The Colorado Buffaloes have had a few good quarterbacks throughout the years, but none have brought the confidence, swagger and pure play-making ability that Shedeur Sanders did.
That’s why Sanders is likely to be a top 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and why some think Colorado may struggle next season, because replacing him will be tough.
While the Buffaloes are losing Shedeur, his father, Deion Sanders, remains the head coach and will be for some time. He recently signed a massive contract extension that will keep him in Colorado through at least 2029.
Life will go on without Shedeur, and that’s because Coach Prime believes he has two strong contenders to be the Buffs’ next starting quarterback.
Deion brought in former Liberty signal-caller Kaidon Salter from the transfer portal and consensus No. 6 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class, Julian Lewis, out of Carrollton, Georgia.
Both quarterbacks bring different things to the table, but Sanders is confident in both.
“Totally different,” Sanders explained of his top two quarterbacks (h/t On3). “They can play man, but they approach the game totally different. But we got to be better and coaching to their strengths, we got to be better to put them in the right situations for success, but those guys can play.”
There’s no indication of who Sanders will turn to in the fall, but logic suggests Salter is the favorite.
He threw for 5,887 passing yards and 56 touchdowns at Liberty while also rushing for 2,063 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in four seasons. In 2023, he helped Liberty reach a 13-1 season, culminating in a Fiesta Bowl appearance, and won Conference USA MVP honors.
That’s not to say Lewis can’t do it, but he will be a true freshman while Salter has just one year of eligibility left. That said, Sanders was clear earlier this spring that Colorado is not automatically planning on giving Lewis a redshirt. Heck, he could win the starting job.
“That’s not our plan. That’s not his plan, but, if it happens, it happens. If he sustains an injury that puts him in that situation? But you never know. I mean, the guy could, could be a two, or he could be a one. I don’t think we’re going to put him in a box like that. We’re not doing that,” said Sanders.
