It’s time for a new sunrise at Folsom Field. But will it be a bright, sunny day, or a sky shrouded by clouds? As Shedeur Sanders walks towards the higher echelons of the NFL, the community has been contemplating the rightful heir to the throne—which was somewhat confirmed with an ambitious photo of Julian literally sitting on a throne and Sanders’ handing him the keys last year. However, a lot has gone down since then, worthy of putting creases on Lewis’ forehead. However, for his father, one leap of faith and belief is all it takes to navigate through the QB battle maze. Remember this as you read the story further…

As of now, Deion Sanders is smack dab in the middle of a dicey situation. With a heated quarterback room comprising of Lewis, Kaidon Salter, and Ryan Staub, a fierce battle awaits for deciding the future. On one hand is Lewis, who committed to Boulder as a 5-star prospect in November last year. Hailing from Carrollton High School, the 17-year-old finished his high school career with 736-of-1,065 passes for 11,010 yards, and 144 passing touchdowns. Apart from that, the young player was also named the Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, becoming just the second player to win the award twice, besides Trevor Lawrence. What’s more? The QB also has a 39-4 record as a three-year starter. Amazing, right? Well, wait till you hear who he’s competing against.

Kaidon Salter has become a name synonymous with success lately. A transfer from Liberty Flames, the 21-year-old won the Conference USA MVP in 2023, and led the Flames to a 13-1 record and a Fiesta Bowl appearance against Oregon. Not just that, the dual-threat quarterback finished with 66 total touchdowns and 6,438 yards of total offense in his last two seasons with the Flames, and was also named Group of 5 Player of the Year in 2023. He joins the Buffs with 5,283 passing yards, 59 passing TDs, and 1,697 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns throughout his college career. Looks like the competition is going to be heated up to earn that hallowed QB1 spot—intensified by a recent addition as an added perk…

As things stand, Sanders keeps adding NFL firepower to Colorado’s coaching staff, and while Byron Leftwich is the latest big-name hire, he won’t be the last. Well, just four years after helping Tom Brady and the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV as an offensive coordinator, the former starting QB is now set to mentor the Buffs’ signal-callers. Notably, Leftwich had coached Brady to his first 5,000-yard season and 40-touchdown campaign in more than a decade. Now, with Sanders heading to the NFL, Leftwich will face a new challenge—developing CU’s next QB1. And Lewis’ father couldn’t be more excited.

On March 18, T. Carlton Lewis, took to X to share his thoughts on Deion Sanders’ latest move. With Leftwich joining OC Pat Shurmur on CU’s staff, he delightedly shared, “So Ju gets to be coached by Byron Leftwich and Pat Shurmur in college!” he wrote. But he didn’t stop there, and he doubled down, adding, “In College! When God has a plan for you, sit back and—like Ju told me two months ago—’God has been cooking; let him cook.’ Even if for only one season of his career, that’s Check Mate!” Safe to say, the Lewis camp sees this as a game-changing move.

And a few minutes later, T. Carlton Lewis jumped back on X to clear up the ‘one season’ comment. And he wasn’t talking about Julian—he was hinting at Leftwich’s future. “Coach Leftwich in my eyes will be similar to Kingsbury in college before heading to Washington. That is what I meant by 1 year for clarity…” said Julian’s father.

So, in other words, you can say, he sees Leftwich as a rising star, likely making a quick stop in Boulder before jumping back to the NFL. Well, before taking over as Washington’s offensive coordinator in 2024, Kliff Kingsbury had made a quick stop at USC in 2023 as a senior offensive analyst, helping mold Caleb Williams. As of now, some see Byron Leftwich following a similar path—a college pit stop before another NFL opportunity. And if that’s the case, his time in Boulder could be short, but the impact on CU’s quarterbacks could be massive.

Quite understandable why Lewis’ father is excited. Julian, on the other hand, just got a true welcome to Colorado—caught in a heated spring practice scuffle.

Julian Lewis is pushed aside

For the past two seasons, Shedeur Sanders was the guy under center for the Buffs. But with his sights set on the NFL, Deion has yet to name his successor. Enter Julian Lewis—the 5-star phenom who flipped from USC to CU last November. However, his first taste of Buffs’ spring practice wasn’t all smooth sailing. Well, Lewis found himself in a heated on-field altercation, proving that competition for QB1 is already intense in Boulder.

And while drama hit Colorado’s spring practice, Well Off Forever caught it all on camera. On Wednesday, they posted a video showing players gathering at midfield, tensions running high. And in the middle of it? Julian Lewis. As of now, tempers flared and an argument ensued between teammates, Lewis was seen being carried away while coaches stepped in to restore order. Safe to say, it’s just another day in Boulder—where competition is fierce, and no spot is guaranteed.

However, Deion Sanders shook things up this offseason, revamping his staff and reloading his roster, with Kaidon Salter. As of now, with spring practice in full swing, the battle for QB1 is heating up. And while the decision isn’t made yet, Lewis is making his case loud and clear. His arm strength and precision have turned heads, proving he’s not backing down from the challenge.

Now, let’s see who will emerge as the Buffs’ QB1.