Colorado Buffaloes will be stepping into a season without their greats. Sure, there’s Deion Sanders, but there’s no Shedeur Sanders or Travis Hunter anymore. The star QB had a wonderful season last year, and many people were surprised by his performance. But as he looks to go pro, the Buffaloes seem to be considering two very strong contenders to replace him. The QB1 race is currently being fought between Julian Lewis and Kaidon Salter. Both are giving each other a run for the money. This one is a battle where either party has a unique set of weapons as their advantage.

Lewis seems to be the guy most people are leaning towards. He’s a 4-star recruit and is ranked 10 in the 2025 QB class by 247Sports. He was named MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year, and he comes with jaw-dropping numbers. His varsity total passing yards amount to 11,010 yards, made across three years. How many high school QBs have come close to that number? And total touchdowns? A whopping 144. That’s who is expected to pick up the baton left by Shedeur Sanders. Colorado OC Pat Shurmur also thinks he’d be a great addition.

He shed some light on how Julian Lewis is fitting into the team. “I’m more and more impressed every day. I certainly have a very great relationship that started through the recruiting process, and I saw a young guy,” Shurmur said. He also noted that Lewis has bulked up for the role as well. “He’s really developed. Even his body is developed. You know, with the strength training, he’s bigger and stronger, and every day he does something that shows you why he’s here and why we’re glad he is here.” Lewis really seems to be putting in the required effort for the role.

In all, Shurmur is just really positive about Julian Lewis. “Very, very, very talented young man with really all the things you need to do as a quarterback he can do. Now, it’s just a matter of him growing in what we do, and getting himself ready to play.” It is, however, this very ‘growing in’ part where Salter has an advantage. Salter comes with some college experience in hand, while Lewis will be stepping into a high-stakes version of football, should he become QB1. But like Lewis, Salter is just as passionate about that coveted spot.

Kaidon Salter wants that QB1 spot just as much as Lewis

Salter came to Colorado in 2024, after transferring from Liberty. Before that, he was in Tennessee. So, he’s already played 3 seasons of college football and has some great numbers as well. Last year at Liberty, Salter pitched in 1,896 yards, 15 TDs, and completed 147 of his 261 passes. They’re not as great as Lewis’, but Salter knows how CFB works. He has the experience, Lewis doesn’t. And, he has the desire to truly lead the Buffalo offense on the field one day.

At a space that is now vacated by Shedeur, Salter is making it known how the role could play out for him. He told Darius Sanders of Reach The People Media podcast, “At the end of the day, once you are that starting quarterback at a young age, you’re just going to start seeing it happen. Like, the team going to it every time the ball moves, how you want it to move on the field. Yeah, I don’t really know. It’s something that just happens.” Sanders also remarked about the twinkle in his eye when he spoke about it. “[Y]ou’re actually getting happy and smiling about it because you actually care about it,” Sanders said.

Deion Sanders will be working with a team that no longer has his Heisman trophy winner, nor his two sons. The two contenders for the starting quarterback spot have to keep in mind that they’ll be filling the shoes of Shedeur Sanders. And the battle for the spot is not going to be a cakewalk for either of them.