There are some who believe that Colorado football coach Deion Sanders wants to move on to the NFL after his sons, Shedeur and Shilo depart the program, along with two-way star Travis Hunter, but he shut down that notion during a recent interview, saying that his sons are helping build a foundation for something that will lead to greater success down the line.

“I'm a leader of men, not a follower of men. I'm a father, not a baby daddy. I lead my sons. I don't follow my sons,” Deion Sanders said, according to Grant Grubbs of on3.com. “My sons, Travis [Hunter] included, are getting ready to migrate to the NFL. I'm not following them to the NFL. … I paved the way for my babies. They're not paving the way for me. So, I plan on being here and being dominant here, because they're establishing something that we're going to continue to build on for years to come. And I'm thankful that they're establishing what they're establishing.”

The Colorado football program got off to a hot start last season, but tailed off down the stretch as Pac-12 play started. This upcoming season will be the first back in the Big 12, which will be an interesting transition, and a bit of a return to home for the Buffaloes. Sanders hopes to reestablish Colorado as one of the powers of college football, seemingly for the long term after his sons and Travis Hunter depart for the NFL.

How will Shedeur Sanders, Shilo Sanders and Travis Hunter fare after they leave Colorado football?

Shedeur Sanders, Shilo Sanders and Travis Hunter are all expected to leave Colorado for the NFL following the college football season. Shedeur Sanders is the most intriguing name due to him being a quarterback who did show promise in a bit of a rough situation last season.

Next year's quarterback class is not viewed as a strong one, so a good 2024 season for Shedeur Sanders could have him in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Barring a disastrous season in 2024, it would be a surprise if Sanders did not go high in the first round of next year's draft.

Hunter should go high in next year's draft as well, as he has proved to be valuable on both sides of the ball as a receiver and a cornerback. It remains to be seen whether or not an NFL team would want him to play both sides of the ball. It would be a surprise if he did not go in the top half of the first round.

Shilo Sanders is not expected to be a first-round pick, but he is expected by many to find a home in the NFL when he does go to the draft.

It will be interesting to see the impressions the three leave at Colorado this season, and how Deion Sanders will replace them in 2025 and beyond.