Colorado QB1 Carousel: How Deion Sanders Struggles Without Son Shedeur in 2025

Colorado QB1 Carousel: How Deion Sanders Struggles Without Son Shedeur in 2025 image

Colorado named true freshman Julian Lewis as its starting quarterback for the remaining games after cycling through multiple signal-callers this season. The Buffaloes sit at 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12, far from the bowl eligibility many predicted.

The quarterback chaos has defined Colorado’s struggles since Shedeur Sanders left for the NFL. Coach Prime has rotated between transfer Kaidon Salter and backup Ryan Staub throughout the season with little success.

Lewis got his first extended action against Arizona after both Salter and Staub were benched. He completed 9-of-17 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.

How Colorado’s quarterback situation unfolded

Kaidon Salter started the season opener against Georgia Tech after Sanders kept his choice quiet throughout the offseason. The Liberty transfer’s first drive ended in a touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.

Colorado’s offense struggled after that opening drive. Georgia Tech won 27-20.

Ryan Staub emerged against Delaware when Sanders used three quarterbacks. The backup threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns in what was expected to be a limited role.

Staub was the third option behind Salter and Lewis. His performance earned him an emotional interview with Sanders after the game.

Sanders named Staub the starter for the Houston game. He completed 19-of-35 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 36-20 loss.

Salter returned as the starter for the Wyoming game. He threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns in Colorado’s 37-20 win.

The bottom falls out

Salter had been playing well since his reinstatement, completing 64.3% of his passes for 895 yards and eight touchdowns. But Utah exposed the Buffaloes’ limitations.

He went 9-for-22 for 37 yards with no touchdowns and one interception against the Utes. Sanders benched him for Staub, who completed just four passes for 65 yards.

Colorado lost 53-7 in its worst defeat of the season.

The following week against Arizona brought more of the same. Salter completed 11-of-15 passes for 49 yards, one touchdown and one interception before getting benched at halftime with Colorado trailing 31-7.

Staub started the second half but threw interceptions on his first two passing attempts. Sanders then turned to Lewis, who completed 9-of-17 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Lewis gets his chance

Sanders announced Lewis as the starter for West Virginia. The five-star recruit that Sanders flipped from USC will make his first career start against the Mountaineers.

Sanders said Lewis “has to be himself” ahead of his first start.

With the season lost, Lewis represents hope for Sanders’ program moving forward.

Sanders’ record without his son

In the first season without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, Colorado sits at 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12. The struggles highlight how dependent the program became on elite talent.

Shedeur was the starting quarterback for nearly all of Deion Sanders’ college coaching career at both Jackson State and Colorado. At Jackson State, Sanders posted a 27-6 record over three seasons with Shedeur running the offense, including back-to-back SWAC Championships.

Without Shedeur’s elite talent anchoring the offense, problems in depth, line play and scheme development have been exposed.

Current depth chart

Colorado has used three quarterbacks this season:

Position Player
1 Julian Lewis
2 Kaidon Salter
3 Ryan Staub

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Tom Wilson