- Colorado coach Deion Sanders has decided to redshirt freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis.
- Lewis will not play in the season finale, preserving a year of his college eligibility.
- Veteran quarterback Kaidon Salter will start in place of Lewis against Kansas State.
Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has pulled a reverse and decided to place a ‘redshirt’ on freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis, who will now sit out his team’s season finale at Kansas State as a result.
Sanders made the announcement at his weekly news conference Tuesday while admitting that he’s “not going to say (Lewis) was happy” with the decision.
“I’ve made a decision that JuJu is gonna redshirt,” Sanders said. “That’s my decision. I want what’s best for the kid, what’s best for his family, what’s best for this wonderful university.”
Lewis said Nov. 8 after his first career start at West Virginia that he didn’t want to redshirt and instead wanted to play in the rest of the team’s games this season after sitting so long on the bench. Sanders also said his redshirt plan was to go with the player’s wishes, telling reporters Nov. 1 that he’s ‘not gonna mandate’ that decision. TNT reported during its broadcast Nov. 8 that Colorado said it planned to not redshirt him.
Colorado lost Lewis’s two starts at West Virginia and last week against Arizona State, but he’s shown flashes of moxie and poise at age 18. Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter instead will start against Kansas State on Saturday Nov. 29 after previously being demoted.
What does this decision by Deion Sanders mean?
According to NCAA rule, players can play in up to four games in a season and not lose a season of eligibility, making it a so-called redshirt year. Lewis has played in four games so far, including two starting assignments the past two contests. By playing at Kansas State, he would exceed that limit and return next year as a sophomore with three years of college eligibility left. By sitting out for the final game on Saturday, Lewis instead will return in 2026 as a redshirt freshman with four seasons left. Players have five years to play in four seasons under the current rule.
The redshirt issue still might be moot anyway, because litigation is underway seeking to allow players to have five years to play in five seasons. A court hearing in Nashville, Tennessee, on Dec. 15 could lead to a preliminary injunction against the NCAA’s four-year eligibility limit, but it only would affect five players for now if granted.
Sanders still said this decision is “best for the program” and is betting Lewis might be around long enough to take advantage of four more seasons through 2029.
Colorado is 3-8 this year and is “trying to play spoiler this week” against Kansas State, Sanders said. The Wildcats are 5-6 and trying to become eligible for a postseason bowl game with a win against Colorado Saturday.
“It’s best for everyone, but mainly it’s great for him” Sanders said. “So I’m not going to say he was happy because he’s a competitor. He wants to compete. He wants to play.”
Decision removes injury risk for Julian Lewis
Lewis, a top recruit out of Carrollton, Georgia., finishes the season having completed 52 of 94 passes for 589 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions. Colorado has started three different quarterbacks this season, including Lewis, Salter and Ryan Staub.
All have struggled to replace last year’s starting quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, who made his NFL starting debut Sunday in a 24-10 win for the Cleveland Browns at Las Vegas.
By sitting Lewis against Kansas State, Deion Sanders also is avoiding the risk of injury to Lewis. His son Shedeur suffered a fractured back in 2023 as the Colorado offensive line gave up the second-most sacks in the nation (56). This year, Colorado has given up the most sacks in the Big 12 (35), just like they last year (43),
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
(This story was updated to add new information).