You know how Deion Sanders rolls—flash and swagger, always. When he first hit Boulder, he brought his whole starry squad, or as he likes to call it, his ‘LV’ luggage. “We’ve got a few positions already taken care of because I’m bringing my luggage with me. And it’s Louis. I’m coming,” he said. He brought that swag back to Colorado and turned Boulder into a non-stop party. But, things are different now. Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter? They’re gone, heading to the NFL to cash in. And what’s left behind is a quarterback situation that’s a total mess, leaving everyone scratching their heads. Josh Pate just laid down some truth about Coach Prime, and it ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.

So, here’s the deal. On March 19th, college football insider Duke the Scoop brought in Josh Pate to hash out Colorado’s new era on his podcast. And let us tell you, Pate didn’t exactly come in with fluffy compliments. Duke tossed the question, “Colorado loses Shedeur Sanders, a possible top-10 quarterback pick, and also the Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter. Is there a world where Colorado was better this year than last year?”

Josh Pate didn’t sugarcoat anything. “There is a world. It’d be tough to see. I mean, I don’t think anyone’s touting that. I don’t think anyone will predict that. However, the Big 12’s wild. The Big 12 is a wild conference, and so, you know, when you’re thinking about this stuff, you have to think about Colorado or anyone else out there within the framework of the conference they play in,” Pate said. He pretty much laid it out—Colorado is a Big 12 program now, not some sideshow attraction.

According to Pate, just because America doesn’t know the names of the next guys up, doesn’t mean they’re not capable of stepping up. Josh Pate kept it optimistic: “Just because most of America does not know the names of the guys that will backfill there doesn’t mean they’re not capable of backfilling,” he continued. But let’s be real. No more Travis Hunter highlights or Shedeur Sanders bombs. But, Deion brought in some certified ballers to try to fill the gaping voids Shedeur and Hunter left behind.

Julian Lewis, the five-star QB sensation. Also recruited Adrian Wilson, and Carde Smith. And defensively, Alabama’s Jehiem Oatis and London Merritt are coming to dominate. This is a total 180 from what we had before. And with all the wild energy that the Big 12 brings, Deion Sanders better have a plan.

Josh Pate’s take on Kaidon Salter and the QB dilemma

But here’s the kicker: Pate is not totally out on the Buffs. In fact, he thinks they’ve got some real talent in the room, just waiting to be unleashed. The QB battle? Oh, that’s gonna be spicy. The heavyweights in this fight are Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis. And they’ve both got something to prove.

Kaidon Salter had everyone buzzing back in 2023. He led Liberty to a ridiculous 13-1 season and a Conference USA title, throwing for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 1,089 yards and 12 more scores. The man was unstoppable. But then, 2024 came around, and he looked… off. Injuries? Maybe pressure? His stats dropped to 1,886 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 587 rushing yards. Not terrible, but not the Kaidon Salter everybody remembered.

Pate broke it down: “Watching Kaidon Salter all year last year—I had to do studio coverage for a number of Liberty games, so I watched him a lot—and you think about how he looked the year before, and it was so clear to me, at least, that he was hurt last year, that something wasn’t right about him.” Basically, Salter’s stock took a hit.

Josh Pate drops Kaidon Salter’s concerning take: “So, you fast forward a year, and the question is, okay, well, which version of him do we get? Well, you gotta believe that you’re going to get something more towards the former rather than the latter. But then also, think about what that does to you. Think about what that does in the locker room. Think about if you got a healthy, cultivated locker room—think about what the spirit of competition does.” If Deion Sanders gets 2024-Kaidon Salter, then he’s doomed. And Julian Lewis’ will be low-key named QB1.

Pate’s big point? Competition. Straight-up, two dogs, one bone. “You get to go through a spring where you got both guys fighting for their job. Salter, for all we know, this may be his last shot. And Julian Lewis came in there with the idea that ‘I’m going to start here as a true freshman.’ Good. Someone’s going to get their feelings hurt. Good. It may pay off. It may benefit them down the road.”

What makes this battle even crazier is that both QBs are already buying into the grind. Salter knows he’s got to bring his A-game, especially after last year’s struggles. “It’s a competition, but at the end of the day, we’re all here to make each other better,” he said. That’s the right attitude, but let’s be real—nobody wants to be the backup. Meanwhile, Lewis is ready to eat. He’s been hyped since high school, and if there’s anyone who can challenge a seasoned vet like Salter, it’s him.

For Deion Sanders, this is a good problem to have. Competition breeds excellence, right? But if the QB room doesn’t sort itself out, Colorado could be in for a rocky start in the 2025 season. The talent’s there, but the real question is, can Coach Prime get the pieces to fit?