Having gone through the NFL draft process himself in 1989 and having been around the league ever since, Deion Sanders knows the drill.

The time between the end of the college football season and the draft is filled with pundits forming opinions and creating narratives about particular players. When that player is a quarterback and the son of an all-time great, the criticism is going to be a bit louder.

So it is for Sanders’ son, Shedeur, the now former Colorado Buffaloes star who is projected to be a first-round selection in the NFL Draft on April 24.

“You gotta understand, when that last name is on your back, you’re going to be attacked and ridiculed and naysayed,” said Deion Sanders, CU’s third-year head coach and a Pro Football Hall of Famer who was selected with the No. 5 pick in 1989. “We’re built for that. He was raised for this moment.”

Throughout his college career, Shedeur shined week after week. He became just the second player in Division I history to throw for over 14,000 yards (14,353) while completing at least 70% of his passes (70.6%).

Only 13 players in D-I history have thrown for more yards and only seven have thrown more touchdown passes (134). He also set a D-I record by throwing a touchdown pass in 49 consecutive games — each of his last 49 career games.

“But all of a sudden his arm is weak,” Coach Prime said, referring to one of the criticisms thrown at his son as the draft approaches.

Because he’s a quarterback and the son of Deion Sanders — who offends some people with his extreme confidence — and in part because he’s shown some of his own brashness at times, pundits are all over the board on where Shedeur will land in the draft.

It is widely believed that Sanders is one of the top two QB prospects, along with Miami’s Cam Ward, who is Shedeur’s good friend and training partner.

“I feel like I’m the No. 1 quarterback,” Shedeur said Friday after CU’s pro day in front of 70 NFL scouts. “At the end of the day, I’m not stuck on that, because it’s about the situation. Whatever situation, whatever franchise believes in me and gives me the opportunity, I’m excited to go. So wherever that falls, it don’t really matter.”

Most projections have the Tennessee Titans taking Ward with the No. 1 pick, but reports are that the Titans like Shedeur, as well.

On Thursday, Shedeur had dinner with front office personnel from the Cleveland Browns, who have the No. 2 pick. He’s also met with the New York Giants, who have the No. 3 pick but have recently signed two veteran quarterbacks (Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston).

The Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6) and New Orleans Saints (No. 9) have been common projections for Sanders, too. Other mock drafts have him slipping to late in the first round or even into the second round.

At this point, it’s mainly a waiting game over the next few weeks, now that pro day is complete.

“Now I’m able to go back in the zone and work on everything I need to work on and get better,” he said. “So I’m just excited that we got this (pro day), we done this, we got it out the way, and now I could get back in my rhythm of my off season.”

Shedeur has heard plenty of the criticism, not just during the pre-draft process, but throughout his life. He’s grown up in the spotlight as Deion Sanders’ son.

“The one thing I learned is just not really care about anybody’s opinion but those around, those that matter, so none of that stuff really affects me,” said Shedeur, who starred for two years at Jackson State before his two stellar seasons at CU. “I don’t really care too much about what a lot of people have to say that’s not in my intimate group.”

Shedeur’s character has come into question by some, but those close to him — family, friends and teammates — have always spoke highly of him.

“Truthfully, whenever I talk to all these (NFL) coaches and the teams, they really don’t care about all this stuff people say on media,” he said. “That’s why I don’t respond. That’s why I don’t say anything anymore, because (the teams) truly don’t care, or they really don’t know. They care about ball. And I don’t have any character issues, so I don’t know. What’s the knock?”

There will be always be some knocks against the top prospects, but as the draft approaches, Shedeur remains confident in himself, even as he’s likely to go to a team that hasn’t won much in recent years and will look to him to turn it around.

“I don’t think Jackson State or Colorado had a winning history before I got there,” he said of his track record of turning around teams. “So it’s just another day in the office, another year in the office for me. It’s the same thing over and over and that’s what I enjoy about life, because I understand how to approach different situations and what to do different.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity and whoever drafts me, whatever pick, it truly don’t matter to me, because I know in myself who I am. And I know what I bring to the table. So whoever sees the value or not will be very lucky to get me. … Wherever I go, it’s definitely going to be improvement (over) what it was before I got there.”