Here's why Ryan Staub is Colorado’s secret weapon

It’s funny how fast things change in Boulder. Two weeks ago, nobody outside of the locker room was talking about Ryan Staub as Colorado’s starting quarterback. Now, he’s the guy Buff Nation can’t stop talking about.

Coach Prime hasn’t stamped it official yet, but all signs point to Staub getting the nod against Houston in the Big 12 opener. And after what we saw this past Saturday, it’s hard not to believe he’s earned it.

Staub looks like he belongs

Staub survived against Delaware by moving the chains. He led touchdown drives that reminded us what this offense can look like when it’s clicking. More than the final score, though, was his poise. I was very surprised with how he looked calm, decisive, and confident. He looked like a quarterback who has been in this playbook for years.

That’s not an accident. While others are still adjusting to Pat Shurmur’s system, Staub has been marinating in it since he first arrived in Boulder. The redshirt sophomore has had time to absorb the details, and you can tell. The offense looked smooth when he was steering it.

The Shurmur connection

Staub even admitted how natural the connection with his OC has become. “I’ve been here almost three years with coach Pat. He knows what I like, and I know what he likes,” he said after the game. That kind of chemistry is built over countless reps and quiet trust.

And when Staub didn’t like the original call, he wasn’t afraid to check into something better. Twice, he changed the look and dropped dimes to Sincere Brown. He showed that he can run the offense.

Coach Prime saw it coming

The rest of us might have been surprised, but Coach Prime wasn’t. After the game, he shrugged off the idea that this was some shocking breakthrough: “Staub did what we expected him to do. You all are surprised. We weren’t.”

If you listen closely, you could hear the pride in his voice. He was thrilled for a kid who stayed patient, kept working, and grabbed his chance when it came.

Teammates rallied around him

Maybe the most telling part is the way the locker room responded. Players fed off his energy and coaches lit up on the sideline. Even former Buffs reached out with love after his performance.

Deion put it this way: “Staub is a lovable dude… He’s always been a standup guy, no matter who’s starting. Hats off to him because he’s the ultimate teammate.”

That’s leadership. Staub might just be someone we need in the huddle when things get dicey in the fourth quarter.

Houston will be a real test

Of course, Delaware isn’t Houston. The Cougars will bring speed and physicality that Staub hasn’t faced yet this year. Mistakes will come, and the margin for error will be slim. But Staub doesn’t have to be Superman. He just has to make smart reads, and keep the Buffs moving forward.

That’s exactly what this team needs right now. There is not a lot of answers at QB right now in Boulder. We need a quarterback who knows the playbook and trusts the coaches. Most importantly, we need someone who wins over the locker room.

The unexpected hero

College football has a way of producing unlikely stories. And that’s what makes it so much fun. Ryan Staub wasn’t supposed to be the guy. How in the world are we talking about Staub over a proven transfer from Liberty and a five-star freshman?

Now? Staub is going to be stepping into the spotlight, and Colorado fans are ready to ride with him.

Sometimes the best stories are the ones nobody sees coming. Staub’s rise feels like one of those. And if he keeps playing like this, we might just look back and say this was the turning point of the season.

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