Julian Lewis’ starting quarterback gig at Colorado is looking shaky. With Shedeur Sanders heading to the NFL next year, it seemed like JuJu had a clear path to take over as the Buffs’ star QB. But now, with new faces gunning for that top spot, the competition just got real. If Lewis wants to keep his spot, he’s gotta bring the heat—like, never-before-seen heat. Freshman or not, OC Pat Shurmur isn’t handing out free passes. In fact, Shurmur’s making it loud and clear: nobody’s job is safe.

Buffs’ OC isn’t playing around when it comes to building a winning squad. As sports reporter Tyler King pointed out, “The #CUBuffs definitely still want to add QBs this offseason despite signing 5-star Julian Lewis earlier this month. Veteran Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter is on campus right now.” King even quoted Shurmur, “We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure we’ve got the best players and the best room possible.” Long story short? JuJu better level up fast, or the Buffs’ QB room might get a whole lot more crowded. And next year, the Buffs aren’t just aiming for a bowl game; they’re gunning for a national title. 

But then it’s not like the team is not looking forward to working with Julian Lewis, as even Shurmur mentioned it, saying, “I mean, obviously, JuJu’s future is unbelievable, and I’m certainly very much looking forward to working with him. He’s got a bright future, and we’ll see how quickly that happens. But at some point here, I think we need to add another quarterback.” Well, that’s a straight fact: putting all hopes on a freshman is a bit risky.

Moreover, it looks like Kaidon Salter’s interest in Colorado is no longer just a rumor. If Coach Prime brings the 4-star quarterback from the 2021 class, it could cause some serious drama. Salter’s experience could overshadow Julian Lewis, who’s a legit quarterback with 2876 yards and 32 touchdowns. Landing Salter might give them an immediate edge, but it could also create long-term problems. And with all the new names showing up every other day, it looks like Buffs are heading towards a big storm real soon.

There’s K Salter on the list, with Mikey Keene already in the mix. Now imagine being in a situation where every player is a standout but only one gets the chance to outshine. And all these names are only creating problems for Julian Lewis. Well, Coach Prime hasn’t said anything about this QB situation yet. But for all we know, Lewis is still in his plans.

Julian Lewis’ belief in Coach Prime

See, let’s be clear on one thing: Julian Lewis’s inclination towards Buffs is purely based on the fact that Shedeur Sanders is leaving for the NFL next year, and he might get the starting quarterback job, but isn’t it delusional? Like teams have literally seen disasters relying solely on freshmen QBs. It’s not that they’re bad, but if things go south, the coach takes the fall. Just look at Nebraska with Dylan Raiola. It’s hard to say if starting him right away was the best move for Matt Rhule.

However, even with all the uncertainties swirling around Julian Lewis, his faith in Coach Prime is unshaken, and that’s kind of surprising. Julian clears up the heat and gets into the straight fact that he surely sees himself playing from the moment he joins the team. “Coach Prime’s always said the best man’s gonna play. And that’s really what I wanted, was to be able to come in and compete and start as a freshman. I wouldn’t have much fun sitting on the bench.” Now if that’s really the case, what’s with the tension around the quarterback situation?

One thing is for sure: Coach Prime knows Julian Lewis’ worth. That dude, even with his hand injury, is taking the Carrollton Trojans to new heights of success this season. He’s racking up the charts and making big plays, and Deion can’t afford to lose him. Well, passing for 3,272 yards with a completion rate of 75.8% with 44 touchdowns isn’t a joke, right? But for now, let’s just hope that Deion Sanders and the team don’t land up in a weird situation like Michigan this season with their QBs, as there are too many peas in the pod.