Colorado’s quarterback competition is settled, at least for now. Deion Sanders announced this week that Kaidon Salter, the experienced transfer from Liberty, will open as the Buffaloes’ starter against Georgia Tech.
“K is going to start. You guys knew that. I don’t know why you played like he wasn’t. He was going to start,” Sanders said. “The kid has a ton of experience, dual threat, can throw the heck out of the ball as well. He’s the guy. He’s the guy at this point.”
Salter’s background and poise separated him from the field. “He’s done it before. This is not his first time running out of the tunnel and getting the start. He’s done it before and his experience is vital,” Sanders said. “I like what he’s been doing in camp. I like what he did in the spring, and he’s growing and growing and growing.”
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Sanders also emphasized that freshman Julian “JuJu” Lewis will have a role. “We’re praying and we’re hoping that you see some of JuJu periodically through the game as well. We would like to get him some reps as well, but the game predicates that,” Sanders explained.
The head coach said the decision reflects Colorado’s balance of present experience with future promise. “Pat [Shurmur] is doing a wonderful job with him,” Sanders noted. “Byron Leftwich has brought a lot to the table when he’s available and working with him. So I defer to those two coaches to allow me to understand what I see as valid.”
For now, Salter is QB1, but Sanders made clear that Lewis is very much part of the Buffaloes’ plans. “He knows what we [are] saying. He knows what the future [holds] for him. He sees how we see him and he knows what we expect of him,” Sanders said.
Colorado opens Friday night against Georgia Tech, with Sanders showing confidence in both the veteran Salter and the talented freshman Lewis to shape the future of the program.
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