As a former quarterback and as someone who has coached quarterbacks, Tim Polasek couldn’t help but admire Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders when he watched film this summer.
“He’s the best player that NDSU has played yet; I really believe that,” said Polasek, the first-year head coach at North Dakota State. “He’s impressive.”
On Thursday, CU will host NDSU at Folsom Field (6 p.m., ESPN) in the season opener and all eyes will be on Sanders, who is projected as one of the top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Polasek, who played quarterback at Concordia (Wisc.) University and spent the last three years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wyoming, had high praise for the Buffs’ star.
“I admire Shedeur from the standpoint that he’s playing the position the way it’s always been intended to play: rhythm, timing, footwork all matching up,” Polasek said. “Then you put on top of that the ability to extend plays looking to throw – he’s not a runner first, but he is capable – but extending plays and keeping his eyes down field is pretty impressive.”
Polasek added that “it’s exciting” to watch and he hopes even his own fans enjoy the opportunity to watch Sanders play.
“I think our fans should be excited and should appreciate that they get to see one of the top … a first-round draft pick at quarterback get to play against the Bison,” he said.
Brotherhood
CU has six sets of brothers on the team, tied with Utah State for the most in the country, according CU sports information.
“It’s not like we target that and try to bring it in, but oftentimes one of those kids could really play, then we find out that the sibling can really play as well,” said head coach Deion Sanders, whose sons Shedeur and Shilo make up one of those sets of brothers. “So to create that type of brotherhood and that environment, we just invite them both to play for us. So that’s a blessing. It really is.”
Key addition
CU recently added George Helow as a senior defensive assistant and Coach Prime said he’s been a major plus for the Buffs. Helow has previously coached at Alabama, Michigan, Maryland, Colorado State, Georgia and Florida State.
“He’s unbelievable. You talking about a pro,” Sanders said. “You’re talking about a guy who’s professional, a guy who’s very knowledgeable, a guy who you don’t have to tell him what to do or question him on what he accomplished this practice. You could see it. You could hear it in the energy that he displays when he’s one-on-one with the kids or he’s coaching a group. He commands their attention. His track record is unbelievable.”
Notable
Mark Jones, Roddy Jones and Quint Kessenich will be on the call for ESPN on Thursday. … CU will be playing on a Thursday for the first time since Nov. 3, 2016, a 20-10 win against UCLA.
