Julian Lewis’ development isn’t just showing up in Colorado’s offense. According to offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, it’s also becoming evident in the way the redshirt freshman carries himself around the program.
Speaking after Colorado’s opening fall camp practice, Marion offered one of his most detailed evaluations yet of Lewis, who appeared in four games for Deion Sanders last season while preserving his redshirt.
Rather than focusing on mechanics or arm strength, Marion pointed to a less visible area of growth: trust.
“Anytime you have the type of ability that that kid has coming out of high school and all the people that try to get around a kid who’s supposed to be the next coming, that creates trust issues,” Marion said.
Marion said their relationship has developed through consistency rather than grand gestures.
“For him, it’s just about the consistency of him seeing me be me every day. It’s given him more confidence to be himself and open up to the group and just let his personality really thrive and show.”
Consistency Is Earning Respect
Despite the excitement surrounding Lewis entering the season, Marion made it clear that development remains an ongoing process.
“He’s continuing to grow every day. He’s still a young kid. He still has a lot of growth to do. He’s not going to be a final product year one… year one and a half.”
For Buffs' fans perhaps the most encouraging comment came when Marion discussed Lewis’ standing within the locker room.
“He’s doing a really good job of being the same guy, consistent every day, and his teammates are respecting him for that.”
Colorado Wants to Help Its Young Quarterbacks
The OC also explained that Colorado’s offense is designed to keep its young quarterbacks from feeling like they have to win games by themselves.
“We filled the room with talent around him so that guy can play free and not feel like, ‘I have to hold the ball extra. I have to do too much.’”
Marion added that he’d like to keep Colorado’s quarterbacks out of situations where they’re forced to throw the ball 40 or 50 times each game.
“He can be a point guard, distribute the ball and go help his team win...You build confidence by winning. I don’t think he built a lot of confidence by throwing for 300 yards and not winning the game. At the end of the day, the best quarterback stat is winning.”
Coach Prime and the Buffs will open the season in prime time when travel to Atlanta to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The game wil air September 3rd at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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