The search to replace Shedeur Sanders at Colorado was bound to generate headlines. With Deion Sanders’ son expected to be an early pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, speculation about who might take over under center in Boulder is heightened. One high-profile quarterback’s name quickly made the rounds — sparking a wave of social media buzz, rumors, and hot takes.
But that wave crashed just as quickly. After a local reporter linked a former five-star recruit to Colorado, Buffs fans and even media figures started connecting the dots. But it didn’t take long for Colorado’s famed head coach to respond directly — and shut it all down with six words.
Deion Sanders Silences Buzz Around Nico Iamaleava Transfer Speculation
On April 11, a post from Knoxville-based reporter Richard G. West initiated the speculation by claiming quarterback Nico Iamaleava — one of the biggest names in college football — was exploring transfer options outside the SEC. According to West’s tweet, the Tennessee quarterback had been in contact with three schools willing to construct a deal: Oregon, Ohio State, and Colorado.
That was enough to get Buffaloes fans talking. @dalvinthetruth, cohost of a Colorado-centric football podcast, “The Undisputed Buffs,” retweeted and wrote: “Yeah right bro could never come to CU and play them money games.”
Sanders jumped in within minutes to slam the door shut on the speculation and replied: “Not True. & God bless we Good.”
Not True. & God bless we Good https://t.co/qo5t2u4nCV
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) April 13, 2025
Sanders’ pointed message effectively ruled out Iamaleava as a potential replacement for his son — at least as far as Colorado is concerned.
The Iamaleava situation at Tennessee has become one of college football’s hot-button NIL issues. After arriving as a five-star recruit — and the hype behind it — Iamaleava is now looking to renegotiate his NIL terms just one season into his time as a starter. That drama opened the door to transfer speculation, particularly with spring limitations preventing him from joining another SEC school.
Colorado appears not to be part of that conversation — not if Coach Prime has anything to say about it.
Sanders has been vocal about how he evaluates quarterbacks, especially regarding locker room fit, culture, and focus beyond just NIL. Whether the Buffs turn to a recruit, a portal name still under the radar, or someone already on the roster remains to be seen. But whoever steps in will do so with Sanders’ full endorsement — and it won’t be Iamaleava.
Post-Shedeur Sanders Era Begins With JuJu Lewis as QB1, Adds Dynamic Transfer Kaidon Salter
Colorado already has its QB room in place. Julian “JuJu” Lewis, a five-star quarterback and the highest-rated signal-caller to ever sign with Colorado, has been named the Buffaloes’ starting quarterback this spring. Lewis flipped his commitment from USC to Colorado, citing the program’s upward trajectory under Sanders. At Carrollton High School in Georgia, he amassed over 11,000 passing yards and 144 touchdowns, ranking among the state’s all-time leaders.
Sanders drew parallels between Lewis and his NFL-bound predecessor, saying: “I think smart coaches at this level understand what has worked for them and they try their best to replicate that. I saw a lot of similarities between the way Julian’s life has been structured [and Shedeur’s]. Some of the similarities are unbelievable. That kid right there is everything that we desire in a quarterback. He’s smart; he can make every throw but most of all, he’s a winner.”
Joining Lewis in the quarterback room is Kaidon Salter, a dynamic transfer from Liberty University. The 2023 Conference USA Player of the Year, Salter is renowned for his dual-threat capabilities, having rushed for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns that season.