-head. Ward bluntly knowledgeable Colbert to let Sanders know there would not be any communication between the 2 earlier than the sport. Colbert and Sanders thought Ward was joking however quickly found the aggressive drive was turned on when no FaceTime name occurred that week.

“Cam was like, ‘I am not speaking to him,’” Colbert, 29, stated. “No person thought he was critical, however he was for actual.”

Ward’s Cougars beat the Buffaloes 56-14 in a recreation by which Sanders exited within the second quarter due to damage. (And, effectively, the FaceTime calls would quickly choose again up the place they left off.)

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WARD WOULD PLAY yet another recreation at Washington State earlier than transferring to Miami. Sanders, in the meantime, remained at Colorado. Each established themselves as prime prospects main into the 2025 draft. Ward would emerge as the favourite to be drafted No. 1 by the Titans after the mix. However that is to not say former Titans coach Brian Callahan, who was fired six video games into the 2025 season, wasn’t impressed with Sanders regardless of questions on his arm energy.

“There is a prerequisite arm energy that you need to have and exhibit,” Callahan advised ESPN throughout East-West Shrine Bowl week in January. “To convey it again, even [Joe] Burrow, folks had questions on his arm energy basically popping out. One of many issues that makes Joe so distinctive, and I believe you would in all probability put Shedeur possibly in the identical dialog, is that they anticipate. They’ve the timing and so they have accuracy on prime of it. It makes up for the pure arm energy, and there is a lot extra to enjoying quarterback than with the ability to throw it.”

The Browns, who held the No. 2 choose on the time, spent intensive time within the predraft course of with each Ward and Sanders, too. The Titans, although, had homed in on Ward with the highest choice because the draft neared; Browns basic supervisor Andrew Berry advised Cleveland-based reporters on the NFL’s league assembly in Palm Seaside, Florida, in late March {that a} commerce to No. 1 was unlikely. Had Ward been accessible with the second choose, which the Browns finally traded out of with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns would have taken the quarterback out of Miami.

“[Ward] has a ton of expertise, and also you see it on tape,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski stated Wednesday. “A number of the throws, the prolonged performs, can actually match it into tight home windows. Have a variety of respect for his thoughts and the way he thinks in regards to the recreation.”

The Browns would not choose a quarterback till the third spherical, however it wasn’t Sanders, who, regardless of being projected by ESPN senior draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. as his prime QB, was enduring a free fall down the draft. Cleveland drafted Dillon Gabriel with the 94th choose, and the following day, and two rounds later, the Browns traded as much as the 144th choose to pick out Sanders. Cleveland did not view Sanders as an elite prospect worthy of a first-round choose, however Berry believed his expertise was a lot higher than that of a typical fifth-rounder.

“We felt prefer it acquired to a degree the place he was in all probability mispriced relative to the draft,” Berry stated. “Actually, the acquisition price was fairly gentle, and it is a man that we predict can outproduce his draft slot.”

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THE ROOKIE NFL seasons for each Ward and Sanders have taken on drastically completely different complexions.

Ward’s 12-game season up to now has been crammed with ups and downs. He turned the third quarterback chosen No. 1 over the previous 5 years to see his coach get fired throughout his rookie season. At 1-11, the Titans have the worst file within the NFL. And, Ward has been sacked 48 occasions, greater than some other quarterback within the league by means of 13 weeks.

Ward’s stat line is lower than spectacular. He has accomplished 246 (59.7%) of his 412 cross makes an attempt for two,351 yards to associate with seven touchdowns and 6 interceptions. His 12 turnovers are tied with Buffalo Payments quarterback Josh Allen for the fourth most within the league. The struggles have triggered some arduous occasions and challenged Ward’s love for the sport, however he has pushed ahead.

“It is for certain testing it,” Ward stated. “However somebody on the planet has it rather a lot worse than I’ve. In order that’s simply how I put it in perspective. I am very blessed. God’s blessed me with the power to do what I really like for a dwelling.”

Colbert continued to coach Sanders in the summertime as Sanders ready for coaching camp and was in Las Vegas for his first begin. The rookie turned the primary Browns quarterback since 1995 to win his first NFL begin.

Whereas Ward acquired first-team reps at first of the Titans’ coaching camp, Sanders practiced with a number of backups and roster hopefuls all through the summer time because the Browns held a quarterback competitors and divided first-team reps between the opposite QBs. Berry likened Sanders’ transition to the professionals as somebody who was “fluent in English and now you need to be taught Mandarin,” and Cleveland dealt with his growth as such all through coaching camp, bringing him alongside slowly.

Sanders made the Browns’ 53-man roster because the No. 3 quarterback behind Joe Flacco and Gabriel — Kenny Pickett was traded to the Raiders — and moved into the backup function after Cleveland traded Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 7. Sanders made his debut in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11, coming into the sport after Gabriel was positioned within the concussion protocol at halftime, however he struggled. He accomplished simply 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception within the 23-16 loss.

Stefanski confirmed after the sport that Sanders’ debut marked his first snaps with the first-team offense in any setting. Sanders, although, made his first begin in opposition to the Raiders, which meant per week of apply reps with the starters. He impressed with 209 passing yards and one landing in a 24-10 victory, and Stefanski caught with Sanders because the starter, even after Gabriel cleared the concussion protocol.

It has been a crash course, nonetheless, for Sanders, as he works to set up rapport along with his teammates, all whereas attempting to use the teachings from the previous a number of months and make enhancements in a number of areas, together with footwork and pocket presence. He has accomplished 50.8% of his passes for 405 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“I believe there’s sure issues that — sure areas that I would like to enhance in, rapidly,” Sanders stated. “Simply because I am a rookie, that is probably not an excuse on the market.”

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SUNDAY’S MATCHUP WILL have main draft implications for each groups.

A Titans loss would improve their probabilities of getting the No. 1 choose from 47.3% to 66%, based on ESPN Analytics; the chances would drop to 29% with a win. A Browns loss would improve their probabilities of getting the highest choose from 7.5% to 14%, whereas a win would drop the chances to lower than 1%. Cleveland, although, has an additional first-round choose from its commerce with the Jaguars, further draft capital that may very well be used to goal a coveted passer within the 2026 draft.

Ward has proven flashes of why he may very well be the Titans’ franchise quarterback. Interim head coach Mike McCoy noticed indicators of progress from Ward after he threw for 256 yards and a landing and scrambled for a season-high 37 yards, together with his first speeding landing, in a 30-24 Week 12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

“It is taking that subsequent step, and that is what [Ward has] completed,” McCoy stated. “We have been saying it from day one, the best way he competes, the best way he works day by day. After we first got here in within the offseason program, the early mornings, staying late, issues like that, it is beginning to repay.”

In Cleveland, the long-term resolution at an important place stays unclear with 5 video games remaining. Gabriel struggled in his six begins — his 30.9 QBR ranked solely above the Raiders’ Geno Smith — and Sanders’ pattern dimension is small. The Browns on Wednesday opened the apply window for Deshaun Watson, who hasn’t performed since tearing his proper Achilles tendon on Oct. 20, 2024.

However on Sunday, the highlight will likely be on Ward and Sanders, each making an attempt to take advantage of the ultimate video games of their rookie seasons.

This week, Colbert, in particular person, will get to see the quarterbacks he paired collectively in 2022 face off for the primary time within the NFL.

“These are issues that they talked about,” Colbert stated. “Cam has been speaking about enjoying within the NFL since he was at [Incarnate Word]. There was no, ‘Oh, everyone says that.’ He meant it. Similar factor with Shedeur. When he was at Jackson State, he knew he can be enjoying within the NFL. Having the ability to put them collectively and us coaching collectively all these years and now being on this huge stage within the NFL with everyone watching and having these guys collectively is a blessing.”

Ward advised ESPN this week that he hasn’t talked to Sanders because the draft, however he needs him the perfect — simply not this week.

“Actually, every little thing occurs for a purpose,” Ward stated. “God has a plan for me. He has a plan for [Shedeur]. On the finish of the day, you simply acquired to proceed to show your self proper. Each time he steps on the sphere, I do know he’ll show himself proper. The identical goes for me. So we simply acquired to proceed to remain within the on a regular basis mindset of getting higher, and never letting dangerous outcomes dictate the following day.”