"You got big shoes to fill": Colorado prodigy gives Julian Lewis a reality check as he sits in Shedeur Sanders' seat during CU meeting

Shedeur Sanders is expected to be continuing on to the NFL, meaning Colorado will need someone to step into his role behind center. Julian Lewis, rated as the No. 9 quarterback in the 2025 class by 247Sports, might be that guy.

Lewis, who began practicing with CU last month, sat in on a recent Buffaloes meeting, having reclassified from the 2026 cycle, and was settled in the chair that Sanders usually parked in during team assemblies. That fact wasn't lost on Colorado offensive lineman Cash Cleveland.

"Did he sit in that chair?" Cleveland asked in a video posted Monday on X. "Oh, my gosh, you got big shoes to fill, my guy!"

Cleveland then asked Lewis how he was feeling and if he was ready for the road ahead.

"I don't have a choice, bro," Lewis answered.

Julian Lewis is part of a crop of passers that includes No.1-ranked Bryce Underwood (Michigan), No. 2 Keelon Russell (Alabama), No. 3 Tavien St. Clair (Ohio State), No. 4 Husan Longstreet (USC), No. 5 Malik Washington (Maryland), No. 6 Deuce Knight (Auburn), No. 7 Matt Zollers (Missouri) and No. 8 Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele (Oregon).

According to MaxPreps, Lewis passed for 3,798 yards, 48 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season for Carrolton (Georgia), which finished 14-1.

Lewis' addition goes to show the Buffaloes' emergence as a preferred destination for some of college football's most promising talent. Colorado improved its record in Deion Sanders' second year in charge, reaching the Alamo Bowl.

When will Julian Lewis get on the field?

Colorado also imported Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, a two-year Flames starter who helped the Conference USA program to a 21-4 mark over the past two go-rounds. Salter, a dual-threat passer, totaled 5,889 passing yards, 2,006 rushing yards and 77 touchdowns. He was an All-Conference USA honorable mention this season.

Salters' track record likely gives him an edge over the young Julian Lewis as the Buffaloes enter next season.

Lewis had been committed to Lincoln Riley and USC for over a year before changing his mind in November and switching his pledge to Colorado a few days later. He'd also been on an unofficial visit to Georgia and was interested in Indiana as the Hoosiers were enjoying their best campaign on the gridiron in recent memory.

Julian Lewis has long been regarded as a talented signal-caller, but Deion Sanders will have to work to unlock his abilities at the college level, where Lewis will have to get used to a much faster and more difficult pace of play.

It will be an intriguing development as the program moves past a memorable era with the younger Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, both of whom will likely hear their names called early in April's NFL draft after enthralling careers in Boulder.