Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders once considered entering the 2024 NFL draft, but he recently revealed that his decision not to turn pro was largely due to his desire to be one of the top picks, and he knew that wouldn't happen in this year's talented draft class.

"I'm trying to be the first quarterback off the board. That's really what it is," Sanders told reporters during Colorado's spring press conference. "I respect Caleb [Williams]. I respect how he plays. He's a great player. But, overall, there's just different tiers of quarterbacks. There's guys that's special, there's guys that are good and guys that are OK, game managers. You've gotta understand what player you are and what category you fall in. I understood this year wasn't my year. I didn't have enough time at this level."

Sanders spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Jackson State, so the 2023 season was his first at a Power Five program. He transferred to Colorado when his father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was hired as head coach of the Buffaloes.

It didn't take long for Sanders to acclimate himself to a higher level of competition. He threw for a single-season program-record 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns against just three interceptions while completing 69.3 percent of his passes, which also was the best mark in program history. He also added four rushing touchdowns while playing behind a Buffaloes offensive line that allowed 56 sacks last season, the second-highest total in the nation.

After being named AP Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year, Sanders undoubtedly would've been among the top quarterback prospects in this year's class. However, there is a bevy of talented quarterbacks besides Williams that he would be in the mix with like Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr.

The elder Sanders believes his son would've still had the chance to be a high pick, but he knows he wouldn't have been the first quarterback taken.

"So let's just get that straight. If Shedeur would've gone in the draft this year, he probably would have been the second [quarterback]," Deion Sanders said. "He wouldn't have been the first quarterback off the board. I think he had the ability but he probably would've been the second quarterback off the board."

Colorado began spring practices last week and will hold its spring game on April 27, which will give Sanders his first chance to show his offseason improvements.