Deion Sanders benches Julian Lewis, revives Colorado’s biggest problem
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Sixteen games later, Colorado football coach Deion Sanders still can’t seem to find anyone good enough to replace his quarterback son Shedeur.
Last year, he started three quarterbacks as the Buffaloes finished with a 3-9 record. Now he’s already benched this year’s starting quarterback, Julian Lewis, just four games into the season (and 16 games since Shedeur last took a snap for the Buffs.)
Sanders benched Lewis to start the second half Saturday, Sept. 26, at Baylor, replacing him with Utah transfer Isaac Wilson. Lewis, 19, completed 11 of 16 passes in the first half for just 75 yards as the Buffs fell behind 10-3.
Lewis has struggled at times this season and threw two interceptions last week in a 41-7 loss at Northwestern.
Before the season, Sanders said he made a “mistake” at this position after Shedeur led the Buffs to a 9-4 season in 2024.
“I think I was saying I took for granted that position of how valuable it was because that position was always one room over in my house,” Sanders said earlier this week at his weekly news conference in Boulder. “So it’s easy to take for granted when it’s right there. My whole life of coaching youth ball, coaching junior high, coaching high school, coaching college, it was right there.”
It’s not there now. Shedeur got drafted by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns in 2025, opening the door for a revolving door at the position ever since.
First it was Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. Then it was Ryan Staub, who since has transferred to Tennessee. Lewis then started two games last year, both losses.
Now it’s Wilson, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson. Isaac Wilson completed four of his first 10 passes for 37 yards Saturday for the Buffs, who were 2-1 before the Baylor game.
It didn't help either quarterback that receiver DeAndre Moore left the game with in the first half with an apparent head injury. He had to be helped off the field and didn't return after leading the team with 15 catches before Saturday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deion Sanders benches Julian Lewis, revives Colorado’s biggest problem
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