“FAMILY, LOVE, LOYALTY.” Three emboldened words on the ‘Well Off’ website that sums up everything Deion Sanders Jr stands for. Having moved from a potentially successful football career in 2016 after three seasons at Southern Methodist University, today Bucky stands as an epitome of “selfless”. While his superstar father and popular little brothers turned the gridiron into their own stage at Colorado, the 31-year-old made sure the limelight never left them. Coach Prime, who once berated his son for leaving the family career, now sees Jr as the glue holding the Sanders family together…

…or like he once described, “The MVP”. “[Deion Sanders Jr] keeps them together. He’s always selfless and gives them unconditional love to try to make sure they shine at all times. The unity that they have and seeing that as a father is unbelievable,” the Colorado Buffaloes coach had said. And we got a first-hand example of the exactly that when Shedeur Sanders was going through the toughest times of his life. Amid the QB’s unprecedented Draft fall, every morning, the footballer-turned-videographer would take to his social media to upload Bible verses. Sometimes, he’d even take it up a notch.

When the Giants chose Jaxson Dart over Shedeur at No. 25, Bucky retweeted Philadelphia Eagles’ RB Lean McCoy saying, “No wonder the [Giants] DONT WIN SH…” And when the Steelers did the same even after coach Mike Tomlin appreciating the Buffs signal caller’s “toughness” and “competitive spirit”, Jr hit back by sharing the video and simply writing, “You tell me”. Thankfully, the fallen knight is finally rising. Shedeur, the Cleveland Browns’ 144th pick, and Dillon Gabriel, determined to prove himself, battled out at thrilling 90-minute rookie mini-camp session. Both flashed impressive moments, igniting anticipation for a compelling competition. But Shedeur’s leading the race, and his half-brother is all in supporting his lil bro.

Shedeur Sanders arrived at Brown’s rookie minicamp in Berea, looking calm and composed. Immediately, the Browns tested the former Colorado quarterback with receivers-only drills and 7-on-7s. Sanders remained unflappable, accurately throwing short passes, delivering pinpoint throws over defenders, and hitting two touchdown passes in the red zone with ease.

Browns insider Brad Stainbrook posted a few clips that show Shedeur looking comfortable, with crisp footwork and a quick release. He avoided forcing throws, taking what the defense offered, and spreading the ball effectively. It’s early, but his arm talent is undeniably NFL-caliber. Although he started second in the throwing session, Sanders quickly impressed. Stainbrook observed that Sanders “looked sharper than Dillon Gabriel.” And that’s not fluff, it’s a result of his precise timing, touch, and composure. “This is only the beginning,” Stainbrook warned. “The competition is real, and it’s going to be one of the stories of the season.”

Even Deion Sanders Jr. wasted no time hyping Shedeur’s mini camp on his Well Off Media YT channel in a now-deleted video. He said, “Yeah, he did his thing. But everybody did their thing, bro. Everybody. My brother definitely did his thing though. Thousand percent. He looked really good. Almost cry seeing that. Everybody look good. Show love to everybody, bro. Stop causing division on that team, man. Everybody on the same team. Everybody, everybody young dudes trying to reach their goals, man.” Looks like the real Shedeur Sanders is making his way through the Browns camp this summer.

But despite an impressive showing, Browns HC Kevin Stefanski downplays the entire situation and emphasizes that the order can change in the coming days and says, “I wouldn’t look into anything,” Stefanski said. “I think you’ll see the whole weekend going through the spring. I mean, we don’t pay too close attention to who is in there first.”  Even though Kevin isn’t putting all his hopes on Shedeur, Dillion Brown’s GM move made his belief in him evident.

Browns GM Andrew Berry made a bold move in the draft, trading picks 166 and 192 to move up and select Sanders at 144. The value-driven executive couldn’t resist Sanders’ talent, even after drafting Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel two rounds earlier. “[Sanders is] a guy that we think can outproduce his draft slot,” Berry stated.

The NFL has seen this type of opportunity before. Dak Prescott, Dallas’ 135th overall pick (fourth round, 2016), unexpectedly became their starter. Incumbent Tony Romo suffered a preseason back injury, and backup Kellen Moore (now Saints head coach) broke his leg in training camp. Prescott seized the opportunity, leading the Cowboys to a 13-win season, earning NFL Rookie of the Year, and launching a career highlighted by three Pro Bowls and a 2023 MVP runner-up finish.

And Shedeur Sanders can be that guy, at least the hype around him points towards it.

Shedeur Sanders’ mini-camp show turns heads

Shedeur Sanders endured a three-day wait before finally hearing his name called in the NFL Draft, falling from a projected first-rounder to the 144th pick. The Cleveland Browns ended his agonizing wait, fulfilling his pro football dream. Though many deemed it a surprise, Sanders remained composed. “That’s what it’s about. You can’t be up too low or anything. You’ve got to be able to celebrate,” said Shedeur. Undeterred, he entered rookie minicamp with determination. Then, a major endorsement arrived.

LeBron James, an Akron native and ardent Browns fan, reposted a video of Sanders visiting the Browns’ locker room on his Instagram story, adding, “Let’s get it 12!! 1 day at a time.” This wasn’t just a celebrity endorsement; it was the King himself backing the newcomer, and Shedeur looked ready to seize the opportunity. Now, this wasn’t the first time LeBron James was praising Shedeur. To be honest, LeBron’s support wasn’t unexpected; he’s close with Shedeur’s father, Deion Sanders, a.k.a Coach Prime, and closely followed Shedeur’s stellar college career at Colorado.

Last season, after a big win over North Dakota, James tweeted, “Shedeur to Hunter for 6! Going to be seeing and hearing that a lot this season, I bet!” This boosted Sanders’ profile, now shining brighter in LeBron’s own backyard. Wearing #12 for the Browns, Sanders embraces the pressure and platform, knowing LeBron’s support carries significant weight in Cleveland. He’s gained not just a fan, but a globally influential hype man.

And it’s not just LeBron James who’s hyping Shedeur Sanders turns out even Tom Brady also sent him a private message, turning his disappointment into a much-needed motivation. “I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well. I said, ‘Dude, like whatever happens, wherever you go, that’s your first day. Day 2 matters more than the draft.’ I was 199. So, who can speak on it better than me? Like what that really means. Use it as motivation; you’re going to get your chances. Go take advantage of it.”

Now that everything’s finally falling in place for Shedeur Sanders, let’s wait and see if he can finally win that QB battle against Dillion Gabriel or not!