Coach Prime puts future Colorado QB at the same level as son Shedeur Sanders

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders has steadily built a reputation as one of the best players in college football ever since he arrived in the FBS from the FCS last season alongside his father, Deion Sanders. Father and son will part ways for the first time next season when the NFL-bound Buffs quarterback is expected to be the first QB off the board in the 2025 draft class as per ESPN.

Coach Prime has already taken steps to mitigate the loss of Shedeur to the NFL by securing the commitment of five-star quarterback Julian Lewis, who is one of the most highly regarded players in the class of 2025.

During his weekly news conference, Coach Prime paid Lewis the ultimate compliment by comparing him to Shedeur Sanders (7:00).

“I think smart coaches at this level understand what has worked for them, and they try their best to replicate that,” Deion Sanders said. “Shedeur’s worked really well for us. He has a wonderful father in his life. Father has always been there. Father just knows the game and a father that’s hands-on.

"I saw a lot of similarities in the way Julian’s life has been structured, speaking to his father multitude of times, understanding how he came up, what he wants out of life, what he wants out of the game, and from the game, and what he gives to the game. The similarities are unbelievable.”

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Coach Prime highlights qualities in Shedeur Sanders' successor

The charismatic Coach Prime has famously utilized the transfer portal to devastating effect. Last season, he promised to recruit a new offensive line to better protect his son and he did exactly that, allowing Shedeur Sanders to flourish.

During his weekly news conference, he further highlighted the qualities that made Julian Lewis a good replacement for Shedeur Sanders (7:55).

“So you try to find those guys that have been good to your program and you identify them, and you just try your best to say, Okay, I want the character this. I want this … I’m going to accept that foolishness, I want what I want, and I’m going to get it or I will go to the next kid, but that kid right there," Coach Prime said.

"He’s (Lewis) everything that we desire in a quarterback. He’s smart, he could throw, make, every throw. He has pocket awareness, pocket presence. He is a darn leader, but most of all, he’s a winner. People forget that category when you look at the quarterback. Are they winners?"

Julian Lewis will have huge shoes to fill to replace Shedeur Sanders, who has consistently put up big numbers despite not always having the quality of talent available to his quarterback rivals in the FBS.