FRISCO, TEXAS — In skilled sports activities, being nice isn’t a typically factor; it’s an all-the-time factor.
Soccer is a 24/7 dedication, on and off the sphere. To be actually nice, one should make a particular sacrifice professionally and personally.
For Colorado Buffaloes’ safety, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig he’s had a transparent instance of greatness to be taught from for the final seven years, relationship again to his time in highschool. That might be Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, who coached Silmon-Craig in highschool, at Jackson State, and now the final two years at Colorado.
Having that function mannequin in Sanders has helped Silmon-Craig develop on and off the sphere, placing him one step nearer to reaching his dream of reaching the NFL. The subsequent step in that journey for the 5103, 184-pound safety is the East-West Shrine Bowl, the place Silmon-Craig joined a number of Buffs’ teammates for the final week.
Throughout his time in Frisco, Texas, Silmon-Craig spoke to Steelers Depot and acknowledged simply how essential Sanders has been as a job mannequin and a mentor, each on and off the sphere. Simply how essential? Silmon-Craig says Sanders confirmed him what “dedication to excellence” appears like each day.
“Coach Prime is a superb man, nice man. I’ve grew extra with him, simply being a person, simply being a fantastic son, a fantastic brother, simply me rising up sooner or later to be a fantastic father. I realized lots about that stuff from him, man. The dedication to excellence, the dedication to only coming right here every single day and be constant every single day each day,” Silmon-Craig informed Steelers Depot on the East-West Shrine Bowl relating to his relationship with Sanders. “Like, you have got an excellent day. You could have a nasty day. He has at all times bought the identical degree of consistency every single day. He do the identical factor. Simply the consistency he brings outta you, man, that’s what he preach lots about.
“The consistency, simply coming to work every single day and dealing with a enterprise like a professional. We at all times been attempting to be a professional. So I really feel like that’s helped me lots within the subsequent degree, similar to protecting that consistency going.”
Silmon-Craig has been constant all through his soccer life, from being an underrated, neglected recruit popping out of Trinity Christian Excessive College in Texas to proving his value within the SWAC at Jackson State after which within the Massive 12 at Colorado.
Making the bounce from Jackson State to Colorado was troublesome, however Silmon-Craig introduced consistency to the desk, letting his play do the speaking. By doing that, he was in a position to show to himself that he might do it, which was far more essential than proving to the naysayers and the remainder of the nation that he might.
“It wasn’t so I might say I confirmed the nation, however I attempt to show myself, show it to myself greater than something,” Silmon-Craig mentioned of the transition to the Massive 12 and his success. “It wasn’t an excessive amount of about what different individuals thought. I can take the whole lot with a grain of salt. I simply wished to show to myself I’m who I say I used to be, and I proved it.”
He actually did, as he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades in 2024. In two years at Colorado, Silmon-Craig recorded 138 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, three move breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one landing.
His play and mentality helped make him a frontrunner for 2 years at Colorado, the place he wore the “L” on his jersey for chief. Some teammates, like large receiver LaJohntay Wester, referred to as him the center and soul of the Buffaloes.
Listening to that, Silmon-Craig was shocked however acknowledged how a lot it meant to him due to his backstory and the way he needed to go down a path stuffed with challenges to do what he believed he might.
“Which means the whole lot. I imply, I couldn’t get a greater praise than that from the followers and the media individuals. That’s a fantastic consolation,” Silmon-Craig mentioned. “It means I simply confirmed it on the sphere. Simply the fervour, the fervour I play with. I’m naturally a quiet man, however on the sphere, I put on it on my sleeve.
“I can put it on the market, you gonna see it. So, I really feel like that’s why they [teammates] say that, simply because they’ll see it and respect it.”
Due to consistency day in and time out, on and off the sphere, one thing that Sanders confirmed him how you can do, Silmon-Craig has positioned himself properly to show that zeal on the sphere on the subsequent degree, too.
