Insider Highlights Julian Lewis’ Weird Spot as Deion Sanders Secures Kaidon Salter for Colorado

Sometimes two is not better than one. And the lovely Deion Sanders is going to be no stranger to that.

Headline grabbing? It’s in the Sanders blood. Whether turning a program around or reeling in 5-Star talent, “Coach Prime” knows how to stir the pot. But as Sanders continues to reshape Colorado Buffaloes, this move on the recruiting trail might have created a situation that even he’ll find tough to navigate. The signing of Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, paired with the looming arrival of Trojans high school phenom Julian Lewis, has set the stage for a 5-Star conundrum.

When Julian Lewis, the No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 class, committed to the Buffs, he made it clear that he wasn’t looking to ride the pine. “I chose Colorado because I wanted to compete for the starting job right away,” Lewis told Pat McAfee, oozing confidence. But here comes what he and we all were concerned for, with the Flames QB arrival who led them to a 13-1 record. Which we earlier anticipated would be the best “quick-fix” replacement for the Heisman contender Shedeur Sanders. The pathway for the 17-year-old to start immediately now feels less certain, sparking questions about whether this is the best way to handle a generational talent.

Spencer McLaughlin, host of Locked On College Football, raised the stakes, asking, “Does this make them a Big 12 title contender or a looming quarterback controversy?” McLaughlin highlighted the risks: “You introduce a greater possibility than before that you could lose the quarterback of the future if he becomes disgruntled with a lack of playing time.” Another podcaster Kevin Bora, his guest on the show, didn’t mince words either, assessing Deion Sanders great dilemma, “It’s a little dicey. You don’t want your five-star quarterback to come into town and feel sidelined, but you also don’t want to crush his confidence.” Because nowhere does a guy who amassed 10,000 yards and 144 TDs in his 3-year high school career deserve the front seat. But it’s the question of just might be too young.

For context, Kaidon Salter comes with mixed reviews. While he showed flashes of brilliance at Liberty, he also regressed statistically in his second year in Conference USA, despite working under the same offensive-minded coach. It’s a gamble for Colorado, especially when the Buffs already have a potential cornerstone in Lewis. Bora pointed out the delicate balance coach Deion Sanders faces, saying, “You kind of made it seem like [Julian Lewis] was your world, and now you bring in someone else. It’s tricky.”

Adding fuel to the fire is Lewis’s recent performance in the Georgia state championships. Facing relentless pressure from a Rams defense led by 5-Star DE Tyler Atkinson, Julian Lewis endured a tough outing. Sacked four times, intercepted twice, and forced into a late fumble, it was a stark reminder that even future stars can stumble. The thumb injury he played through only adds to the narrative that Lewis is tough but perhaps not invincible—a detail that Coach Prime and his staff will have to consider as they map out his development. But again that might be too harsh as well, he was injured and it was one game.

But history suggests patience might be the wisest course. From Trevor Lawrence to Justin Fields, even the most hyped five-star quarterbacks often need time to adjust to the collegiate level. But patience isn’t exactly a word synonymous with Deion Sanders, who has built his reputation on bold, win-now decisions. And while Sanders is undoubtedly setting Colorado up for sustained success, this QB logjam might be one of the most challenging puzzles he’s had to solve.

Deion Sanders’s trick: Create the problem, solve the problem, and be the hero

You know what, yes, the situation is messy,and yes it will be tough for a while, but it’s going to be very fruitful for Prime Time if his plan goes well. With this move, he might have hit two birds with one shot, an immediate solution to the present while nurturing the future. Kaidon Salter has one year left. Just one. What’s the harm in waiting? Lewis could step into a system built just for him, ready to dominate. Coach Prime has the blueprint, but Lewis needs to trust it. Greatness doesn’t rush—it takes time to marinate.

Deion Sanders might’ve stirred the pot a little, but let’s be honest—Coach Prime doesn’t create problems without knowing how to fix them. The situation with Lewis is no exception. Sure, the kid is talented and hungry to start right away, but this is college football in the NIL era, where patience is in short supply. Think about it: What if the Longhorns forced Arch Manning on the field over Quinn Ewers before he was ready? Sometimes, greatness takes time to cook. Lewis could learn a thing or two from this.

Still, it will be a sight to watch. Whether it’s a blessing or a brewing storm depends entirely on how Coach Prime plays his hand.