How Julian Lewis' Loyalty Impacted Rodney Colton Jr.'s Colorado Commitment

"JuJu talked to me about the starting spot before the West Virginia (game)," Colton told Bacon. "We talked. I was like, 'Go out there, do what you got to do. You know what you're capable of."

Colton and Lewis grew up together in the same area of Georgia, although the former attended Newnan High School and Lewis starred at Carrollton High School.

"He (Lewis) was an outstanding player in high school, a great player in high school," Colton said. "But in high school, it's a different story than when you go to college. Everybody's four or five stars. You got to show them what you're really made out of, and the West Virginia game, he did that."

In that West Virginia game, Lewis threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns, proving himself as Colorado's quarterback of the future.

Julian Lewis' Loyalty To Colorado, Deion Sanders

Lewis, who closed his true freshman season with 589 passing yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in four games, made clear last month that he doesn't plan on leaving Boulder.

"I'm a Buff through and through," Lewis said. "I got my crib out here. All my guys are out here. I don't got no reason to go."

From afar, Colton saw enough good from Lewis to remain committed to "Coach Prime" despite Colorado's shaky 3-9 season. The Buffs are now searching for a new group of leaders, and Colton hopes to make an impact on defense.

"He's young," Colton said of Lewis. "They (threw) him out there when he was a freshman and, of course, he didn't get enough games, but it made an impact because JuJu, he's a young leader. If he's a young leader on offense, somebody's gotta be a young leader on defense, and that's gonna be me, hands down. You just gotta go in there, earn your respect and ball."

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE

Deion Sanders' 2026 Recruiting Class

Colton is one of 14 class of 2026 recruits who've already signed or are committed to Colorado.

• Alex Ward, Athlete — Marietta, Georgia
• Domata Peko Jr., Defensive Lineman — Calabasas, California
• Ben Gula, Offensive Lineman — Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Christian Ward, Wide Receiver — Carrollton, Georgia
• Colby Johnson, Linebacker — Sammamish, Washington
• Rodney Colton Jr., Linebacker — Newnan, Georgia
• Maurice 'MoJo' Williams Jr., Cornerback — Edna Karr, Louisiana
• Josiah Manu, Offensive Line — Loveland, Colorado
• Carson Crawford, Linebacker — Carthage, Texas
• Xavier Payne, Offensive Line — Jones, Florida
• Preston Ashley, Defensive Back — Brandon, Mississippi
• Braylon Edwards, Defensive Back — Duncanville, Texas
• Xavier McDonald, Wide Receiver (Commit) — Morton, Mississippi
• Joseph Peko, Defensive Lineman (Commit) — Westlake Village, California

• Familiar Face in Transfer Portal Could Stabilize Colorado's Quarterback Room
• Estimated Transfer Portal Prices Revealed As Colorado Looks To Rebuild
• Shedeur Sanders and Aaron Rodgers Have More In Common Than Expected
• Colorado's Defensive Line Bottoming Out After Latest Transfer Portal Loss