Opinion: Redshirt Julian Lewis this season

Fifth-year transfer Kaidon Salter (left) and true freshman Julian Lewis (right) have been competing in a quarterback battle this spring to see who will be the successor of Shedeur Sanders for the Colorado Buffaloes (Photo via Christian Blanco/Sko Buffs Sports)

Colorado’s Black & Gold Spring Game is just over a week away, and Buffaloes fans and coaches are eager to get a first-look at the post-Shedeur Sanders quarterback room, headlined by Julian Lewis, Kaidon Salter and Ryan Staub.

Julian “JuJu” Lewis, the five-star recruit from Carrollton, Georgia, is one of the most anticipated recruits in recent Colorado history. Many are eager to watch him play in the fall, which is why it sounds strange to hear:

Keep him on the bench for the 2025 season.

That’s not to underestimate the readiness of the 17-year-old quarterback either, because the decision to redshirt Lewis instead falls on the timing of the other quarterbacks on the team.

Having JuJu in the fall is like buying a cherry red ‘72 Chevelle in December: Flashy, high-performing, and will absolutely draw eyes, but you have to wait before you use it. 

Lewis would get four games to play in to retain redshirt eligibility, and the Buffaloes have some volatile games in the fall that will be lopsided in either team’s favor: Delaware, Wyoming, and BYU, for example. These games should be perfect to get him some early reps before getting redshirted.

Rather than Lewis, the quarterback room next season should be a tandem between redshirt senior Kaidon Salter and redshirt freshman Ryan Staub.

While you wait to drive the new coupe, Salter is a ‘92 Ranger: not as flashy, but will absolutely get you to your goal. 

The Liberty Flames transfer has come to Boulder to play out his final year of eligibility and potentially earn some draft stock. He did not come here to sit behind anybody, he wants to start.

Salter has two storied seasons under his belt already. The Flames had a dominant 13-1 season in 2023, finishing No. 23 and C-USA champions in their first year in the conference.

Salter single-handedly led their passing attack, recording 2876 yards, 32 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions.

One year before that, Salter shared the QB room with junior Jonathan Bennet, and the two combined for 2622 yards, 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Their primary receiver that year, Demario Douglas, was sent to the NFL in that year's draft. 

That’s all to say, Salter had experience in a tandem quarterback room, and used it to springboard his stats to an even better season on his own just a year later. Now, he could be on the other end of it, giving either Staub or Lewis a boost next season.

Ryan Staub, who would be the other QB starting ahead of Lewis, is a question mark.

The California native was recruited as a three-star, the No. 23 QB (ESPN) of the 2023 recruiting class.

Now a redshirt sophomore, there is very little tape of the young quarterback. Last season, he recorded 20 snaps and four passing attempts in blowout games, each one incomplete.

Naturally, giving Staub an extended number of snaps is risky, but not risky enough to start an 18-year-old quarterback in an intimidating conference and sacrifice his redshirt eligibility.

Watching spring practice footage, however, Staub looks much more improved from previous years. With accurate deep ball placement, decent pocket mobility, and a good eye against outside defenders, it’s easy to tell who he sat behind the last two years.

After seeing spring practice, Salter and Staub splitting the snaps looks like a rich prospect.

Lewis is also turning heads at spring practice and comes to Boulder with an impressive reel at Carrollton High School. He could potentially start in August, but the other two quarterbacks are safer and more practical options for the season.

In short, there are a lot of Colorado Buffaloes fans out there hoping to see Julian Lewis headline the 2025 season; they just need to stay patient and let the transfer do his thing.