Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis draws attention in spring camp, but Coach Deion Sanders is keeping his options open. With a deeper quarterback room than last season, every day in practice could reshape the battle for the starting job.
On Friday,spoke to the media and praised Lewis, expressing confidence in his ability to lead. At the same time, he left the door open for competition at the position as spring camp begins. Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis speaks with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star.
Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images “That first snap against Georgia Tech, he’ll be coming around that mountain… He’ll be straight,” Sanders said. “We have a couple of quarterbacks on the roster that can play this game.”quarterback room is deeper than it was a season ago, featuring Utah transfer Isaac Wilson and three-star Skyridge true freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne. While Lewis enters camp as the favorite, a starting job is far from guaranteed.Lewis may be the frontrunner, but this quarterback room will demand consistency, poise, and performance every day.Sep 12, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks on the field before the game against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Sweetwyne may not be the first quarterback who jumps off the screen as a star, but there’s plenty to like about his potential. He capped off a strong senior year that highlighted just how much he can do on the field. His chances of seeing the field this season may be slim, but Sweetwyne is a quarterback not to overlook in Colorado’s competition. At Skyridge, he completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,050 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was also a dual-threat, rushing for 907 yards and 14 more scores, earning 6A All-State honorable mention. Overall, Sweetwyne accounted for 46 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards of total offense before signing with the Buffaloes. Learning behind players like Lewis and Wilson gives him the perfect chance to refine his mechanics and adjust to the speed of college football. He can get comfortable with the playbook without the pressure of starting right away—but when opportunities arise, he’s ready to make a push for playing time. Sweetwyne's talent and work ethic make him a player to watch despite being an underdog in Colorado’s quarterback room. In a battle where every snap counts, he could be the one to shake up the pecking order when the season unfolds.Sep 6, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Isaac Wilson warms up before the game against the Cal Poly Mustangs at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images Lewis is expected to be the starter as of now, but Wilson shouldn’t be overlooked in a potential competition. During his time with the Utes, he saw meaningful snaps in 2024 when Cameron Rising was injured. Wilson threw for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding some mobility as a runner. He’s more of a pocket passer than a dual threat, but his skill set should translate well to offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense with playmakers around him.Now, is it enough to push Lewis and win the job? Possibly, but it should still be viewed as a long shot, and his best chance for snaps is if Lewis struggles early in the season and Sanders looks to shake up the offense with more experience under center. Wilson may be the underdog in the battle for the job, but the veteran and consistent performer is a wild card in the running for the job at the quarterback position in Colorado. Should Lewis not perform, Wilson has the ability and the knowledge of the game to make a run for the job.THOMAS GORSKI Tom Gorski is a beat reporter covering the Colorado Buffaloes On SI. A Northwestern Medill graduate, Tom has been featured on Sporting News, Yahoo, CBS Sports and other major publications. He covers a range of college and professional sports with a focus on in-depth analysis, insightful reporting, and storytelling that connects fans to the teams. Gorski also is a columnist for Notre Dame on SI and writer for the Charlotte Hornets On SI. With a deep passion for college football and basketball, he delivers engaging content that combines sharp analysis and firsthand coverage across digital platforms.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Deion Sanders remembers late CU Buffs quarterback Dominiq PonderIn terms of collegiate coaching careers, Deion Sanders remains a relative newbie.
Read more »
Predicting the Colorado Buffaloes Starting Lineup Before the Spring GameA projection of the starting offense and defense for Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders.
Read more »
Deion Sanders Doesn't Hold Back His Confidence in Quarterback Julian LewisCoach Deion Sanders is showing confidence in redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Lewis as the Colorado Buffaloes prepare for spring camp.
Read more »
Grading The Week: Can Deion Sanders elevate CU Buffs kicking game without a special teams coordinator?Will lightning strike twice for Deion Sanders? Or will it bounce off the left upright at the worst possible time?
Read more »
Colorado Fans Will Love Deion Sanders' Reaction to Fights in Spring PracticeAfter a few scuffles at Colorado Buffaloes spring practice, coach Deion Sanders addressed his team.
Read more »
Deion Sanders hopes Brennan Marion brings explosiveness back to CU Buffs offenseDuring the process of interviewing candidates for the offensive coordinator job this past offseason, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders had one main priority in mind.
Read more »