“That young man is phenomenal.” Deion Sanders has already high praise for his latest 5-Star dart weapon, Julian Lewis. When the standout player from Carrollton High School stepped onto the Folsom Field for practice donning #10 black and gold, it marked the beginning of what many hope will be another chapter of the Boulder revival. As the early enrollee, Juju prepares to carry the torch from Shedeur Sanders. When Juju shared his journey on social media, it attracted more than praise.

The 18-year-old prodigal QB, Julian Lewis was quick to share his journey on his Instagram. However, it wasn’t just his slick caption, “𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨…🧍🏽,” that drew attention—it was the comment section that set off a frenzy. Enter Winston Watkins Jr., the newly-minted Ole Miss Rebel, and a former Colorado Buffaloes verbal commit. Watkins, a standout wide receiver from Florida and a top-15 player in his class per Rivals.com, dropped simple hearts “🖤🖤” under Lewis’ post. For some, it might seem like a harmless show of support between two rising stars. But for Buffs fans, it was like opening an old wound. Watkins’s decision to withdraw from Colorado—following just one bad game last season—didn’t sit well with Boulder faithful. The comment reopened a floodgate of frustration directed at the former Buffs pledge.

Watkins’ journey to Ole Miss has been anything but linear. The 5’10” Venice High School senior has been a headliner in the recruiting world, attending four different high schools and flipping commitments more often than a coin toss. Initially bound for Texas A&M, he later shifted to Colorado, only to ultimately sign with Lane Kiffin’s Rebels. While Watkins has amassed impressive high school stats, his penchant for de-committing has earned him a polarizing reputation. Fans weren’t shy about expressing their bitterness when Watkins surfaced in Juju’s comments. A moment emblematic of his complex relationship with Buffs Nation.

For Julian Lewis, who will spend this year splitting QB duties with Flames veteran Kaidon Salter before taking full reins when he’s gone after his one-year eligibility, the excitement is palpable. Deion Sanders shared his thoughts on his young phenom, “He’s a really good quarterback, he’s got all the intangibles. The kid’s a winner.” And the Buffs are banking on Lewis to keep their momentum rolling post-Shedeur. But Watkins’s comment was a sharp reminder of the emotional toll recruiting battles often take on fans and programs alike.

Buffs fans can’t let this Rebels Love reach Julian Lewis

The backlash under Lewis’ post was swift and merciless. The first commenter didn’t mince words, “You gave up on him and the Buffs for Ole Miss. Go away.” This echoed a broader frustration among fans who felt Watkins abandoned a promising Buffs squad for greener—albeit less stable—pastures. Another user responded with a broken heart emoji and the words, “💔😔,” perfectly capturing the emotional gut punch the decommitment delivered.

Not all comments were about sadness; some fans took the opportunity to throw shade. “glad he did we got better WR since lol. Kid decommited after 1 bad game last year lol. he’ll def hit the portal next year,” one user quipped, referring to the potential addition of 2025 4-star wideout Donovan Murph. Dude even went on to imply that Winston Watkins Jr. would likely hit the transfer portal again next year. Hence fueling skepticism about his loyalty to Ole Miss. What stood out the most, however, was the succinct yet pointed, “We don’t like you.” It was a blunt reminder of how deeply Watkins’s departure cut into the hearts of Buffs fans, who saw him as a key piece of Deion Sanders’s recruiting masterclass.

Amid the negativity, there’s a silver lining for Colorado. Watkins’s comment, while controversial, highlights the magnetic pull of Julian Lewis and the Buffs program. Even a former commit couldn’t resist engaging with Boulder’s newest star.