With 12 minutes, 6 seconds to play within the third quarter on Saturday night time, Colorado followers at Folsom Subject lastly had one thing to cheer about.
Effectively, no less than those that hadn’t left the stadium.
Trailing by 38 factors in what would develop into a 52-17 loss to Arizona, CU head coach Deion Sanders put freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis into the sport. It was one of many loudest cheers of the night time when the 18-year-old trotted onto the sphere with the Buffs down 45-7.
“Widespread sense,” Sanders mentioned when requested why he put Lewis into the sport.
All through a season that’s rapidly gone from disappointing to disastrous, the Buffs (3-6, 1-5 Massive 12) have by no means actually discovered their quarterback scenario. They go into Saturday’s journey to West Virginia (10 a.m. MT, TNT) nonetheless unclear on the place.
Fifth-year senior Kaidon Salter, who had been a star at Liberty, joined the Buffs as a switch and received the job, however his season has been a rocky journey.
Whereas Salter has performed effectively at occasions, he was benched early within the 12 months and has been dreadful the previous two weeks. Throughout a 53-7 loss at Utah and Saturday’s embarrassment, Salter accomplished a mixed 20-of-37 passes for 86 yards (a paltry 4.3 yards per completion), a landing, two interceptions and a fumble.
Salter left Saturday’s recreation with the Buffs trailing 38-7. His alternative, Ryan Staub, went 0-for-2 with two interceptions.
So, the Buffs turned to Lewis, a five-star recruit who spurned USC to return to CU, and graduated a 12 months early from highschool to take action. Previous to Saturday, Lewis’ solely recreation expertise got here towards Delaware in Week 2, and it didn’t go effectively, finishing 2-of-4 passes for eight yards.
With followers pouring out of Folsom Subject, nevertheless, and Arizona changing Staub’s second interception into yet one more landing, it was clearly time for Lewis.
“Typically you’re compelled to do some issues that most likely must be performed anyway and I’m glad he obtained a chance,” Sanders mentioned of Lewis. “He’s obtained his toes moist somewhat bit. He obtained to see the blitzes, simply actual play, and what he wanted to work on, and he’ll. He’s a employee. He’s going to attempt his greatest to get it performed. However I’m glad we obtained to that conclusion.”
Lewis went 9-for-17 for 121 yards and his first profession landing go – a 59-yarder to Omarion Miller.
Now, the Buffs have to determine what to do for the final three video games.
Underneath present NCAA guidelines, Lewis can play as much as 4 video games and preserve his redshirt. He’s already performed in two, so if he performs the subsequent three, he’ll burn the redshirt. That will not be price it in a misplaced season, however Sanders mentioned, as of Saturday, there had been no dialogue with Lewis or his household about redshirt plans.
“I don’t know his thought course of or his dad and mom’ (ideas),” Sanders mentioned. “I do not know.”
Lewis left Saturday’s recreation with an obvious hand damage late within the fourth quarter, so his well being might be an element, too. However Sanders mentioned he’ll do what Lewis desires when it comes to redshirting or not.
“I’m for the youngsters,” Sanders mentioned. “If (redshirting) is what they need, that’s what they’ll get. I’m not going to mandate, ‘You bought to play, you bought …’ No, no. No matter’s greatest for these younger males’s careers, I’m for that.”
In fact, Sanders has to do what’s greatest for the staff, too. Whereas it appears clear that CU ought to look to the long run and go along with Lewis, Sanders was non-committal when requested if Salter would play once more.
“I don’t need to put one other man down to speak about one other man,” Sanders mentioned. “Let’s stick to JuJu getting expertise; he’s getting the chance. And that’s the place we’re proper now.”
Some followers have been clamoring for Lewis for weeks, however Sanders mentioned it was vital to him to ensure Lewis was able to go.
“As a man who is aware of this recreation, I’ve obtained to guard him,” Sanders mentioned. “I can’t throw him on the market and he’s not totally prepared and now you’re leaping throughout him (within the media) and now we’re in a psychological well being scenario. I don’t need that for none of those younger males. So, we attempt our greatest to arrange them and get them prepared for the ups and downs of life.”
Lewis obtained some cheers on Saturday, however challenges await.
“It’s straightforward to clap when it’s going effectively, however when all hell breaks free, ain’t no person there however the criticism and the negativity on social (media),” Sanders mentioned. “I’m attempting to do a terrific job of being steward of my relationship with these younger males in serving to them progress however progress the precise manner.”