Shedeur Sanders pulls off what Kordell Stewart, Joel Klatt, and Koy Detmer failed to do as Colorado QBs
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders has received the prestigious 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which honors the top senior or upperclassman quarterback in the nation for excellence in character, academics, and athletic performance. It's an award that no Colorado quarterback has won before, including greats like Kordell Stewart and Joel Klatt. Sanders has redefined […]
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders has received the prestigious 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which honors the top senior or upperclassman quarterback in the nation for excellence in character, academics, and athletic performance.
It's an award that no Colorado quarterback has won before, including greats like Kordell Stewart and Joel Klatt. Sanders has redefined the position in only two seasons with the Buffaloes.
This recognition highlights Sanders' significant impact during a remarkable season.
As the leader of the 9-3 Buffaloes, Sanders has delivered one of the most impressive performances in Colorado football history. In 12 games, he has completed 337 out of 454 passes (74.2%) for 3,886 yards, with 35 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.
He's contributed four rushing touchdowns, demonstrating his versatility. His efforts have broken several school records, emphasizing his vital role in the program.
Notably, Sanders is the first quarterback in Colorado's history to throw for 30 touchdowns in a season. He also set records for total touchdowns responsible for (34), regular season passing yards (3,488), and completions (303).
He’s on pace to surpass his own completion percentage record of 73.4% and currently boasts a quarterback rating of 164.89. Furthermore, he has thrown for over 250 yards in 11 games and exceeded 300 yards in seven games—both new records for the Buffaloes.
Sanders' consistency shines through as he completed at least 60% of his passes in every game, achieving 70% accuracy or higher in eight of those outings.
Sanders’ achievements place him among the legends of Colorado football. He became the only tenth player in the program's history to win a major national award, and he is the second to do so in the last 21 seasons, following Travis Hunter, who earned the Paul Hornung Award last year.
Sanders is also a finalist for several esteemed awards, including the Davey O'Brien Award and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, and a semifinalist for the Manning Award. His candidacy for the Heisman Trophy further solidifies his legacy.
The history of award winners from Colorado includes notable figures like Alfred Williams (Butkus Award, 1990), Rashaan Salaam (Heisman, Walter Camp, Doak Walker, 1994), and Daniel Graham (John Mackey Award, 2001).
Sanders adds to this legacy with his Golden Arm Award, reinforcing Colorado's standing in college football.
Both Sanders and Hunter are Heisman candidates who have significantly enhanced Colorado football, reflecting Deion Sanders' ambitious vision for the program. Their shared success bodes well for the Buffaloes as they strive to compete on a national level.
