BOULDER, Colo. – As college teammates, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter proved to be quite a tandem, first at Jackson State, and then at the University of Colorado.
Here on Friday, NFL officials converged on the campus nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills and, as snow fell outside, watched them inside the school's indoor practice facility.
The Titans, who have the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, were on hand to see the talented twosome as well – and they left impressed.
"Shedeur threw the ball well, and we got to see him out there with Travis," Titans General Manager Mike Borgonzi said after the workout. "And Travis, everything you see on film – he is one of the twitchiest athletes I've ever seen. He's impressive. It was good to see Shedeur go through the whole workout, and the two-minute drill after. It just confirms a lot of stuff you saw on tape – he can drive the deep ball, you saw that here today.
"So, it was a really good workout."
Yes, Sanders and Hunter put on quite a show at Colorado's Pro Day, what the school dubbed as the "We Ain't Hard 2 Find Showcase."
In addition to Borgonzi, Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker, Vice President Reggie McKenzie, offensive coordinator Nick Holz, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, college scouting director Jon Salge and senior national scout Mike Boni were all in Boulder as well.
Head coach Brian Callahan will be at private workout for Sanders and Hunter on April 9, with others.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders met with the Titans contingent after the Pro Day.
He made it clear beforehand he thinks his players should go 1 and 2 in the upcoming NFL Draft.
"I think we have the most qualified guys in the draft," Sanders said. "They are not a risk. Shedeur has been doing it year after year after year after year. Shedeur has led college football in this, this, this and this. And Travis, ain't nobody like Travis. So the surest bets in this draft – and I'm not a betting man, I'm a Godly man – are those two young men. And, I didn't stutter or stammer when I said that, did I?
"Alright, mic drop. Let's go."
Just like they did on Saturdays in the fall, on Friday Sanders and Hunter turned Colorado's Pro Day into a must-watch event, with Deion "Prime Time" Sanders watching himself. NFL Network was on hand to cover it live.
Sanders threw passes of all distances, from short ones to mid-range ones to long ones down field.
At one point, Sanders even threw a pass behind his back to a receiver, and it hit him in the hands.
"I've seen a lot of that with (Patrick) Mahomes in practice," Borgonzi, who previously served as assistant GM with the Chiefs, said with a smile.
Sanders acknowledged afterward he wasn't perfect on all his throws, even though it was an impressive display.
Teammates clearly responded Sanders as he led them in drills, and Hunter, a two-way star, decided to take part in the route-running portion even when some weren't certain he would. He looked fast, quick, and smooth, while catching passes thrown by Sanders.
Hunter did not run the 40, and he didn't go through the DB drills either.
Shedeur Sanders spoke to reporters afterward, while Hunter did not.
"I feel like I'm the No.1 quarterback and that's what I know," Sanders said. "But at the end of the day, I am not stuck on that, because it's about the situation. So, whatever situation and whatever franchise believes in me, and gives me the opportunity, I'll be excited to go. Wherever that falls, it doesn't really matter to me.
"Whoever drafts me, whatever pick, it truly doesn't matter to me. I know who I am, and I know what I bring to the table. Whoever sees the value in that will be very lucky to get me."
Sanders threw for 14,347 yards with 134 touchdowns and just 27 interceptions in two seasons with Jackson State and two seasons in Colorado. In 24 games at Colorado, he completed nearly 72% of his passes for 7,364 yards and 64 touchdowns, averaging over 300 yards per game.
Sanders connected with Hunter on 153 catches 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns with the Buffaloes.
Hunter won the Heisman Trophy as a two-way player, setting a Colorado single-season record with 15 touchdown receptions while being dominant for on defense, recording seven interceptions in two seasons.
Borgonzi said the Titans will find out more about the players at the private workouts.
"I think it's another touchpoint, as we call it, as we go through the process, and spend more time with them," Borgonzi said of the private workout coming up. "It's an important part of it, too – you want to spend as much time with these guys as you can before the draft. So, it will be good to spend more time with them."
Sanders, who has spent time with the Titans at the East-West Shrine Bowl, at the NFL Combine and during a 30 visit to Tennessee, said his interaction with the team has been good.
"I feel on the visit, everything was pretty good," Sanders said. "Everything was fun, everything was good. They got to know me, and I got to know them well. I am comfortable in any situation."
The Titans made the trip to Boulder on Friday morning, after severe weather in Nashville kept the group from being able to travel on Thursday as they initially planned. So, team officials ended up getting a private flight out this morning, and the group planned to return to Nashville later in the day, after the workout.
It was a marathon day, but a trip the team felt was worth making as they try to decide what to do with the first overall pick.
No decisions have been made, Borgonzi said.
The NFL Draft kicks off on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
"We are going through the process – I stated that from Day 1," Borgonzi said. "It was good to see Shedeur here, up close and in person, live. I saw him a couple of years ago when (Colorado) played Nebraska – it's the first time I saw him live. And it was good to see Travis, too."
Sanders and Hunter, meanwhile, will have to wait another three weeks to learn their fate.
Same for Miami quarterback Cam Ward, another player the Titans have scouted closely, and all the other prospects in this year's draft class.
Sanders said he'll be ready for the spotlight wherever he ends up.
"I could bring cameras and eyes anywhere I go – it don't matter where I go," he said. "I know the influence I have on society and on culture. So, wherever I go, it will definitely be improvement than what it was before I got there."
