Shedeur Sanders had once said, “We like the adversity.” While he was explaining how their second name carries a lot of weight, this phrase might have been what stuck with his older brother, Shilo Sanders. When the NFL drafts ended and the DB did not hear his name, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, got to make a few calls, his phone rang soon, and on the other side was Tampa Bay’s GM Jason Licht. That time, he made a promise to them– “I’m just going to do everything I can to help this team win.” Now, working in the rookie minicamp, Shilo is proving his words’ worth, not just on the gridiron but off of it too.

Per Adam Slivon, “no Bucs rookie has garnered as much buzz since joining the team.” And we can see why. When it comes to the fans, Shilo is making sure his following of 1.2M gets all the updates– from quirky ones to the emotional ones– and sees him in the true spotlight. The DB who confessed, “I’m built for Florida,” apparently named himself as the ‘lunch guy’ for the team meetings. He is also showing up early to practices just to learn more from the vets on the team. In fact, when he entered the OTA, ESPN’s Jenna Laine noted, “New Bucs safety Shilo Sanders wanted to shake every media members’ hand before starting his first availability with us. Only player who has done that this week.”

So, fans check. Media personnels, check. Teammates, check. And with the mission of “Hoping my Prime Time genetics kick in,” when it comes to the coaching staff, they are not short on praise either. That’s exactly what the latest video out of the rookie camp shows. In the post by NFL Rookie Watch, “Shilo Sanders’ intelligence and vocal leadership reportedly “turned the head” of Todd Bowles (Buccaneers HC) throughout rookie minicamp. Sanders’ footwork was also reportedly “maybe the most impressive” of any rookie safety that participated in practice.

“Sanders has an advanced early grasp of NFL defenses and that reportedly showed through his adjustments on the field throughout individual and team drills. Several Buccaneers coaches reportedly believe Sanders has shown “promising signs” that he can have a successful NFL career. The Buccaneers rookie safety is FINDING HIS STRIDE in Tampa Bay 🔥” Have a look how Shilo is paving his way to the 53-man roster!

In the minicamp, he certainly looked like a man with a chip on his shoulder. A chip hungry to prove the 31 NFL teams why they shouldn’t have given up on him. Now with the Bucs, he’s even wearing a number 28 on his back for the minicamps. He has already impressed the coaches, and with him shining with “promising signs,” he’s sure to land a spot on the active roster. If not, he’s certainly getting into the practice squad. He’s also taking his mom’s validation to heart and bringing in the heat in the minicamp.

Shilo Sanders is doubling down on mom’s demand for the Bucs

In a recent Instagram post by the Buccaneers, Shilo Sanders gave a sneak peek into his locker room. And excited is an understatement when we describe the expression on his face. He’s seen looking around the place, admiring his helmet and his locker room. Even Coach Prime caught a stray in the middle of it all, as Shilo mentioned, “This is more clothes than I’ve gotten from any team that I’ve played on that’s coached by Coach Prime.”

Shilo’s energy is infectious, and the team and the fans are certainly feeling it too. Talking about his gloves, Shilo notably said, “These feel like interception gloves.” And even mom Pilar Sanders took notice when she dropped an affirmation in the comments, “Yes ‘Interception Gloves’ 👏🏽👏🏽😂😂😂.”

And he’s serious. The way he’s gearing up in the rookie minicamp, he’s gunning for a spot on the team. And once he has it, he will try to break his no-interception record from last season. And Todd Bowles is feeling his drive, for sure. Bowles had noted on minicamp day 1, “Like the rest of the safeties, he’s very intelligent, he’s very loud. You can hear him making calls and everything, so he’s got a good grasp of things day one.”

But Bowles isn’t exactly hyping him up, he’s also giving Shilo Sanders a reality check. “You have to make plays in pads. That’s what it comes down to. Knowing what to do and then doing it consistently and constantly getting better every day.” But is Shilo Sanders worried? Nah.

He’s making his presence felt. Skills, energy, and charisma. Shilo Sanders has it all. And with all of this, his comeback story is hitting harder than ever.