Deion Sanders is Sticking to This Quarterback Move

Deion Sanders is making another aggressive move in Boulder. Colorado will start true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis for the final three games of the season, officially ending his redshirt and throwing the highly touted signal-caller into the fire as the Buffaloes look to close out a rocky year.

Lewis, who reclassified from the 2026 class to join the Buffaloes early, took over the offense against West Virginia and had some nice moments. The decision signals a full pivot toward the future, even though Colorado sits at 3-7. Starting Lewis now eliminates any chance at preserving his redshirt but gives the program a head start on 2026 by handing him live reps against Power Four defenses.

There’s no question about the talent. Lewis came to Boulder as a five-star prospect out of Carrollton, Georgia, where he lit up high school defenses with elite arm talent and anticipation. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he doesn’t have the prototype frame, but the tools are there. What remains to be seen is whether he’s ready for the speed, pressure, and physicality that Big 12 defenses will bring.

Deion Sanders made it clear that he’s not interested in waiting. He told reporters Lewis has shown enough in practice to earn the shot and that he needs to learn the pace of the game by playing, not watching. That may be true, but it also highlights the lack of clarity in Colorado’s quarterback room and raises real questions about the development plan in place.

From a long-term perspective, this move brings both opportunity and risk. Lewis will benefit from game reps and experience, but he’ll also use up a year of eligibility before fully adjusting to the college game. If Colorado can’t protect him or build a run game around him, the learning curve could turn brutal fast.

The Big 12 isn’t easing up anytime soon, and Colorado’s decision to throw Lewis into the mix now could either spark early development or expose just how far the Buffaloes still have to go. It’s a bold call from Sanders, but then again, he hasn’t been shy about making headlines.

We’ll learn quickly if Lewis is the real deal. What happens next may shape the direction of this program for the next three years.