Deion Sanders got his Shedeur Sanders successor under center for Colorado football, and he's nearly perfect. The only worry College Football Network's Will Helms has is Julian Lewis's size or lack thereof.
"I don’t typically agree with the scouts at Rivals or ESPN, but I do here and will take it one step further. Julian Lewis was the best freshman quarterback I’ve ever scouted. Still, unlike a couple of the other guys on this list, he was punished in the rankings by reclassifying from the 2026 class, probably due to his size," Helms wrote.
"I don’t have player comps for every player on this list, but Lewis has the point guard distribution ability of Bryce Young with better pocket movement and athleticism at this stage in his career. While he needs to get in the weight room, I’d pencil him in as the starter in Boulder next season."
At the college level, a Bryce Young comparison is a good one. He's still figuring it out in the NFL, but the former Alabama Heisman winner's first two seasons have been brutal. It's unclear if that's a Carolina Panthers problem or Young just not being ready for the next level.
Young comparison aside, Lewis has a first-world problem with a first-class solution. CU's facilities include top-notch cuisine and an elite weight room, so putting on weight won't be the biggest challenge for the Carrolton (GA) star.
As long as Coach Prime can keep him protected, Lewis should blossom into a star once he touches down in Boulder. Transfers have now seen proof of concept at CU, so Lewis should have several star upperclassmen teammates joining him. More high school recruits figure to join him too.
If Colorado's coaching staff can land enough good ones in the trenches, Lewis's lack of size will be far from an issue next season and beyond.