Call it the Prime Effect! Because Colorado is already attracting NFL scouts to their training field even before the season kickoff. And it all starts from the top with Deion Sanders, who is coaching two potential top-10 players in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Deion Sanders’ Prime Effect already came into effect last season when he broke viewership records and became the only program to have its spring game nationally televised. Then it paved the way for a 20% surge in applications this March. As reported by Daily Camera, the Prime Effect saw a record of a startling 68,000 applications from prospective students. But fast-forward to the 2024 fall camp, another milestone is set.  

It’s very early but as SkoBuffsGoBuffs uploaded on X on August 1, “NFL teams are already at Colorado’s fall camp.” The clip is an excerpt from Well Off Media’s vlog on the Buffs’ 3rd day of fall camp practice. As the video portrays, representatives from the pro league, including the San Francisco 49ers are already scrutinizing the plays of the Buffs, especially the performances of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders who are “both projected top 10 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.”

This only shows that Colorado has piqued the interests of the NFL teams and put the prospective first-round picks in the league’s favor. In June, the Buffs accomplished another Prime Effect with 63% of people predicting that Colorado will exceed 5.5 wins in the Big 12 as per BetMGM Sportsbook odds. This time, the focus turns to Shedeur and Travis Hunter, who seem to be in a good position for the NFL. 

Shedeur Sander and Travis Hunter’s NFL projections

In early July, ESPN’s Matt Miller announced his early 2025 NFL Draft predictions. In his mock draft, Carson Beck is projected as the No. 1 overall pick while Shedeur tails right behind as the No. 2 overall pick. As for the two-way Buffs sensation, he’s likely to be picked as a receiver. 

There has been curiosity about which position Travis Hunter would play in the NFL. Could he still go both ways? In Miller’s prediction, he’ll likely be playing as offense instead of defense and will be the No. 9 overall pick. Taking account of one AFC GM who said Hunter is a “more natural receiver,” most sources believe that he’ll choose the offense where “his athleticism shines.” Still, the duo has a whole season ahead of them to prove themselves and raise their draft stocks. We’ll see what goes down in the upcoming months.