Colorado found its quarterback of the future in Julian Lewis. The former five-star prospect gave Deion Sanders a monumental recruiting victory after flipping his commitment from Lincoln Riley’s USC and reclassifying into the 2025 class. By passing on the Trojans, Lewis bypassed a crowded depth chart in Los Angeles to become the centerpiece of “Coach Prime’s” long-term vision in Boulder.
Lewis’ commitment marked one of the program’s most significant wins, representing the highest-ranked recruit for Sanders since flipping Travis Hunter in 2022. “Colorado wasn’t recruiting me until I reclassed, so it really was perfect timing,” Lewis told ESPN. “I trust Coach Prime and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to help me become the player that I want to be.”
Julian Lewis Reveals Truth Behind USC Snub and Commitment to Colorado
In a video shared by the “Reach The People” podcast, Colorado players, including Lewis, responded to social media critiques. One tweet suggested he could have stayed at USC to sit as a freshman, a jab Lewis acknowledged with a smile. “All right, they got me there,” Lewis said. “But you know, Coach Prime, I came here to be legendary.”
Lewis officially ignited the Buffaloes’ fan base by announcing his commitment on “The Pat McAfee Show” in 2024. While he had long been the face of USC’s future, his switch to Colorado shifted the national recruiting landscape. His arrival immediately injected energy into the program’s efforts, helping Sanders land another top-25 transfer class this offseason.
During his true freshman season in 2025, Lewis appeared in four games to preserve his redshirt status. He showed flashes of elite potential in limited action, making two starts and finishing the year with 589 passing yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He earned a 64.1 score in the PFSN QB Impact Metric, ranking No. 179 nationally during his developmental year.
Heading into the 2026 season, Lewis is the frontrunner to win the starting role, competing primarily with Utah transfer Isaac Wilson. Analysts like Brad Crawford have noted that unlocking Lewis’ star potential is a top priority for the staff this spring. Sanders is focused on building around his young signal-caller to improve on last year’s 3-9 campaign.
Despite the internal hype, national expectations remain tempered. CBS Sports currently ranks Lewis No. 49 among Power Four starting quarterbacks, placing him in the bottom tier of projected starters. As spring practice concludes, the former top recruit enters 2026 with a chip on his shoulder, eager to prove he can lead Colorado back to national relevance.
