The anticipated debut of freshman sensation Julian Lewis is here. The highly-regarded recruit will play on Saturday against Delaware, per Deion Sanders. Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter won the starting job and played the whole way in last week's loss to Georgia Tech. Salter will start on Saturday, but Lewis will rotate in at some point, no matter how things are going for the Buffaloes.
Lewis made a strong push in the QB competition with the veteran Salter in preseason. It has been expected that he would have a role on this team even if he didn't start. His arm ability has been described as "God-given." With Colorado struggling offensively a week ago, particularly in the vertical game, it makes sense to turn to that innate ability this weekend against an opponent the Buffs should have little trouble dispatching.
Coach Prime has wanted to be cautious with his star QB. He knows he's the future of the program. But he may also be the present. And when he steps on the field this weekend, he might not let Salter back on it.
"I've gotta protect this kid," Sanders said about Lewis. "This kid is 17 darn years old. I gotta really make sure he's successful. You can't throw him out there and then the next thing you know, you guys out there watching are eating him alive on social media. He's never been through that, so I gotta make sure I protect this kid as well as make sure he's ready to go out there and do what he's capable of doing. He's gonna play this week. I'm gonna assure you of that. He's gonna play this week."
Deion Sanders' handling of Julian Lewis' development is what makes him a special leader
Say what you want about Coach Prime as a football mind. He's too stubborn for his own good at times, particularly as it relates to his issues with clock management in last week's loss to Georgia Tech. But as a leader of men, there aren't many better in sports. Or on this planet, period.
It's certainly possible that Sanders identified early that Colorado's best chance of being successful this season was immediately handing the keys of the offense to Lewis. But he was never going to put him in a situation he wasn't ready for. He was never going to set him up for failure. Even if that meant the Buffs had to take a few more lumps than they otherwise might have.
Lewis's best football is still ahead of him. Sanders isn't willing to risk that for the immediate rewards that could come.
But Colorado fans can't help but be excited for a glimpse of the freshman phenom this weekend.