Shedeur Sanders got into online arguments after former Buffs’ star Xavier Smith criticized Coach Deion Sanders. Smith told The Athletic that Coach Sanders forced him to leave the team. The teary-eyed safety also added that Coach Sanders “never even tried to get to know” him.  Thus, sympathy poured out for Smith, and many felt he was mistreated.

However, Shedeur Sanders inflamed the situation by calling Smith a “mid” player and claiming he didn’t remember him being on the team. Instead of being seen as defending his dad, Shedeur’s words came across as arrogant. This caused many fans and analysts to criticize the quarterback’s behavior. However, despite the backlash,  Shedeur found a supporter who spoke out the truth against the harsh online attacks.

Shedeur, Bronny, and Arch all have faced social media heat

Carl Reed Jr. recently spoke a harsh truth on the 247Sports YouTube channel, “People in general, they hate rich kids. They hate kids that come from means and that people feel like their parents have positioned them.” The college sports analyst added, “We went through this last year when we rated Arch Manning No. 1, and although Arch doesn’t do any social media… we were bombarded with hate because everybody said he was No. 1 only because his last name was Manning.” 

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Carl pointed out how Arch Manning, a star quarterback, had a great performance in the Texas spring game. Even though he arrived as the top-ranked recruit, some people criticize his position, saying it’s only because of his famous “Manning” family name. Carl noted that this isn’t just an NFL problem as NBA star Bronny James faces similar struggles for being LeBron James’ son. He emphasizes that people seem to “hate somebody that comes from a wealthy family that they feel like has been positioned over them unfairly.”

Shedeur Sanders faces criticism for lack of maturity; not lack of talent

Having a famous last name like “Sanders” or “Manning” brings intense public scrutiny to these young athletes’ every move. Some online critics may unfairly target them because of their family connections. However, talent can’t be ignored. Shedeur Sanders recently showcased his skills as a quarterback at the “Black and Gold” spring game, completing 71% of his passes. Thus, he earned praise from fans, and many analysts even solidified his position as a top quarterback prospect in the 2025 class.

However, Shedeur’s recent online spat wasn’t about his talent; it highlighted a lack of maturity. Even ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith weighed in, stating, “How you communicate, how you come across matters.” While defending his father, Coach Prime, Shedeur’s harsh words backfired. As a star player for the CU Buffs, he now “represents the program,” not just the Sanders name. Thus, a more mature approach from the Sanders camp could have avoided much of the online backlash.