The former Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback Shedeur Sanders is quickly becoming more than just a fifth-round draft pick—he’s becoming a presence in Cleveland.
Colorado football fans are already familiar with Sanders’ deep-rooted commitment to giving back to the youth.
While the spotlight remains fixed on his development as a quarterback, Sanders has shifted some of that focus toward where he says he finds his true joy—reaching the next generation.
Speaking with Nathan Zegura on Cleveland Browns Daily, Sanders explained why he makes such an effort to stay involved:
“It’s just something I genuinely do and what I find fun. It’s a lot of negativity, it’s a lot of talk going on in the world, so then that’s where I find my peace, my happiness, my joy. Is to be able to have a positive influence on the youth,” said Sanders.
With organized team activities and minicamp now in the rearview mirror, Sanders is using the downtime to continue his outreach efforts.
He recently visited the Justin Hardee All-Pro Youth Football Camp—a continuation of the promise he made earlier this offseason when he first arrived in Cleveland.
Videos from the appearance quickly circulated across social media, showing the pure joy Sanders mere presence sparked.
QB1 @ShedeurSanders #Browns #holdyarollieup #SS12 pic.twitter.com/TUQQCKwTEg
— 👨👦 (@Rashee_longway) June 14, 2025
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Children swarmed him, shouting his name—”Shedeur! Shedeur! Shedeur!”—and reaching out to touch him as if to confirm the moment was real.
Photos from the visit later appeared on Sanders’ social media, capturing kids grinning ear to ear as they surrounded the rookie quarterback, many holding up their wrists in celebration of the “legendary Colorado quarterback.”
Buffaloes fans fell in love with Sanders as he helped lead Colorado back into national relevancy. Now, Browns fans are hopeful he can do the same in Cleveland.
Critics may contend that Sanders seeks attention in these moments. However, by his account, the joy comes from genuine connection—not because of what it means to his image.
Raised in unique circumstances as the son of NFL Hall of Famer and Colorado coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur knows firsthand what an interaction with greatness can mean to a young child.
That perspective makes his outreach feel both intentional and exceedingly rare.
“I feel like the Browns fans just want something to hope for, and they’ve been wanting it so long, so finally, I’m here to change that. I’m here to give what they want,” Sanders told Zegura.
As the Browns inch closer to training camp, Sanders’ presence off the field is already setting a tone that could resonate for years—but things have to work out on the field first.
There’s still time for Sanders to grow as a player, and with patience, Browns fans may find that they’ve landed more than just an engaging young quarterback.
They may have the future face of their franchise.
It’s too early to know if Sanders will become the quarterback Cleveland has long awaited, but his leadership qualities are already drawing attention in a city starving for a franchise quarterback.
