Shilo Sanders stepped into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers facility and realized his years of hard work and dedication paid off. The former Colorado Buffaloes safety lit up in a behind-the-scenes video tour of the Bucs locker room. He discovered his personalized locker, helmet, and jersey for the first time.

After signing a three-year, $2.9 million contract, Sanders is officially living his NFL dream. He’ll be looking to bring the same swagger and spirit that defined his college career. The moment was deeply personal for Deion Sanders’ son with a team who was the first to show interest.

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“I got my helmet with the logo,” Sanders said with excitement. His new No. 28 jersey is a break away from his father’s classic No. 21 he wore during his career. It was a joyful, raw response from a player who’s more than just a football name. Shilo earned his place back in Deion’s home state.

After playing under the national spotlight in Boulder for his father, Sanders has a fresh start in his career. He overcame an offseason injury to his left shoulder, requiring major surgery before the start of the 2024 season. Shilo rushed to get back, but wasn’t 100 percent for the opener against North Dakota State. To make matters worse, he broke his right forearm trying to make a tackle in Week 2 at Nebraska.

Related: Deion Sanders turns heads by welcoming back castaway transfer at Colorado

Despite the setbacks, Sanders started 10 games last year and racked up 67 tackles, a sack, and even scored a defensive touchdown against UCF. The Buccaneers took notice and now they’re counting on his toughness and playmaking abilities to boost their secondary.

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Even while being hyped up over his new situation, Sanders brought humor to the table as well. He joked that the Bucs had given him more clothes than he’d ever received from a Coach Prime team. He dubbed his gloves “interception gloves” and carefully chose the “swaggiest” facemask. It’s clear to see Sanders is ready for the next level. “I’m just happy, grateful, ready to work,” he said.

Sanders arrives in the NFL with purpose, ready to prove he’s going to step out of his father’s shadow and make his own path on Sundays.