Malik Nabors still isn't dreaming about a future in which he steals touchdowns from Shedule Sanders and brings pride back to the Giants.
But a few years ago, during a football camp hosted by Shedour's father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, these two college football freshmen were on opposing teams in the final game of a 7-on-7 tournament. It's never too late to remember those times.
“He and I were in the same class and he always seemed to be aware of his competition,” Nabors said after Wednesday's practice. “He wasn't competing with me, but just the fact that it was Deion Sanders and Deion Sanders' son, he was always watching what they were doing. It's amazing and impressive to see what he's accomplished because he's done it at a high level wherever he's gone.”
Nabors recalled with a laugh how he and his then-quarterback (later LSU teammate Garrett Nussmeyer) beat Sanders' team to win the camp championship.
It's been a few years since those camps that helped raise Nabors' profile, but the rookie receiver hasn't won or smiled much during his trying season with the Giants. The Giants have lost eight straight and have a 41 percent chance of finishing with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, according to ESPN's Football Power Index.
With a final record of 2-15, the Giants are ahead of the Raiders in losing Sanders (who committed to Jackson State in 2022 and was coached by his father at the University of Colorado the past two seasons) and newcomer Cam Ward ( Miami). Franchise quarterback.
Nabors has said in the past that his only wish for his future as the Giants' quarterback was someone who would give him the ball.
“I have nothing to do with those people,” Nabers said. “I know Sheduar and I've seen some of Cam Ward's games. They're great players.”
If the Giants win one of their remaining four games, which they lost at home to the Ravens by 16.5 points on Sunday, they likely won't, and could take Sanders or Ward out of the draft lottery.
There's also the possibility that months of scouting homework could keep the Giants away from drafting Sanders or Ward, in which case a veteran bridge QB and a top non-QB draft pick could end up with the Neighbors in 2025. There is a possibility of combining.
Nabors could also join Colorado State's other star, Heisman Trophy favorite Travis Hunter, in the same dynamic receiving corps.
Hunter plays alongside Sanders and is a once-in-a-generation two-way star who is not only a 1,100-yard, 14-touchdown receiver but also an elite cornerback prospect.
“He's the best player in college football. When you can play for both teams at a high level like he did, you can't go wrong,” Neighbors said, adding that in addition to Hunter's work as the No. 1 receiver, My gratitude for doing a similarly demanding job at the NFL level is endless. “I don't put a cap on a person's ability. I say he can do it 100 percent.”
However, those brighter days are still months away.
Or what feels more like an eternity than that for Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who praised Lamar Jackson in Baltimore and his “manage of players.” [dual-threat quarterbacks] “What's come out over the last few years is very difficult to defend,” he said in one breath, and then in another, said he didn't have time to watch college football this fall.
By Nov. 2, Giants general manager Joe Schon was laughing with Dion and watching Schedeur play at Colorado's practice field. The Giants do not have a quarterback under contract for 2025.
“Right now I’m focused on the football team,” Daboll said. “In terms of player research and draft evaluation…that's the scouting department and Joe. We're just trying to win.”
Nabers' short-term focus is to finish his rookie year on a high note.
Despite missing two games with a concussion earlier this season and playing through nagging groin and hip injuries, he needed 20 catches to reach 100 yards and 191 receptions to reach 1,000 yards. I need yards.
“As a receiver, that’s your marker for a year or more, whether it’s in college or in the league,” Nabers said. “Well, 1,000 yards is definitely on my mind.”
The road to 1,000 is littered with bumps, including a merry-go-round at quarterback with Tommy DeVito starting for the second time on Sunday in place of the injured Drew Lock.
“It takes a really long time for you to develop a great relationship with your quarterback,” Nabers said.
Perhaps the clock will start ticking for Nabors and Sanders in 2025.
