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Shedeur Sanders' replacement gets off to rough start at Colorado as teammates let him know where he stands

The Buffaloes could go through some growing pains next season, particularly at the quarterback position.

Shedeur Sanders will be a high pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in April...
Shedeur Sanders will be a high pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in April after leaving Colorado.LAPRESSE

There aren't many other teams in college football who will see such high-profile talent leave the school this offseason that could change the entire direction of their program as much as Colorado. Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes are set to be without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter starting in 2025, their two best players and two of the most known players in the nation.

Replacing Hunter will be impossible, as he is truly a unique player given his ability to perform at such a high level on both sides of the ball. Replacing Sanders won't be easy either, as he was one of the most productive signal-callers in the sport over the past two seasons, but Colorado has made moves to try to replace him. The biggest one was getting five-star recruit Julian Lewis to commit.

Lewis decommitted from USC in order to Coach Prime in Boulder. He saw an opportunity to take over for Sanders immediately. Lewis is likely coming in with a lot of confidence, but the veterans on the team have already started hazing him by saying he's "scared" before the first day of team workouts.

Lewis shrugged it off and then said "damn", while looking a bit worried. It's only natural given how young Lewis is; he's just 17 years old and doesn't turn 18 until September.

Kaidon Salter likely to be Colorado's starting quarterback in 2025

While Lewis is arguably the best talent on the roster now, it doesn't mean he will start immediately. Given his age and lack of experience, he may not be ready for such a tall task just yet. That's why Colorado made sure to bring in veteran Kaidon Salter through the transfer portal.

Salter was considered one of the best QBs in all of college football heading into last season, but a rough 2024 saw him regress following a big 2023 season. The talent is there, though, and he has plenty of experience after four years at Liberty.

Odds are Salter will be under center for the first game of next season, but Lewis is waiting in the wings and could put pressure on Salter during the spring, summer and through practices.

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