Shedeur Sanders has been sacked 25 times in Colorado’s first five games. Old Dominion is the only other FBS team this season that has given up more sacks than Colorado

The star Colorado quarterback also ranks among the nation’s best in passer efficiency. Sanders is completing 74.8% of his passes — sixth nationally — and CU head coach Deion Sanders has frequently referenced that specific metric as a way to highlight the play of his quarterback.

One anonymous Pac-12 assistant thinks the two are related. The coach told The Athletic they believe Shedeur Sanders is taking sacks as a way to preserve his completion percentage.

“They really had some tells,” the assistant told The Athletic. “I think they want to rack up some stats for Shedeur. He really holds on to the ball a long time. I think he takes sacks because he doesn’t want to affect his completion percentage. He’s playing a little different than he did earlier in the season. Before he showed that he was willing to step up and escape through the B-gaps. Now, he’s retreating more.”

Sanders does not want to run. If he does get out on the move, it is only as a means to escape pressure and deliver a pass. Against USC, he finally used his legs a bit and finished with positive rushing yardage for only the second time all season.

Just by his nature, he’s going to hold the ball with the hope of being able to make a play through the air.

Deion Sanders was asked after the Week 2 win over Nebraska if he felt Shedeur was holding onto the football too long and he said he used to question his quarterback, but he doesn’t now.

“When Shedeur holds onto the ball, it’s not just to hold onto the ball,” Deion Sanders said. “Somebody probably ran the wrong route, or somebody or something happened. He never just sits back there and holds on to the darn ball.”

Sanders is second nationally in passing yardage, with 1,781 yards and 15 touchdowns through his first five games.

The former Jackson State starter nearly led CU back from a 48-21 deficit last Saturday against USC. Over the final 17 minutes of the game, CU outscored the Trojans 21-0. They nearly completed the comeback, but ultimately fell 48-41.

Deion Sanders said afterward everyone in the stadium that day knew that if Shedeur got the ball one more time, he would have driven the Buffs for a score.

“He’s very confident. He doesn’t flinch. He never gets flustered,” Deion Sanders said. “He’s the most sacked quarterback in college football and you can tell with the way he carries himself. He is just a kid. We knew, a multitude of our fans know, and some of you wonderful and brilliant writers know if we would have got that ball last, we were going to go down and score.

“We knew that. We know that everybody in here knows that. His teammates knew that. And that is just what he brings to the table. He’s unflappable.”