With just under two weeks until the Colorado Buffaloes open their season against Georgia Tech on August 29, head coach Deion Sanders is still weighing who will take the first snap at quarterback, but it seems as though Julian Lewis could be the players’ pick.
Following the departure of Shedeur Sanders to the NFL, Colorado has turned to their Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and their freshman Julian “JuJu” Lewis as the main contenders for QB1.
Coach Prime has not committed to naming a starter, nor has he confirmed if one quarterback will play the full game or if both will split time, but while the uncertainty remains, the team’s wide receivers have offered public endorsements of both players.
“Kaidon is very wise, very experienced,” Sincere Brown said. “He can facilitate very well. Julian has a pure god given arm. From a talent stand point, they both got it.”
Whilst Hykeem Williams, another new addition to the roster, said Lewis had impressed him most during camp as he quite simply said, “I know for sure JuJu. He’s that.”
The Buffaloes lost their top four receivers from last season as Travis Hunter, LaJohntay Wester, Will Sheppard, and Jimmy Horn Jr. all headed to the NFL, as did their lead QB, Shedeur Sanders.
That’s leaving room for new talent to step into larger roles, but it also means that there is a big rebuilt job on for Coach Prime as he looks to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term program building.
With Salter bringing maturity and Lewis offering rare natural talent, praise from within the locker room has added weight to the evaluation process, despite the NCAA season being just days away.
New Colorado wide receiver compares himself to NFL legend
As the quarterback decision comes at a time of significant transition for Colorado’s offense, one man who seems supremely confident in his ability is Brown, who is already comparing himself to a six-time NFL Pro Bowler.
Standing at 6-foot-5, Brown compared his playing style to Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss, citing his ability to win contested passes being similar to that of the four-time First-team All-Pro, who is a five-time receiving touchdown leader.
His size advantage even surpasses the former NFL great, and his breakout year at Campbell, where he recorded 1028 yards and 12 touchdowns, suggests he could be a key target for whichever quarterback earns the starting role.
Brown chose Colorado after following the program closely last season and watching fellow former USF receivers Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr. thrive under the coaching of the 58-year-old Sanders.
Their success and subsequent leap to the NFL, Weaver to the Arizona Cardinals and Horn Jr. to the Carolina Panthers, played a role in his decision whilst the chance to learn under Sanders and an NFL-experienced staff helped seal the deal.
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