It might take away the last bit of intrigue in Colorado's season finale on the road against Kansas State this weekend, but Deion Sanders made the decision official on Tuesday: Julian Lewis will sit out the final game of the season in order to preserve his redshirt status. He will still have four seasons of eligibility starting next year.
Lewis came off the bench for one series against Delaware in Week 2, came off the bench to play the second half of Colorado's blowout loss to Arizona at the beginning of November, and then started the last two games in losing efforts to West Virginia and Arizona State.
According to NCAA rules, you can play in four games and still maintain your redshirt status. Lewis lobbied to play anyway this weekend, but Sanders made the right choice for the player and for the future of the program to hold him out.
“I made a decision that Juju is going to redshirt," Sanders told reporters on Tuesday. "That is my decision. I want what’s best for the kid, his family, this wonderful university. I think for the program it’s best for everyone, but mainly it’s great for him. I’m not going to say he was happy. Kaidon Salter will start this week, Staub will be the backup. Julian wants to play, he wants to compete, and I love him for it.”
Kaidon Salter will start Colorado's season finale on Saturday
There have been many questionable on-field decisions made by Coach Prime this year. From his clock management gaffes in the season-opening loss to Georgia Tech to last week's decision to put the football in the hands of a walk-on who had never touched the football in the fourth quarter of a one-score game against Arizona State, there have been some head-scratchers.
But sitting at 3-8 on the year, there was simply no point in burning a year of Lewis' eligibility at this point, with Colorado having nothing to play for. He will develop more over the offseason anyway than he would playing in a meaningless game this weekend.
It will also be a nice collegiate send-off for senior QB Kaidon Salter. The Liberty transfer began the year as Colorado's starter, and while he wasn't the fit many thought he could be in Boulder, he's still put together a good college career overall and it will be nice to see him get one more opportunity to play.