Getty Image
The Colorado Buffaloes are in good shape at the quarterback position in 2024 with senior signal caller Shedeur Sanders returning for one last ride. The passer is expected to be a Top 10 pick, with the potential to be the first player off the board in the ’25 NFL Draft.
After that, though, things are uncertain. The Buffs don’t boast a proven option under center behind Sanders, meaning a replacement will need to be found at some point on the recruiting trail.
Now, that could come in the portal, which seems the most likely alternative considering Deion Sanders’ track record in Boulder. After all, transfer season is his favorite time of year!
But recent reports suggest he could look to the high school ranks, which might shed light on his future plans with the program.
Deion Sanders is targeting 5-star prospect Julian Lewis.
According to notable college football recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong, Colorado is pushing heavily to land Lewis’s services. There’s only one problem – he’s currently committed to USC.
Lewis made that pledge in August of 2023, though nothing is final until the ink dries on Signing Day.
The quarterback has already visited Boulder a handful of times, most recently during the spring practice session. Coach Prime is looking to get him back on campus this month.
Wiltfong says that Deion Sanders is hoping to use the upcoming spring game as a tool.
Colorado & Coach Prime are making a serious push to FLIP 5-star QB Julian Lewis 🦬
On3’s @SWiltfong_ has the latest intel 👀
MORE: https://t.co/w3Aqmws9EY pic.twitter.com/Ygrxtm6ql4
— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) April 17, 2024
“Deion Sanders and this coaching staff, they’re trying to get him on campus for the spring game,” the insider said. “They’re hoping for an electric event in Boulder. [Lewis] has already taken two visits to Colorado this calendar year…
“The family likes what they’ve seen from [offensive coordinator] Coach Shurmur. They made it to a spring practice, and thought the offense was fast and looked explosive. And it’s an opportunity for him to come in and play right away as a freshman. That’s certainly what makes Colorado exciting.”
Sanders is hoping to make that spring game an absolute spectacle, teasing concerts, alumni events, and even a fashion show. He’s not stopping until it’s sold out!
View this post on Instagram
Would it be enough to sway Julian Lewis?
Wiltfong also noted that Auburn is in the mix and likes where it stands, while reminding listeners of that USC commitment.
Should the Buffs get Lewis back in town, though, they should take it as an obvious positive. And even if the program doesn’t ultimately land the QB, it should feel good about Deion Sanders’ future in Boulder.
Going after a high school passer suggests he’s in for the long haul.
Prime has been linked to multiple job openings since arriving at Colorado, despite the fact that he’s only roamed the sidelines for one season. Those gigs include the Dallas Cowboys, Texas A&M, Alabama, and more.
While interest obviously varied with each opportunity, the overwhelming belief is that Sanders will jump at a better job when the time is right.
He’s rejected that notion this offseason, saying that he’s happy to spend time with family in the Centennial State. That includes two football stars, a social media staffer, and a women’s basketball player.
But what happens when they leave?
Shedeur and Shilo Sanders have one last year of eligibility remaining, then, it’s off to the NFL.
The fact that he’s searching for a youngster to replace his son under center could suggest that he’s truly happy in building a future in Boulder.
Of course, in this day and age of transfer portal and NIL, he could always secure that commitment then convince the passer to follow him to his next stop, but that’s a risk that comes with any successful coach after any given season.
Colorado fans should at least feel some sense of relief in seeing Deion Sanders go after high school players, which would offer a shift in his recruiting approach from his first two years.