Shilo Sanders makes a big first impression with the Buccaneers

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Shilo Sanders walked into his first news conference with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and immediately shook hands with each reporter.

Coach Prime’s son knows how to make a first impression on and off the field.

Like his dad, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, Shilo displayed his engaging personality and commanded the interview room. He asked for beach recommendations and revealed that he plans to be the “snack guy” for the team’s safety group.

“Man, look at where we’re at,” Sanders said with a big smile. “Look at the whole coaching staff. It’s a really supportive coaching staff. Everybody wants to see everybody do good. Everybody on the team, we all want to see each other win. It’s a great environment to thrive in.”

Sanders, who signed with the Buccaneers after being passed up in the draft, impressed coach Todd Bowles on the first day of rookie camp with his intelligence.

“Like the rest of the safeties, he’s very intelligent, he’s very loud,” Bowles said. “You can hear him (on the field), making calls and everything, so he has a good grasp of things Day 1. There was about three or four of them that did. He was one of them, but you have to make plays in pads. That’s what it comes down to — knowing what to do and then doing it consistently and constantly getting better every day.”

The 25-year-old Sanders even helped younger teammates with some of the defensive calls.

“He’s very smart,” rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish said. “He helped me a lot with the adjustments. I’m excited to work with him.”

While younger brother, Shedeur Sanders, drew most of the attention during the draft after slipping to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, Shilo didn’t get a call until hiring agent Drew Rosenhaus.

“They gave me a chance before anyone so I’m forever grateful to the Buccaneers and I’m just gonna do everything in my power to help this team win,” Sanders said. “That’s all I want.”

Shilo played in the shadow of his quarterback brother while they were coached by their father at Jackson State and Colorado. He wasn’t expected to be a top-five pick like Shedeur but ended up in a favorable spot with the four-time defending NFC South champion Buccaneers, a team that needs help in the secondary.

“My take on being disappointed in lows is that it’s not a real low because you can’t change the past,” Sanders said. “I just trust God, and I always end up doing something great, so I just know it’s going to happen, and whatever is happening currently is to learn or grow from.”

Sanders missed three weeks last season at Colorado because of a broken forearm. He finished third on the Buffaloes with 67 total tackles, recovered two fumbles, including one he returned for a touchdown at Texas Tech. He had four forced fumbles, one recovery and a pick-6 his junior season.

The Buccaneers need more playmakers in the secondary.

“It’s just an ‘it’ thing. You either got it or you don’t,” Sanders said. “Throughout my whole career, I’ve always been a guy who gets the ball out any way, shape or form. Forced fumbles, picks, I’m gonna get the ball. That’s the whole point of playing defense. We wanna get the offense the ball.”

As for his baby brother in Cleveland, Shilo said about Shedeur: “He’s been missing me. He’s been calling me like 6 a.m. He wants some brotherly love. His big brother isn’t next him in practice but we talk a lot.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders catches the ball during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp Friday, May 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders catches the ball during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp Friday, May 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders catches the ball during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp Friday, May 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders works out during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp Friday, May 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

TOKYO (AP) — A man was arrested after stabbing eight people and injuring seven others with what was believed to be bleach at a tire factory in central Japan on Friday, officials said. There was no immediate explanation of his motive.

Eight people were taken to hospitals after being stabbed by the man with a knife at a factory of the tiremaker Yokohama Rubber Co. in the city of Mishima, in the Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, according to the Fujisan Nanto Fire Department.

The fire department told The Associated Press that five of the people who were stabbed were in serious condition but other details were not available. All were conscious while they were being transported to hospitals, media reports said.

Shizuoka prefectural police said the attacker, a 38-year-old man, was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, but did not give further details.

The attacker is believed to be a former employee at the factory, Kyodo news agency said, quoting investigative sources.

The suspect was carrying a survival knife and wearing what appeared to be a gas mask, the major Japanese newspaper Asahi reported, citing investigators.

Seven others were also injured by the bleach thrown at them during the attack, and taken to hospitals for treatment, the fire department said.

Japan has strict gun control laws and is known for violent crimes being rare, but there have been a number of high-profile knife attacks in recent years.

Police officers stand guard at the scene of a stabbing at the Yokohama Rubber Company in Mishima, west of Tokyo, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Yusuke Hashizume/Kyodo News via AP)