The quarterback room in Boulder is undergoing another shake-up, as one of Deion Sanders’s longest-tenured players has decided to look for a new home. After a disappointing 3-9 season and a constant grind for playing time, Sanders loses one of his longest-tenured players to the transfer portal.

Ryan Staub plans to enter the transfer portal, making a significant portal move before the offseason begins. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on X that Staub will officially enter the transfer portal when it opens on Friday, concluding his three-year journey with the Buffs. He joined the program in 2023, and as a redshirt sophomore this past season, he still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Despite entering the program even before Deion Sanders was hired, Staub never had the chance to be a QB1 for any season. First, he backed Shedeur Sanders, and then Deion Sanders used him when Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis couldn’t do much on the field this season.

During his time at Boulder, he completed 53 of 99 passes for 681 yards, throwing four touchdowns and four interceptions, while also rushing for a touchdown.

Back in 2023, he got to play in just one game against Utah after Shedeur Sanders suffered an injury. But even with small chances, he showed his real caliber, completing 17 of 24 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown despite their 23-17 loss.

Staub’s real shot came in the 2025 season when Kaidon Salter’s constant inconsistency gave him a chance to go off the bench and make an impact against Delaware. He threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 attempts.

After that, he gained Deion Sanders’ trust and started in the Houston game, but struggled in the 36-10 loss. He threw two interceptions and attempted only 10 more passes the rest of the season, including a final appearance against Arizona.

But now all Staub is looking to do is make a tangible impact on the field rather than getting time in bits and pieces, as Pete Thamel confirms his stance on the portal move.

“Staub is looking for a school where he can compete to start during his final two seasons,” Thamel said on X. “He’s a former three-star recruit from California.”

Despite the limited time, Staub is leaving Boulder with a heart full of love and satisfaction.

“It’s amazing here, and we have the best coach in the country,” Staub said. “I really fell in love with my process and what I was doing. I didn’t care what position I was in on the depth chart. I knew if I just got that opportunity, it’s all I needed.”

With at least 20 players entering the transfer portal, Ryan Staub’s move adds more concern to Deion Sanders’s already depleted roster. With Julian Lewis taking the QB1 position with just walk-on Dominiq Ponder on the team, things look uncertain for them.

But with these shake-ups, Deion Sanders’s place finally looks certain in Boulder.

Colorado’s AD reaffirms Deion Sanders’ position with the team

After a nine-loss season, everyone thought that Deion Sanders’s time might end at Boulder, but after all the speculation, Colorado’s athletic director made his position clear. Fernando Lovo takes the reins at Colorado as the new AD after the board of directors approved a five-year contract for him.

After that, Lovo addressed the trust and alignment that form the foundation of the program, reaffirming his support for Sanders.

Lovo’s appointment signals a commitment to stability, bringing a wealth of experience from high-level programs like Florida and Texas, as well as a proven track record of success as an AD in New Mexico, where his hire led the Lobos to a historic nine-win season.

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However, one of his most remarkable showings was as athletic director in New Mexico, where he recruited Jason Eck to the team, who led the Lobos to a 9-4 season in 2025. This was the sixth nine-win season in program history.

Now, Colorado hopes that the same success will also translate to Boulder. With backing and constant trust, Deion Sanders is ready to make an impact in his fourth season with the Buffs.