"I like what he was able to do": Shedeur Sanders names his most influential Heisman-winning QB of all time

Shedeur Sanders' decision to return for one more season with the Colorado Buffaloes in 2024 proved fruitful. The QB improved his game and helped the Buffs to a 9-3 campaign in the Big 12 while securing the Alamo Bowl showdown against BYU.

On Wednesday's episode of his show called "2Legendary," Shedeur Sanders talked about which Heisman-winning QB had the most influence in his development as a player. For Shedeur, Joe Burrow has been the player he looks up to as a quarterback role model in the game.

"Joe Burrow. I haven't talked to him or anything like that. But I'm just saying from afar, like in his year, the year that he had in college, I like what he was able to do," Shedeur said. "Because it's not nothing glamouring, you know, about Joe Burrow besides he gets everything done."

"The physical attributes its not like, you know, and I don't want to sound like I'm hating, because that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that he just developed a work habit and work ethic that anybody can develop. So he's realistic."

Joe Burrow began his collegiate career with Ohio State before joining LSU in 2018 after three seasons. He was named as the starting QB of the Tigers after transferring and helped them secure the national championship with an undefeated 15-0 record during the 2019 season.

Burrow won the Heisman that season for his contributions. He tallied 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns passing for LSU in 2019 and was drafted as the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

While Shedeur Sanders considers Joe Burrow as his most influential Heisman-winning QB, he could not follow in his footsteps. He failed to make it as a finalist for the 2024 Heisman Award.

However, Shedeur continues to showcase his support for Buffs teammate Travis Hunter, who is the favorite to win the coveted award.

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Former NFL star makes case for Shedeur Sanders as a Heisman finalist

The four finalists for the Heisman Award this season are Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty, Cam Ward, and Dillon Gabriel. However. ex-NFL and Philadelphia Eagles star Mike Golic believes that Shedeur Sanders deserved a spot in place of Oregon's Dillon Gabriel.

Gabriel has helped the Ducks secure the conference championship in their debut Big Ten campaign while also being the only undefeated team in the playoffs.

However, Golic argued that Shedeur Sanders deserved a spot because of how he helped the Buffs rise from a 4-8 campaign last season without the offensive depth that Gabriel has on his team.

"There's part of me that would have put Shedeur Sanders over Dillon Gabriel," Golic said. "I know Gabriel's on the No.1 team, the only undefeated team. I think that helped him a lot, but what Shedeur did, I think really is somewhat amazing.

"Dillon Gabriel was only 400 yards behind him (Shedeur), seven touchdowns behind him. I get it. It wasn't that far behind him. But Dillon Gabriel got to work with a lot more though Shedeur did have Travis Hunter to work with. That would have been probably, maybe my only change."

While Shedeur may not be in the race for the Heisman, he was honored with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award given to the nation's best quarterback.