1 week Ago
When Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig sat down for a press conference following his performance at Colorado’s pro day on April 4, he joked, “I’m glad the underwear and T-shirt contest is over with. I can play football again, so I’m happy.”Workouts such as pro day are part of the pre-draft process for NFL prospects such as Silmon-Craig, but that’s not the environment in which he shines.
His numbers from that day were solid, but not eye-popping.Related ArticlesCU football notes: Zy Crisler brings experience, versatility to Buffs O-lineFootball: Assistant Brett Bartolone searching for production among CU Buffs’ tight endsCU Buffs football notes: Cornerback RJ Johnson seizing opportunity this springCU Buffs’ Drelon Miller picking up where he left off in 2024Football: Running back Isaiah Augustave no longer with CU Buffs“My message to NFL teams is to watch the tape,” former Buffaloes’ safety said. “Go out there and watch the tape and you break me down how you break me down on the field.
”From his time in high school and throughout his college career, Silmon-Craig has often been overlooked. He doesn’t fit the typical mold, at just 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighing in at 188 pounds, yet when game days hit, Silmon-Craig is a beast – or, rather, a shark.He took on the nickname “The Shark,” because a coach told him “you can’t drown a shark.
” Silmon-Craig has a shark mentality of never stopping, and hunting from his safety position.Last season, he led the Buffs with 93 tackles (most for a CU defensive back in 15 years), including 10 tackles for loss (most for a Buffs DB since 2015), two sacks, an interception and two fumble recoveries, one that he returned for a touchdown.Colorado safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (7) follows a play against Central Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept.
28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)Silmon-Craig earned second-team All-Big 12 from the Associated Press and honorable mention from the coaches.
“Cam, for sure I don’t really like going against him that much,” CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders said with a laugh before the Buffs’ appearance in the Alamo Bowl in December. “Cam, he’s going to do his job, and he’s Mr. Consistent.
That’s probably the most consistent player we have. Everything that he does is consistent. The way he practices, the way he goes about his business.
”With the NFL Draft coming up April 24-26, Silmon-Craig is projected as an undrafted free agent. Yet, he’s got a lot of similar traits to former Buffs running back Phillip Lindsay.Highly productive at CU, Lindsay was a “small” running back by NFL standards and didn’t get drafted in 2018, but signed with the Denver Broncos as a free agent.
That year, Lindsay not only made the roster but rushed for 1,037 yards and became the first undrafted offensive rookie in league history to make the Pro Bowl. He topped 1,000 yards again in 2019.Silmon-Craig is the same type of “gamer” as Lindsay, and he’s hoping there’s at least one NFL team that will recognize that and draft him.
“There’s people that watch the film,” he said. “They got film at the facility, so they understand what I bring to the table on Saturday nights coming on Sundays. So, yeah, they understand when the lights come on, they know who they can count on, just like these coaches can tell them, just like any player will tell you.
”Silmon-Craig is no stranger to having to prove himself. He had to do it growing up. He had to do it again after he was lightly recruited out of high school and signed with Jackson State to play for Deion Sanders, who had coached him at Trinity Christian (Texas) High School.
Low on the depth chart at the start of his freshman year, Silmon-Craig posted 48 tackles and 4.5 TFLs that year. In 2022, he had 63 tackles, 5.
5 TFLs and two interceptions.After coming to CU in 2023, Silmon-Craig didn’t earn a starting job out of camp and barely played in the Buffs’ season-opening thriller at TCU. After an injury to starter Myles Slusher in that game, Silmon-Craig started the next week and never left the lineup.
He had 44 tackles and three interceptions in 2023 for the Buffs.Now, after four productive years in college – which included several exceptional games – Silmon-Craig, who was one of the top leaders for CU last year, is hoping to get his NFL shot this spring.“The offseason has just been working – just work and get better at football,” he said.
“For the most part, I’ve been keeping my mind on making sure I’m ready to play football (during NFL mini-camp). When I go into a camp or anything, I know I’m gonna be ready to play football. .
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Just keep my mindset on being the best football player I can be.”.
