Gary Barnett believes Colorado's Shedeur Sanders underrated going into 2023 season

Don't sleep on SS2 as a threat in the Pac-12

Shedeur Sanders hears the critics loud and clear. But he's not concerned about the nonsense. Whether they say he's not prepared to make the transition to FBS, or he's only at Colorado because of his father, it's all irrelevant noise. 

A former CU coach has a theory as to why the outsiders are chiming in about Sanders' progression.

"I don't think that many people actually saw him play at Jackson State," Gary Barnett recently told KOA.

There might be some truth to that statement. Never before in the history of college football has a quarterback thrown for 70 TDs and still received as much clout as Sanders. Forget the fact that his highlight tapes are stocked full of gems, or he works to improve his mechanics with a plethora of current and former NFL stars. The haters are showing up in droves to create a false narrative about Sanders' abilities.          

"(Shedeur's) chance to play at a Power Five level and make the adjustment... Everybody is speculating as to whether or not that can happen, I don't see that as being a big deal," Barnett added. 

"I've watched this young man play (and) practice. He's got all the tools. He's going to have the coaching behind him, and I don't mean just in his dad. But I'm talking about his position coach and (Sean Lewis). That's going to let him become an even better player than what he has been." 

Colorado announced its return to the Big 12 conference starting next year. It is a better fit for several reasons, but it will also mean games in Texas for the Sanders family. Shedeur, along with his older brother Shilo, grew up playing high school football at Trinity Christian just outside Dallas. 

The opener with TCU will be a preview of "coming attractions," of sorts. It'll also amplify the match-up, which needs no additional promotion. CU's first major broadcast in the Coach Prime era against last year's national runner-up. There's a great deal to look forward to in a short amount of time.