Deion Sanders names new starting quarterback after rough start at Colorado

Jeff Hauser

Deion Sanders names new starting quarterback after rough start at Colorado image

Colorado is expected to start Kaidon Salter at quarterback, sources told CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz

Salter began the season as the Buffaloes' starter and will take over again. This comes after third-stringer Ryan Staub took over in Week 3 against Houston. Colorado hosts Wyoming on Saturday in the final non-conference game before the rest of the Big 12 slate.

The QB carousel for Deion Sanders had been rocky throughout the first three games of the 2025 season. Colorado has rotated three different signal-callers with Salter, Staub and freshman five-star Julian Lewis all getting game reps. However, none of them had consistent production. 

Salter was a two-year starter at Liberty before transferring to Colorado. He opened the season with two total touchdowns in the Buffaloes' Week 1 loss to Georgia Tech. He started the next week against Delaware and was yanked in favor of Lewis before Staub finished the game.  

The indecision at QB by Sanders has weighed heavy on the Buffs, who had his son, Shedeur, as a two-year starter before entering the 2025 NFL Draft. While nobody will be able to match the consistency Sanders had for Colorado, Salter seems to be the safe option for now.   

Coach Prime outlined what he wants from his quarterback during this week's press conference. "Leadership and consistency," he said yesterday. "That's it. That ain't much to ask for, is it?"

Salter has shown flashes of both, but has also struggled with being a true dual-threat. It became a major problem in the opening against Georgia Tech. While questions remain about whether Salter can deliver sustained production, he'll have another shot at it, 

Colorado hosts Wyoming in a late-night affair on Saturday (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN).

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Jeff Hauser

Jeff Hauser is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has over twenty years of experience and is a two-time Emmy Award winner, Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award voter. Among the events he has covered are the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, World Series, World Cup, and WBC Boxing. Hauser is a regular guest on FOX Sports and ESPN Radio. He previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, SB Nation and Athlon Sports.