After Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders pushed the Buffaloes to a 9-3 record this year, NFL opportunities opened up. With him leaving for the 2025 NFL Draft, the QB who will replace him has big shoes to fill, as Sanders was a cornerstone player for the Buffs. With five-star prospect Julian Lewis signing with Colorado for the class of 2025, he is widely expected to be the QB1 for the Buffs starting next year.
First Look at Julian Lewis in Practice With Shedeur Sanders
After reclassifying from the 2026 class to the class of 2025, Lewis ended his time at Carrolton on Dec. 19 after his No. 5-ranked football team fell to the Grayson High School Rams 38-29 in the Georgia High School State Championship.
Now, with his college career set to begin, the 6’1″ QB is with Colorado’s scout team for the pregame practice ahead of their Alamo Bowl matchup against BYU on Dec. 28. The past and the future of Colorado football were seen side by side on Dec. 22 in gold Buffs merch, with Lewis sporting the No. 10 jersey and Sanders beside him in No. 2.
Colorado 5⭐️ QB Julian Lewis is locked in 🔥 #SkoBuffs pic.twitter.com/XRqxrBzDeZ
— We Coming 🦬 (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) December 22, 2024
Lewis has recorded 11,010 yards and 144 touchdowns in his three years at Carrollton. Meanwhile, Sanders in his four-year college career accumulated 14,119 yards on 70.1% of his passes, with 132 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.
Several outlets project Sanders as a strong contender for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
According to Pro Football Network’s latest mock, the QB is set to fill the offensive void in the Las Vegas Raiders’ lineup (editor’s note: though the Raiders winning in Week 16 will complicate their path to the No. 1 pick).
“Shedeur Sanders made the smart choice to go back to school for another year, and it could pay off with him being the top player selected in this year’s class. He has a nice arm, throws with very good anticipation and touch, and he has the mental and physical toughness to make the jump to the NFL and be a solid starter at the next level.”
With his draft stock being among the highest, there had been a question of whether Sanders would play in the Alamo Bowl due to the risk of injury, but Coach Prime confirmed two weeks ago that every NFL-bound senior will play, as they don’t “tap out” and being able to play one more game is a blessing.
The upcoming bowl game is the first one in four years for Colorado.