Big 12 Football

HEIGHT: 5'10"

WEIGHT: 196

HAND: 8½"

ARM: 30⅛"

WINGSPAN: 72½"

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POSITIVES

— Quick-footed receiver who can freeze defensive backs in their tracks at LOS.

— Sharp planter/cutter at the top of his routes to pull away from the defender.

— Space creation artist; talented route runner and separator.

— Urgent burst and acceleration off the line of scrimmage.

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NEGATIVES

— Dealt with nagging drops throughout career.

— Limited catch radius to convert contested catches against long-limbed NFL CBs.

— Post-catch creativity, minimal yard after contact created.

— Against press coverage, he does not utilize his hands enough to disengage from CBs.

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NOTES

— Born Sept. 4, 2002

— 3-Star recruit in 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: First-Team All-Big 12 (KR/PR); Co-Captain; Honorable Mention All-Big 12 WR

— 2023: Co-Captain; Second Team All-Big 12; Honorable Mention All-Big 12 KR/PR & Offensive POY

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OVERALL

Jaylin Noel is a quick-footed route runner with sharp plants and cuts for ample separation.

Noel is a space-creating route runner with good suddenness at the top of his routes to separate quickly from man coverage. He uses quick footwork to freeze defenders at the line of scrimmage before getting vertical into his route. Noel's short-area quickness is a great asset to finding success as a quick game-winner—he can get to his spot quickly and be available for his QB.

If given a free release, he has an urgent burst off the ball to stem vertically and attack defensive backs. He sells those routes well without tipping his hand on when the break will come. Noel is a manipulative route runner with good stop-and-start ability. His double moves with sudden direction changes put defenders in conflict down the field.

Noel is an alignment versatile playmaker. Iowa State put him in numerous positions to attack opposing defenses. He has aligned in the slot, outside, and in the backfield with both static alignment and pre-snap motions.

Noel will benefit from adding better hand usage against handsy cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage. His footwork is on par with moving defenders off their spot and forcing them to open their hips, but he doesn't clear their hands from making contact. He will get tangled up and stuck trying to disengage, forcing the QB to look elsewhere due to disrupted route timing. I'd like to see more YAC from Noel. With his agility and quickness, you'd expect him to average more than four yards per reception after the catch.

Separation is pivotal to success for Noel's success. I am not sure his contested catch conversion rate translates to the NFL. Noel does not have a great catch radius or wingspan to out-battle NFL cornerbacks at the catch point. Drops have nagged Noel throughout his career. He has a drop rate of 7.2%

Jaylin Noel projects as a quick winning slot receiver and assumes the WR3 role in an NFL offense. The combination of route running, suddenness, and quick-twitch abilities make him a difficult cover out of the slot position. Noel is a reliable separator who can move the chains routinely. His ceiling may be capped due to limited physical tools and size.

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GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter—Third Round)

OVERALL RANK: 65

POSITION RANK: WR10

PRO COMPARISON: Christian Kirk

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

Deion Sanders believes that his son Shedeur should be the most sought-after quarterback at the 2025 NFL Draft.

During an appearance on First Take, the Colorado Buffaloes coach expressed his belief that Shedeur is the "most qualified" quarterback in the draft due to his significant experience and his experience:

"Shedeur has started every game in high school. every game in college except one and he's prepared for this next level on this journey that he's about to go on, and I think he's the most equipped. He's had, Cam, you know, the seven different offensive coordinators. And you know, a line that was always criticized and scrutinized, but he still stood and delivered. I think he's the best one for the job for any city and he the most equipped. Oftentimes we have these quarterbacks that been on these elite teams, now they get in a situation where it's not as conducive to their success, and they choke. He's always been up under criticism, he's always been scrutinized, he's never had the best of, but he's made the best of. So I think he's the most qualified, by far."

Sanders is rated as the No. 2 quarterback and No. 16 overall prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft by Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department. He was a two-year starter at FCS Jackson State before transferring to Colorado after his father was hired by the Buffaloes.

During his time with Colorado, Sanders threw for 7,364 yards with 64 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He helped lead the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record in 2024 and was named the Big-12 Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts.

Cam Ward is rated as B/R's top quarterback in the draft and had a sensational 2024 season as well, throwing for 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions while finishing as a Heisman finalist.

As teams evaluate Ward and Sanders on their viability to be franchise signal-callers, Deion Sanders' belief is that Shedeur will be ready to help his team improve as soon as he puts on the jersey.

Colorado is adding a legendary former running back to its coaching staff.

Marshall Faulk, a three-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year winner, is joining Deion Sanders' Colorado staff as a running backs coach, the team announced on Thursday. The hire marks Faulk's first collegiate coaching job.

One of the greatest to ever play the game.

Welcome our new Running Backs Coach, Marshall Faulk, to Colorado!#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/pv2z0SB2w8

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) February 7, 2025

Faulk, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, is now the third Hall of Famer on Colorado's staff, joining Sanders and Warren Sapp, who joined the Buffs staff as a senior quality control assistant ahead of the 2024 season.

Though Faulk doesn't have prior experience as a coach, his resume speaks for itself. He racked up 12,279 rushing yards and 100 rushing yards during his NFL career, adding 6,875 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns through the air.

Faulk, the 2000 MVP, knows a thing or two about winning too, as he helped lead the St. Louis Rams to a win in Super Bowl XXXIV.

The Buffaloes will have a challenge in 2025 as they look to replace the production of star quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman-winning two-way star Travis Hunter. Bringing in a legendary player like Faulk could help Colorado get its running game going after relying mostly on the passing game over the past two years.

Sanders inherited a Colorado team that went 1-11 in the season before his arrival. The Buffaloes had some growing pains in Year 1, going 4-8 in 2023 before taking a major leap in 2024, finishing the season 9-4.

Colorado was an upset loss to Kansas away from reaching the Big 12 title game, which could have helped the Buffs punch a ticket to the College Football Playoff. With Faulk joining the staff, Colorado will look to make another leap in Year 3 of the Sanders era and potentially compete for a championship.

Shedeur Sanders will likely be one of the first players off the board in this year's NFL draft, perhaps even the first player drafted.

But the Colorado star quarterback isn't concerned about his draft position. He's more worried about landing on the team that he fits into the best.

"These are good problems to have," Sanders said (7:40 mark). "You could be in a way worse situation, so being No. 1, that don't really matter to me at the end of the day. That don't matter to me because, yeah I could go No. 1, but it may not be a fit. Or I could go No. 2 and it would be a fit, or I could go No. 3 and it would be a fit. It's all about fit. Any situation you're going into is not going to be the best situation, so the numbers of it, I'm not really caught up in that."

Sanders is coming an outstanding final season with Colorado, throwing for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He helped lead the Buffaloes to a 9-3 record as they just missed out on making the Big 12 title game.

Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department projects Sanders to be the first overall pick to the Tennessee Titans. Even if he isn't taken that early, it seems Sanders won't have any hard feelings.

Deion Sanders, who was tied to the Dallas Cowboys' head coaching vacancy before the team promoted former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the role, says he wasn't cut out for an NFL head coaching job.

Sanders discussed his candidacy in a conversation with former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman on his Tubi talk show "We Got Time Today," per Reuters.

"I couldn't coach pro ball," Sanders said.

Sanders continued: "I couldn't coach pro ball, because the way they practice, the way they go about it, I couldn't take it. As a man, and as a football enthusiast, and I care about the game. The game is still providing for Troy and I, so there is no way I could allow that to happen on my watch. That would be tough."

Sanders has previously given similar answers when asked about potentially coaching in the NFL. He told Bri Amaranthus of Sports Illustrated in 2023, ahead of his first season with Colorado, that he didn't "have any desire or ambition to coach in the NFL."

"I have a problem with men getting their checks and not doing their jobs," Sanders said in 2023. "I would be too tough as a coach in the NFL because I still have those old-school attributes."

Although the Cowboys only officially interviewed Schottenheimer, Leslie Frazier, Robert Saleh and Kellen Moore for the open head coaching position, owner and general manager Jerry Jones also reportedly held a "informal meeting" with Sanders, per DallasCowboys.com's Nick Eatman.

After that talk, Sanders told ESPN's Adam Schefter in January it had been "intriguing" to hear from Jones.

"I love Jerry and believe in Jerry," Sanders said, per Schefter. "After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it's intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community."

Sanders' sons, Shilo and Shedeur Sanders, are joining two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter in leaving Colorado for the 2025 NFL Draft. If Sanders remains in Boulder without them, the third-year Buffaloes head coach will be tasked with rebuilding his team around a new quarterback this fall.

Start marking your calendars, Big 12 fans.

The 2025 football schedule has arrived.

The Big 12 revealed the entire schedule for all of its teams Tuesday for the upcoming campaign that will start on Aug. 23 with the highly anticipated showdown between Iowa State and Kansas State in Ireland.

Here is a look at the full slate:

Week 0 (8/23)

• Iowa State vs. Kansas State (neutral site)
• Fresno State at Kansas

Week 1 (8/30)

• Hawaii at Arizona
• Northern Arizona at Arizona State
• Auburn at Baylor
• Portland State at BYU
• Jacksonville State at UCF (Thursday)
• Cincinnati vs. Nebraska (neutral site)
• Georgia Tech at Colorado
• Stephen F. Austin at Houston
• South Dakota at Iowa State
• Wagner at Kansas
• North Dakota at Kansas State
• UT Martin at Oklahoma State
• TCU at North Carolina (Monday)
• Arkansas Pine Bluff at Texas Tech
• Utah at UCLA
• Robert Morris at West Virginia

Week 2 (9/6)

• Weber State at Arizona
• Arizona State at Mississippi State
• Baylor at SMU
• Stanford at BYU
• North Carolina A&T at UCF
• Bowling Green at Cincinnati
• Delaware at Colorado
• Houston at Rice
• Iowa at Iowa State
• Kansas at Missouri
• Army at Kansas State
• Oklahoma State at Oregon
• Kent State at Texas Tech
• Cal Poly at Utah
• West Virginia at Ohio

Week 3 (9/13)

• Kansas State at Arizona
• Texas State at Arizona State
• Samford at Baylor
• Northwestern State at Cincinnati
• Colorado at Houston
• Iowa State at Arkansas State
• Abilene Christian at TCU
• Oregon State at Texas Tech
• Utah at Wyoming
• Pitt at West Virginia

Week 4 (9/20)

• Arizona State at Baylor
• BYU at East Carolina
• North Carolina at UCF
• Wyoming at Colorado
• West Virginia at Kansas 
• Tulsa at Oklahoma State
• SMU at TCU
• Texas Tech at Utah

Week 5 (9/27)

• Arizona at Iowa State
• TCU at Arizona State
• Baylor at Oklahoma State
• BYU at Colorado
• UCF at Kansas State
• Cincinnati at Kansas
• Houston at Oregon State
• Utah at West Virginia

Week 6 (10/4)

• Oklahoma State at Arizona
• Kansas State at Baylor
• West Virginia at BYU (Friday)
• Kansas at UCF
• Iowa State at Cincinnati
• Colorado at TCU
• Texas Tech at Houston

Week 7 (10/11)

• BYU at Arizona
• Arizona State at Utah
• UCF at Cincinnati
• Iowa State at Colorado
• Houston at Oklahoma State
• Kansas at Texas Tech
• TCU at Kansas State

Week 8 (10/18)

• Arizona at Houston
• Texas Tech at Arizona State
• Baylor at TCU
• Utah at BYU
• West Virginia at UCF
• Cincinnati at Oklahoma State

Week 9 (10/25)

• Houston at Arizona State
• Baylor at Cincinnati
• BYU at Iowa State
• Colorado at Utah
• Kansas State at Kansas
• Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
• TCU at West Virginia

Week 10 (11/1)

• Arizona at Colorado
• Arizona State at Iowa State
• UCF at Baylor
• Cincinnati at Utah
• West Virginia at Houston
• Oklahoma State at Kansas
• Texas Tech at Kansas State

Week 11 (11/8)

• Kansas at Arizona
• BYU at Texas Tech
• Houston at UCF
• Colorado at West Virginia
• Iowa State at TCU

Week 12 (11/15)

• Arizona at Cincinnati
• West Virginia at Arizona State
• Utah at Baylor
• TCU at BYU
• UCF at Texas Tech
• Kansas State at Oklahoma State

Week 13 (11/22)

• Baylor at Arizona
• Arizona State at Colorado
• BYU at Cincinnati
• Oklahoma State at UCF
• TCU at Houston
• Kansas at Iowa State
• Kansas State at Utah

Week 14 (11/29)

• Arizona at Arizona State (Friday)
• Houston at Baylor
• UCF at BYU
• Cincinnati at TCU
• Colorado at Kansas State
• Iowa State at Oklahoma State
• Utah at Kansas (Friday)
• Texas Tech at West Virginia 

Big 12 Championship Game (12/6)

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While a number of games stand out, attention naturally turns to the nonconference clashes. After all, that will be the Big 12's best chance to prove itself against other leagues across the country as teams battle for positioning in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Notably, Cincinnati will play Nebraska from the Big Ten in the Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium, Baylor hosts Auburn from the SEC, Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes host Georgia Tech from the ACC and TCU travels to face Bill Belichick's North Carolina Tar Heels from the ACC all in Week 1.

The opportunities to make a national statement don't stop there, as Oklahoma State travels to Oregon, Iowa State hosts Iowa and Kansas travels to Missouri.

Perhaps the most unusual nonconference game will pit two teams from the Big 12 against each other when Kansas State and Arizona play in Week 3. That is considered a nonconference game because it was scheduled when the Wildcats were still in the Pac-12 before they joined the Big 12 during conference realignment and expansion.

The Wildcats and everyone else will be attempting to catch reigning champion Arizona State, which defeated Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game and then pushed powerhouse Texas to double-overtime in the College Football Playoff.

Arizona State faces a nonconference test at Mississippi State from the SEC before playing Sanders' Buffaloes, Baylor, Utah and the Cyclones in a Big 12 title game rematch all on the road.

It won't be an easy title defense, and now the Sun Devils and everyone else know what they have to navigate to reach the CFP.

Jack Bech won the 2025 Senior Bowl MVP on Saturday just a month after his brother, Tiger, tragically died during the New Orleans truck attack.

Bech, a senior wide receiver at TCU, had six receptions for 68 yards and the game-winning touchdown for the American Team. He wore his brother's No. 7 in the game.

A WALK-OFF WIN AT THE @SENIORBOWL!

Seth Henigan finds Jack Bech for the American Team win! @MemphisFB @TCUFootball pic.twitter.com/Z04yGiQSVH

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 1, 2025

Jack Bech is this year’s @seniorbowl MVP after a 6 reception, 68 yard performance that included the game-winning TD!#GoFrogs | #BleedPurple pic.twitter.com/OfRqMnEGml

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) February 1, 2025

"His wings were on my side," Bech said, per The Times-Picayne's Rod Walker. "... All the big brother does in life is want to see his little brother succeed. He's been my role model my whole life. The person I looked up to. The person I wanted to be. He's the best big brother I could ask for."

Bech discussed the wild ride of emotions during the Senior Bowl week.

"It's been surreal, just to be able to come and take place in this game," he said. "It's a goal you set for yourself. But if I had the option to come here and have the worst week ever, ruin my draft stock and that meant I could give my brother a hug right now, I would take that. On the flip side of that, I don't think I could have had the week I had if all that wouldn't have happened."

One month ago today, Jack Bech lost his brother, Tiger, in the New Year’s terror attack on Bourbon Street.

Today, Jack wore his brother’s No. 7 in the @seniorbowl and caught the winning touchdown — on a play run with 7 seconds left on the clock. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/hnY1uAMhLh

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 1, 2025

Bech's brother, Tiger, was a wide receiver at Princeton, earning All-Ivy League as a kick returner.

Jack Bech, who started his career at LSU before transferring to TCU ahead of the 2023 season, is coming off the best year of his career. He racked up 1,034 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, both career highs.

He'll now look to build off of his strong Senior Bowl showing with a big performance at the NFL Combine later this year.

Many athletes believe they could play two sports at a high level if they really dedicated themselves to it, but Travis Hunter might be one of the few who could actually pull it off.

The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner once again showed off his basketball skills during pregame warmups with the Colorado team, including making a half-court shot and executing a between-the-legs dunk (starts at 7:55 mark).

It's not a surprise that Hunter has more than enough athleticism to be an electrifying talent in basketball. There have been many highlights of him on the court during his two years at Colorado.

Heisman in the house 🦬#GoBuffs | @TravisHunterJr pic.twitter.com/WTzpav24nq

— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) December 21, 2024

It's too bad Hunter didn't actually play in a game with the Buffaloes' basketball team. They could use his help, as they are 9-11 overall this season and have lost each of their first nine Big 12 games.

On a recent episode of The Travis Hunter Show, Hunter said he can play basketball, run track, long jump, high jump and 400 meters. He even joked about possibly shifting from football to baseball after seeing some of the recent high-dollar contracts that have been handed out to players like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto:

"I ain't gonna lie. Baseball making that money, so I might make the transition soon. Be like a Coach Prime, Deion Sanders—get my millions over there while I get my millions in the NFL. I could go out there and be a good outfielder. Steal bases—I can steal bases for you. I might not be able to hit for nothing, but I can learn that."

Until Hunter learns how to hit baseballs, though, he will most likely focus a lot of his immediate attention of getting ready for the NFL. The 21-year-old is expected to be one of the top players selected in the 2025 draft.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Hunter ranked as the No. 1 overall player in this year's draft class. He will almost certainly become the first Colorado player selected in the first round since 2011 when both Nate Solder and Jimmy Smith were taken.

Hunter won the Heisman Trophy this year after a historic season that saw him dominate on both sides of the ball. He finished with 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on offense, along with 11 pass breakups and four interceptions as a cornerback.

The signature shoes of Colorado head coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Deion Sanders have made a return.

Sanders' Air Nike Diamond Turf 1 sneakers released online at 10 a.m. ET on Friday for $150 on Nike's website and were eventually sold out later in the afternoon (h/t USA Today's Jonathan Limehouse).

The Atlanta Falcons, one of Sanders' former teams during his NFL career, announced a shoe giveaway on social media.

The @DeionSanders Nike Diamond Turf 1 is out today 🔥

RT for a chance to win! pic.twitter.com/jbxt6Fi8qY

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 24, 2025

The Diamond Turf 1 was originally introduced in 1994, representing Sanders' first signature sneaker. Per Nike's website, the latest release of the shoe features "Air units in the heel and forefoot, plus durable leather and a midfoot strap for a secure fit."

Sanders' relationship with the company turned sour after his playing days came to a close, although both sides worked things out prior to his first season with the Buffaloes in 2023 (via USA Today's Brent Schrotenboer).

Colorado is coming off a successful 2024 campaign under its head coach, as the team's 9-4 record represented the school's first year with at least nine wins since 2016. Buffaloes two-way standout Travis Hunter also became the first Buffaloes player to win the Heisman Trophy since 1994.

As Sanders prepares for his third season in Boulder, his iconic sneakers were released on Friday.