Former Colorado stars speak out amid Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter's controversial jersey retirements

FOX Sports' Joel Klatt joins Colin Cowherd to dive into what led to Shedeur Sanders dropping to the fifth round and how he can stand out in the Cleveland Browns' crowded QB room.

The Colorado football program's recent decision to retire Travis Hunter's No. 12 and Sheduer Sanders' No. 2 jerseys was met with some criticism. Both former Colorado players' jerseys were officially retired earlier this month during a special ceremony at the Buffaloes spring game.

Only four other players in Colorado football history have been honored via a jersey retirement. Colorado football dates back 135 years. The criteria applied to Sanders' and Hunter's respective retirements differentiate from what other former players faced.

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Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter (IMAGN)

In the 1990s, a student-athlete had to fulfill a graduation requirement prior to a jersey retirement. An athletic department spokesperson confirmed to USA Today Sports that both Sanders and Hunter had not yet graduated at the time of the April 19 retirement ceremony.

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School officials also clarified that the graduation criterion was never an official policy, saying it was previously the "preference of an academic counselor."

(L-R) Shedeur Sanders #2 and Travis Hunter #12 of the University of Colorado Buffaloes speak with the media at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas on July 21, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Louis Grasse/Getty Images)

Officials added that the athletic department administration, along with the head coach, can make jersey retirement decisions at their own discretion.

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