Football <\/p>\n
FRISCO, TEXAS \u2014<\/strong> In professional sports, being great isn\u2019t a sometimes thing; it\u2019s an all-the-time thing.<\/p>\n Football is a 24\/7 commitment, on and off the field. To be truly great, one must make a special sacrifice professionally and personally.<\/p>\n For Colorado Buffaloes\u2019 safety, Cam\u2019Ron Silmon-Craig<\/a>\u00a0he\u2019s had a clear example of greatness to learn from for the last seven years, dating back to his time in high school. That would be Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, who coached Silmon-Craig in high school, at Jackson State, and now the last two years at Colorado.<\/p>\n Having that role model in Sanders has helped Silmon-Craig grow on and off the field, putting him one step closer to achieving his dream of reaching the NFL. The next step in that journey for the 5103, 184-pound safety<\/a> is the East-West Shrine Bowl, where Silmon-Craig joined several Buffs\u2019 teammates for the last week.<\/p>\n During his time in Frisco, Texas, Silmon-Craig spoke to Steelers Depot and stated just how important Sanders has been as a role model and a mentor, both on and off the field. Just how important? Silmon-Craig says Sanders showed him what \u201ccommitment to excellence\u201d looks like on a daily basis.<\/p>\n \u201cCoach Prime is a great guy, great man. I\u2019ve grew more with him, just being a man, just being a great son, a great brother, just me growing up one day to be a great father. I learned a lot about that stuff from him, man. The commitment to excellence, the commitment to just coming here every day and be consistent every day on a daily basis,\u201d Silmon-Craig told Steelers Depot at the East-West Shrine Bowl regarding his relationship with Sanders. \u201cLike, you have a good day. You have a bad day. He has always got the same level of consistency every day. He do the same thing. Just the consistency he brings outta you, man, that\u2019s what he preach a lot about.<\/p>\n \u201cThe consistency, just coming to work every day and handling a business like a pro. We always been trying to be a pro. So I feel like that\u2019s helped me a lot in the next level, just like keeping that consistency going.\u201d<\/p>\n Silmon-Craig has been consistent throughout his football life, from being an underrated, overlooked recruit coming out of Trinity Christian High School in Texas to proving his worth in the SWAC at Jackson State and then in the Big 12 at Colorado.<\/p>\n Making the jump from Jackson State to Colorado was difficult, but Silmon-Craig brought consistency to the table, letting his play do the talking. By doing that, he was able to prove to himself that he could do it, which was way more important than proving to the naysayers and the rest of the country that he could.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t so I could say I showed the country, but I try to prove myself, prove it to myself more than anything,\u201d Silmon-Craig said of the transition to the Big 12 and his success. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t too much about what other people thought. I can take everything with a grain of salt. I just wanted to prove to myself I am who I say I was, and I proved it.\u201d<\/p>\n