Will Coach Prime’s magic at Colorado fade when Shedeur Sanders is no longer their QB1? And who is even next in line to carry that flame? These questions arose in Boulder as Shedeur’s Colorado story began nearing its end. But then, back in November, the answer barreled through like a blitzing linebacker. Five days after decommitting from USC, Julian Lewis stunned the nation by flipping to the Buffs. And in that move, CU’s next era found its QB—loud and clear.

Julian Lewis didn’t just pick the Colorado Buffaloes. He claimed it. The 17-year-old stayed locked in, either before practice started, putting in that early work, or after practice, grinding through late sessions. What’s important is that either way, he’s putting in that extra effort. He’s seen putting on a clinic in the weight room, doing explosive work: trap-bar deadlifts with 375 lbs (considering the bar to be 44 lbs) for reps. Not bad for a 17-year-old QB. He is simply sending a message to the rest of the FBS teams.

This isn’t a social media quarterback looking for clicks—Lewis is giving full “clock in, clock out” energy. And it shows. “Ain’t nobody in the building, but there’s somebody in the building. #TrustGod #KeepWorking,” he wrote, echoing a mentality that separates the stars from the stat-chasers. It’s the kind of drive that doesn’t sleep. Whether it’s cold tubs or film rooms, he’s already attacking the details of what it means to be a college quarterback. His reclassification from the 2026 to the 2025 class only adds to the urgency—and the pressure. Most kids would lean into their final year of high school. JuJu leaned into the challenge instead. He’s skipping prom to prep for prime time.

May 16 felt like the beginning of something far bigger than a graduation ceremony. Rocking his Carrollton High cap and gown, Lewis delivered an emotional farewell to the community that raised him. “Forever grateful Trojan Nation,” he wrote. Then, just a few days later, his voice cracked a little more on his YouTube channel. “I mean like everybody says, you just got to soak up the moments. Like I thought I had four years, I had three. No, it flew by. It flew by too fast. Now you’re out in a different state, away from your family. You come back, get to see the bros.” The honesty hit like a slant route across the middle. It’s easy to forget sometimes—underneath the offers and the stars, he’s still just a kid leaving home.

But this isn’t a coronation. Not yet. Because while JuJu’s promise is undeniable, there’s a storm brewing in the form of Kaidon Salter. The Liberty transfer isn’t here to play mentor. He’s here to win. If you thought Shedeur Sanders handing the baton to Lewis in that viral photoshoot was written in stone, Salter’s arrival just crumpled the script. “Shedeur did his thing here, but it’s time for me to come in and do what I got to do,” Salter said, throwing down the gauntlet with every syllable. That baton might still be in midair.

And here’s where it gets fascinating. Salter has one year. One chance. He’s got legs, he’s got juice, and if he balls out, he could delay JuJu’s full reign until 2026. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. For Lewis, it means one more year to master the playbook, to gain weight, and to watch. And when the stage finally clears, he’ll be walking into it with clean cleats and a full playbook.

Julian Lewis might be Colorado’s freshman phenomenon

Seventeen years old. Season opener. Power Five football. Julian Lewis is walking into 2025 like a certified prodigy, and the Buffs just might have something special brewing.

Lewis, who’ll still be just 17 when the Buffs kick off against Georgia Tech, could be one of the youngest starting quarterbacks in college football history. And while Colorado isn’t officially handing him the keys just yet, the signs are there—they’re willing to let him take the wheel. The freshman got first-team reps in the spring game, and though it wasn’t always a highlight reel, Lewis settled in and started delivering some nasty tight-window throws.

He’s already drawing comparisons to what made Shedeur’s version of CU so electric. Lewis shows accuracy both in and out of structure and maintains composure under pressure. He also shows good football IQ, even with weak play-calling. Simply put, he has what it takes.

And he’s not alone out there. His receiving corps is loaded with raw talent. Omarion Miller is a touch more consistent away from becoming elite. Drelon Miller is a YAC machine. Tulsa transfer Joseph Williams is your classic 50-50 ball monster down the sideline. Juju has got all the tools necessary.