Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders plan to play for Coach Prime and the No. 20 Buffaloes against No. 17 BYU in Saturday's Alamo Bowl.
The problem, as anyone who has read an NFL mock draft already knows, is that the Heisman winner and Deion Sanders' son are projected first-round picks.
So rather than risk injuries (and potentially millions of dollars), the talented Colorado duo secured what is believed to be record-breaking insurance coverage ahead of their bowl game against another member of the Big 12.
And that insurance coverage, coach Prime and athletic director Rick George revealed, was secured through the school. The couple did not disclose any specific dollar amounts, but both said it is believed to be a record for college football.
“It turns out we have two players who are probably going to be the top two picks in the NFL draft,” Sanders said Monday. “We all know who those two are and I think they've received the most coverage that's ever been covered in college football. They far surpass anyone who's ever played this game of college football.”
While college programs maintain insurance policies for their athletes in case of injury, Colorado increased disability coverage for its entire roster at the Alamo Bowl. Sanders, the coach of the No. 20 Buffaloes, made sure his QB son and two-way star Hunter received expanded policies as both are expected to be top-10 picks in the upcoming NFL draft.
Travis Hunter photographed celebrating winning the 2024 Heisman Trophy in New York
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders talks with his son, QB Shedeur Sanders
“It was his idea that we should get disability insurance on our athletes for this game to ensure that they played and if there was any type of injury, they would be taken care of,” George said. 'So, we worked together on that. We're excited about that. We think it's great to have all of our players participating in the game. This is how all bowling games should be.
Things have been a bit rocky for Hunter since he won the Heisman and deleted his Instagram account amid continued public scrutiny of his fiancée Leanna Lenee.
After his team's 52-0 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in late November, he and Lenee appeared to argue as he returned to the field. She even seemed to turn her face away when he went to kiss her.
Then, when the 21-year-old won the Heisman Trophy last week, Lenee was criticized for her subdued response while celebrating.
In a separate incident, Lenee, 23, also appeared unhappy with Hunter for posing for photos with female fans.
Before her account disappeared on Sunday, fans were even speculating whether Lenee had been faithful to Hunter during their relationship.
After his Instagram page disappeared, his Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders, son of Coach Deion, spoke up for him on yell across, they know.” how to contact him or someone close.
“At this point, you guys are just posting to the algorithm trying to look good.”
Hunter deleted Instagram this weekend amid continued mockery of his fiancée Leanna Lenee
Colorado (9-3, No. 23 CFP) will face the 17th-ranked BYU Cougars (10-2, No. 17 CFP) in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.
While most teams are grappling with starters opting out of bowl games this year to enter the transfer portal or the NFL draft, the Buffaloes did not lose any players on their two-man roster.
“It's more than what I got (when he played at Kansas State),” Colorado linebackers coach Andre' Hart said. “They gave us a helmet and told us: put this on your leg and go out and play. For them to get that (increased insurance coverage), I just think it's beneficial. Talking about where the game is, where it's going and how the leadership takes care of the players, I thought it was great.”
Shedeur Sanders completed 337 of 454 passes for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. Many scouting services have Sanders ranked as the top quarterback in this year's draft.
Hunter received the Heisman Trophy as a two-way standout at cornerback and wide receiver. He had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns and at cornerback he had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and limited the opposition to 22 receptions in 688 defensive snaps.
“They've taken care of all of us,” Colorado running back Micah Welch said. “It really means a lot to have all the teammates here. That's a big deal. What I like about Coach Prime is that they take care of us.”