Colorado starting safety Shilo Sanders’ legal issues are being closely scrutinized as a lengthy saga unfolds. Sanders, the 24-year-old son of Buffaloes head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last October after a Texas court ordered him to pay nearly $12 million in damages to a former security guard at his Dallas high school following an alleged assault.
Court records in Texas and Colorado obtained and reviewed by The Athletic this week revealed that John Darjean accused Sanders, then 15 years old, of assaulting him during an altercation at Triple A Academy in 2015, causing damage to Darjean’s cervical spine and permanent neurological issues. Sanders has countered in court documents that Darjean was the aggressor.
Sanders’ bankruptcy filing has raised questions about his financial status at a time when college athletes can profit from their name, image, and likeness. Darjean and his legal team allege that Sanders did not fully disclose his assets in the bankruptcy filing and are still pursuing the $11.89 million judgment against him from a 2022 civil trial in Texas.
According to court documents from April 2020, Sanders’ previous lawyers withdrew from the case after he indicated that he could no longer fund his defense. Sanders, now a graduate student seeking a new beginning, claimed that he was unaware of the default judgment until 2023 due to not receiving notice of new trial dates.
This week, Sanders and his lawyers requested to seal 21 court records dating back to August 2017, citing the sensitive nature of the information. Darjean has allegedly violated a protective order by discussing the case on social media.
University of Colorado, Deion, and Shilo Sanders have refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation, while lawyers for both parties have not responded to requests for comment.
The Alleged Assault
Video footage from 2016 shows the beginning of the altercation between Darjean and Sanders and the subsequent alleged assault in 2015. The incident reportedly stemmed from Sanders speaking on the phone in violation of school policy.
Differing accounts of the incident exist, with Darjean claiming he was attacked by Sanders, while Sanders maintains that Darjean was overly physical with him. The involvement of school staff members and conflicting witness statements further complicate the case.
Deion Sanders and Darjean had previous interactions before the incident, with Darjean alleging that Deion called him personally during the altercation. Darjean filed a lawsuit against the Sanders family in 2016, which eventually led to a defamation suit against Deion in 2017.
Additional legal actions, including a YouTube channel and fundraising efforts for medical bills, have been part of the ongoing dispute between Sanders and Darjean.
Collecting on the Judgment and NIL
Darjean’s lawyers contend that Sanders has not been forthcoming about his assets derived from name, image, and likeness deals. Sanders, who has been involved in high-profile NIL agreements, faces challenges in detailing his financial situation amidst the legal battle.
Sanders’ bankruptcy filing disclosed his income and liabilities, including the multi-million dollar judgment from the Texas trial. Darjean alleges that Sanders may have hidden assets in his LLCs, casting doubt on the accuracy of Sanders’ financial disclosures.
The dispute over Sanders’ NIL agreements and financial transparency remains unresolved, with both parties presenting conflicting claims in court. Sanders’ legal team disputes Darjean’s allegations as speculative and without merit.
Sanders has sought a summary judgment to prevent Darjean from collecting the judgment, which is currently pending a response extension request. The legal battle continues as both sides navigate the complexities of the case.
(Top photo: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)