Colorado Buffaloes Football: Quarterback battle will be one to watch in camp

The Colorado Buffaloes football team wasn’t exactly must-watch television on the offensive side of the ball last season, averaging just 18.8 points per contest. With that being said, head coach Karl Dorrell made a move and relinquished offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini of his duties and brought in Minnesota’s offensive coordinator Mike Sanford to replace him.

Chiaverini will be missed; he embodied what it was to be a Buff and we wish nothing but the best for him.

Sanford is eager to get started with the Buffaloes and he has a pretty crowded quarterback room now that Maddox Kopp (transfer from Houston) has joined in on the conversation.

Brendon Lewis was the clear-cut favorite entering the 2021 campaign, especially after his season debut in the Alamo Bowl after replacing starting quarterback Sam Noyer. The 6-foot-3 freshman completed 6-of-10 passes for 95 yards while rushing the ball nine times for 73 yards and a touchdown.

I think that’s one aspect of his game the coaching staff (Sanford) must adapt to if he’s going to be the guy moving forward. They need more RPO’s and more of a rushing attack with him involved.

It’s a cherry-picked stat but the Buffs were 2-0 on the season when Lewis accounted for a rushing touchdown; the Buffs finished 4-8.

It was hard for the Buffaloes to get the passing game going this season, and it’s part of the reason why Brenden Rice transferred to USC (or so we think). Lewis threw for just 1,540 yards (99th in NCAA), 10 touchdowns (T-92nd in NCAA) and threw just three interceptions (T-2nd for qualified starting quarterbacks).

However, Sanford was impressed when watching tape on Colorado’s starting quarterback (Brian Howell – Buffzone.com)

"“What I was so impressed with last year when watching the film was his toughness,” Sanford said. “I mean, that is the No. 1 characteristic that I’m looking for in a quarterback. The traits that we’re going to play with here at CU is going to be all about the toughness of that position."

Lewis embodies toughness. I frequently remember watching game after game of him standing in the pocket and getting drilled by the opposition and he always got back up.

Insert J.T. Shrout; a transfer from the University of Tennessee who looked for a new opportunity in Boulder in 2021. Unfortunately for Shrout, his season ended up getting cut very short after suffering a season-ending knee injury in a scrimmage at practice.

Shrout appeared in four games for the Volunteers during the 2020 campaign, completing 24-of-42 passes for 315 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. His most impressive game that season, in limited attempts, was against then No. 6 Florida. He completed 12-of-14 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown in a 31-19 loss at home.

Colorado had themselves a real quarterback battle in camp as Lewis and Shrout were bringing out the best in each other. Sanford weighed-in on the competition from his perspective. (Brian Howell – Buffzone.com).

"Based off of what I heard a year ago, when both JT and Brendon were healthy, they were seeing the best out of each other,” Sanford said. “The competitiveness between each other was bringing out the best in Brendon, bringing out the best in JT and that’s what I want.”"

Sanford also mentioned that the quarterback position is always open for competition. (Brian Howell – Buffzone.com).

"“That position is always open for competition,” Sanford said. “We’re always going to compete, and always say we’re going to compete with each other, not against each other. I made that very clear to the offensive (staff) … that there’s not going to be kind of a Team JT and a Team Brendon or Team Drew. This is going to be our offense, and we’re gonna work together.”"

Colorado’s quarterback room also features players such as Kopp, Drew Lewis, and freshman Owen McCown. I’d like to figure that the battle will be mainly feature Lewis and Shrout primarily with Kopp in the wings.

Buffs will begin their spring practices in late March.

Football season can’t come soon enough.