Shedeur Sanders is set to play his final game with the Colorado Buffaloes on December 28 in the Alamo Bowl. Sanders has been the starting quarterback for the entirety of Coach Prime’s time with the Buffs. So, who will be under center in week one? There is only one guarantee: the Buffs will have a new face throwing the ball.
In November, Coach Prime was able to flip elite quarterback prospect Julian Lewis from USC to Colorado. Many fans thought Colorado had found Shedeur’s heir apparent, but Coach Prime wouldn’t just hand Lewis the job.
This morning, the Buffaloes landed a commitment from Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. Salter is an experienced veteran and will spark a QB competition in Boulder this offseason.
BREAKING: Liberty transfer QB Kaidon Salter has signed with Colorado, per @PeteNakos_🦬https://t.co/U31NaOwnr0 pic.twitter.com/BHq6o7J8mm
— On3 (@On3sports) December 18, 2024
Kaidon Salter
Salter was a four-star prospect in 2021 and the seventh ranked quarterback. Salter originally was committed to Tennessee but after he was dismissed from the team Salter landed with the Liberty Flames.
In four years Salter posted 5,889 passing yards, 56 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. His most impressive season came in 2023 where he led the Flames to a 13-1 record and a New Year’s Six Bowl against the Oregon Ducks. In that season Salter threw for 2,876 yards and a Conference USA high 32 touchdowns.
But Salter’s isn’t a traditional pocket passer, he’s a true duel threat. In his last two seasons Salter ran for 1,668 yards and 19 touchdowns. Coming out of high school Salter’s comparison was 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels.
Colorado ranked dead last out of 134 FBS teams in rushing offense in 2024. As a team the Buffs only averaged 70.4 yards per game. In his last 25 games Salter’s averages 66.7 rushing yards per game alone. Even if the former conference USA MVP isn’t an elite passer he can add a new dimension to a pass-happy Buffalo offense.
Salter will be 22 next season, and could be the veteran starter Colorado needs to compete for a Big 12 title again in 2025.
Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis
Ju Ju’s high school numbers speak for themselves. In three years of high school football, Lewis threw for 10,054 yards, 136 touchdowns, and just 18 interceptions. Like his predecessor, Lewis thrives in an air raid offense. Unfortunately for Lewis he won’t have the weapons Shedeur had in 2024. Travis Hunter, Will Sheppard, LaJohntay Wester, and Jimmy Horn all are projected to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Buffs still have have some weapons at receiver though. Rising star Omarion Miller could be the Buffs top option, and Drelon Miller had a promising Freshman campaign. Colorado also seems to be targeting two elite portal receivers in Johntay Cook and Kevin Concepcion.
Ju Ju’s play-style and Colorado’s weapons are the perfect recipe for Lewis to step right into Pat Shurmur’s offense in 2025. It seems like the perfect match, right? Well, maybe not.
Lewis was rated as a five-star quarterback for the class of 2026, but after reclassifying to 2025 Ju Ju’s composite rating fell to a four-star. While stars aren’t important, age is. Lewis reclassifying to 2025 means he will be 17 when the 2025 season starts.
True freshman rarely thrive year one. This past season the Nebraska Cornhuskers started true freshman Dylan Raiola, the number one quarterback in the 2024 class. Raiola had a modest season passing for 2,595 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions leading Nebraska to a 6-6 record.
If Colorado decides to go with Lewis they will have to prepare for a roller coaster season.
Who Will The Colorado Buffaloes Start
On paper it seems like the Buffs have an easy decision. Salter is a graduate transfer that’s won a conference MVP. He can step in day one and be the starter while Lewis gets a redshirt year to learn the ropes and is the starter in 2026.
But when Lewis announced his commitment to Colorado on the Pat McAfee show he mentioned that Coach Prime would give him the opportunity to start year one. And Salters isn’t the same type of prospect that Shedeur Sanders was heading into Colorado.
Shedeur was the clear day one starter, and it wasn’t because his dad was the head coach. On the other hand Salter isn’t a guarantee to be under center Week 1. Salter entered the transfer portal last season as well, and received almost no interest from power four programs. Salter wasn’t viewed as a legitimate starter among quarterback needy teams last season, but this season Deion Sanders is giving him a chance.
There are still a lot of variables for Colorado, as the 2024 season is still underway. But it seems like there will be a true quarterback competition in Boulder this offseason. Coach Prime has been abundantly clear that he wants to win now, whether it’s with a 17 year-old freshman or a 22 year-old former CUSA quarterback.
Overall it seems like Salters is primed to be Colorado’s guy, but it would be no shock if Lewis found a way to win the job.
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