Have the Buffs scored big this time? Their golden boy, Julian “JuJu” Lewis, a 5-star quarterback recruit, looks all set to join Boulder after committing to the USC Trojans last August. However, it seems that JuJu isn’t totally sold. He’s visited several schools, including Deion Sanders’ Colorado, the Auburn Tigers, and the Indiana Hoosiers, to take stock of the situation — and, in this case, increase the suspense surrounding his next move.

Since Colorado Buffaloes quarterback sensation Shedeur Sanders is, in all probability, going to the pro league next year, it becomes imperative for Deion Sanders’ squad to hunt for the right replacement. And JuJu’s entry into Boulder will be a massive win for the program. In this race to land him, the Buffs look like the frontrunners. So, where does that leave Lincoln Riley’s team? Well, they have some other good options, too. Can the Trojans pull some ‘de-commitment’ soon? 

Amidst the buzz around Julian Lewis considering a switch to Colorado, we shouldn’t neglect the other standout QB prospects in the 2025 recruiting class. Here are some of them that the Trojans could potentially target: –

Bryce Underwood

First up is Bryce Underwood, the undisputed king of the class, according to both On3 and 247 Sports. This 5-star phenom threw a whopping 44 touchdowns last year, leading his Belleville team to a state championship. He may be a Michigan native, but he committed to LSU this January, becoming the first No. 1 QB to commit to LSU in the modern recruiting era. But that brings up the question: Why LSU over Michigan?

Well, Underwood’s answer was simple: “The development of the quarterback position.” Jayden Daniels is proof of how well quarterbacks are developed in Louisiana. Joe Sloan, the quarterbacks coach and, from this season, also the offensive coordinator, had a huge impact on Daniels in 2023. And under him, the No.2 draft pick this year had one of the most impressive campaigns in LSU history on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy.

However, as we’ve seen in the case of Julian Lewis and USC, a commitment isn’t always a guarantee. And Lincoln Riley comes with his own appeal, having been a head coach for seven years and developing three of the last seven Heisman Trophy winners. This included the No.1 draft pick this year, Caleb Williams. So, don’t count out USC entirely — college recruiting can be wild.

Husan Longstreet

Husan Longstreet, another five-star QB, according to 247 Sports, is a California native who reportedly outshone Julian Lewis at the Elite 11 Finals. In fact, he’d even injured his foot during a private workout, following which the staff there advised him to take it easy. But, of course, he didn’t, and it paid off. As of April, Longstreet committed to Texas A&M and seems pretty happy there, constantly reposting news about new Aggie recruits.

The quarterback had a memorable 2023 junior season at Centennial High School, California. He registered 3,013 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions through the air, including 645 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground. While Husan Longstreet may not have shown any interest in staying in California at USC, that’s not to say that USC doesn’t have any interest in him, especially if the Lewis commitment slips through.

Madden Iamaleava, Matt Zollers & Deuce Knight

Next, we have four-star QB Madden Iamaleava with a completion rate (63%) that rivals Lewis (65%). 2023 was his first year as a full-time starter at Warren High School, spending the two previous seasons backing his brother, Nico Iamaleava. In last year’s campaign, Madden led his school to an 11-3 record and the CIF-SS Division 3 semifinals. He was also named the Gateway League’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year.

As of May 2024, he’s pledged to UCLA, and if he flips to USC, it would spice things up in the USC-UCLA rivalry. Imagine these two LA schools fighting over a top QB recruit — talk about drama! There’s also Missouri-commit Matt Zollers, another four-star QB talent. Last season, he led Spring-Ford High School to a 9-3 record and the Pennsylvania District 1 Class 6A quarterfinals. In the process, he completed 62.8% passes (182 of 290), setting a school record of 2,917 yards and 2 interceptions.

As for Deuce Knight, another four-star QB committed to Notre Dame, he’s keeping his options open with Tennessee and Ole Miss. So, USC might have a shot there, too.

Now, most teams have already secured commitments from these top quarterbacks. But let’s face it: Julian Lewis’s consideration of Colorado shows that things can change fast in the recruiting world. Maybe Lewis’ decision will spark a domino effect, and some of these other players will also reconsider their options. 

Julian Lewis is leaning toward the Buffs over the Trojans

Julian Lewis might be shaking things up in the recruiting world with talk of a ‘de-commitment’ from USC. While his options remain open, Colorado seems to be pulling out all the stops! First, JuJu’s Precision Pass burger was a unique creation by The Sink restaurant to honor him. Fans chanted, “We want JuJu!” and even a 99-year-old superfan pleaded with him to commit. Now, that’s what a red carpet welcome looks like. And JuJu seems to feel the warmth.

He’s visited Boulder three times this year and even shared a poster where the current Colorado Buffaloes QB hands him the keys (symbolizing the starting role) while he looks pumped in a black and gold uniform. Meanwhile, the bond between Lewis and Coach Prime seems to be growing, too. When On3 lowered Lewis’ ratings to a four-star recruit (he’s still a five-star for ESPN), Deion fired back, saying, “We don’t care about rankings.” Coach Prime wants Lewis on his team and is ready to back him.

But can USC counter all this? After all, their head coach, Lincoln Riley, has a proven track record of developing Heisman-winning quarterbacks. Not one, but three — Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray. Maybe the Trojans need wins and creative tactics to get these potential quarterbacks on board.