From his time in high school to the spotlight of Folsom Field, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig has lived in the shadows. At least in the eyes of scouts and analysts. At 5-foot-10 and 188 pounds, he doesn’t walk into a room and scream “prototype safety.” But flip on the tape, and it’s clear: this man plays like he’s strapped with dynamite. Why so?
On game days, Silmon-Craig doesn’t just show up—he detonates. Still, at Colorado’s Pro Day on April 4, all eyes were on height, weight, and 40-yard dash. When Craig took the mic post-workout, he smirked and shrugged off the superficiality: “I’m glad the underwear and T-shirt contest is over with. I can play football again, so I’m happy.” Classic shark grin from the safety who’s used to circling when the world thinks he’s still swimming to the surface.
But not everyone is buying stock. NFL Rookie Watch recently dropped its list of the Top 5 Safeties in the 2025 NFL Draft based on most turnovers created. Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig was nowhere to be found. Cold. That’s despite his knack for creating chaos on the back end. His omission sparked a quiet storm from the Buffs star, who felt his production was being slept on—again. While the media’s hyping the Combine metrics, he’s keeping receipts. And the silence? Craig just broke it loud and clear. Taking to his Instagram story, Silmon-Craig clapped back with his own stat sheet. A full résumé of carnage. “Woahhhh I had 18 total takeaways in my career,” he posted.
Then came the breakdown. “Career Overall: 251 tackles, 171 solo, 80 assisted, 22-73 TFL, 7-34 sacks, 10 QBH, 9-32 INT, 10 PBU, 2 FF, 5-95-1 TD Fumble Recoveries.” You want impact? It’s right there in black and white. Ironically, listed at No. 3 on the same chart was his own teammate Shilo Sanders: 6 INTs, 7 FFs, 2 FRs, totaling 15 takeaways. Good numbers, no doubt. But Craig’s point was clear—his résumé speaks for itself. Only problem? Too many people refuse to read it.
He addressed the situation head-on with a message that was part challenge, part mic drop. “My message to NFL teams is to watch the tape,” Silmon-Craig said. “Go out there and watch the tape and you break me down how you break me down on the field.” No extra gloss. No manufactured hype. Just the film. That’s where he thrives. That’s where “The Shark” shows his teeth. The nickname came from Deion Sanders, aka Coach Prime, who once told him, “You can’t drown a shark.” Silmon-Craig took that line and turned it into a football identity. Relentless, cold-blooded, and always hunting.
Last season was proof. Silmon-Craig led Colorado with 93 total tackles—no small feat, and the most by a CU defensive back in 15 years. That’s not a fluke, that’s consistency. And it came in a defensive scheme that often left the Buffs’ back end on an island, thanks to their aggressive man-coverage looks and frequent blitz packages. Craig was asked to clean up the mess and make impact plays, and he did it with surgical precision. And yet, despite the résumé, despite the tape, and despite that shark mentality, Silmon-Craig is staring at a reality where he might go undrafted.
That’s where projections have him, just like they did with another overlooked Buff: Phillip Lindsay. We all know how that turned out. Lindsay didn’t just make a roster, he made a Pro Bowl. The NFL Draft kicks off April 24–26, and while the lights will shine brightest on the names called early, keep an eye on the guys who don’t get that green room hug.
Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig hopes to catch NFL eyes
Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig isn’t the flashiest name in this year’s draft pool, but don’t let that fool you—he’s a certified ‘gamer’. The former CU Buffs safety has made a career out of proving people wrong, and now he’s hoping an NFL team takes notice of his production and heart.
“There’s people that watch the film,” Silmon-Craig 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.”
This isn’t new territory for Silmon-Craig. He’s been overlooked before, whether as a young athlete or while climbing the ladder through college football. But year after year, he delivered. Becoming one of CU’s top leaders and showing up big in key moments.
“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). … Just keep my mindset on being the best football player I can be.” The odds might be long, especially for CU safeties, but Silmon-Craig is betting on himself, like always.
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