By Michael GallagherShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPlenty of things have gone wrong for Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders in Year 3.
One season after going 9-4 and playing in the Alamo Bowl, Colorado is 3-8 with its regular-season finale against Kansas State coming up this weekend.
And while the Buffaloes have had plenty of issues that need fixing next season, the lone bright spot has been the play of five-star freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis.
Heralded as the heir apparent to Shedeur Sanders, who’s now starting for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL, Lewis rode the bench for much of the season behind Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, a former five-star QB who found his way to Boulder after four solid years with the Flames.
But as Salter faltered, Lewis started seeing more playing time down the stretch, but with CU’s final regular-season game just days away, Sanders made a tough call on Lewis’ future — one that was met with some resistant on social media.
More News: Lane Kiffin Announcement Could Come Before Egg Bowl: Report
...“I made a decision that JuJu is going to redshirt,” Sanders told reporters, via On3. “That’s my decision. I want what’s best for the kid, what’s best for his family, what’s best for this wonderful university that’s me the tremendous opportunity and him an opportunity. I think, for the program, it’s best for everyone. But, mainly, it’s great for him.”
“I’m not going to say he was happy, because he’s a competitor. He wants to compete. He wants to play. … That kid wants to play. He wants to compete, and I love him for it. He really does. So, that’s on me.”
Though there was a contingency of Buffaloes fans who were fine with Sanders’ decision, there was another group who wasn’t so understanding, calling Sanders out for benching the highly regarded freshman QB.
More News: Kirk Herbstreit Doesn’t Hold Back on Lane Kiffin-Ole Miss Drama
...More News: Surprise Candidate Suddenly Surges as Favorite for Penn State Job
“I hope Prime don’t lose this [player] to the portal which is likely to happen cause him not starting from the jump was nonsense he probably thinks that coaching staff don’t know what they doing fr,” one fan wrote.
“Coach Prime really said, ‘My guy just dropped video-game numbers, so we’re putting him in bubble wrap until next season.’ 589 yards in four games? Yeah, go ahead and redshirt him before he starts throwing for 600 in a half,” scoffed a second fan.
“If hes redshirting that most likely means hes transferring. If he was a starter for the future at Colorado why would he have to redshirt to save a year?🤣🤣,” another fan asked.
“Why? Why take a good player out,” questioned one user.
“Even more eligibility when he transfers,” another user declared.
“Dude hitting the portal,” remarked one fan.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
NCAALane Kiffin Announcement Could Come Before Egg Bowl: Report2 min read
Affiliate LinksHow to Watch Arizona State vs Texas: Live Stream Maui Invitational NCAA College Basketball, TV Channel2 min read
NCAAOle Miss Players Unhappy With Lane Kiffin’s ‘Circus’: Report3 min read
NCAAOle Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss Sends Message to Fans Amid Lane Kiffin Rumors2 min read
NCAAAlabama Coach Connected to California Job Opening2 min read
NCAATulane, Jon Sumrall Dealt Major Recruiting Blow Amid Florida Rumors3 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
WorldTrump Says Talks With Putin, Zelensky Await Final Peace Deal: Live Updates3 min read
NewsTrump May Defeat Maduro Without Battle and Lose War in Venezuela14 min read
WorldTrump Envoy Advised Russia on Putin Call, Ukraine Deal: Report5 min read
NewsDonald Trump Comments on His Weight During Turkey Pardon5 min read
Live BlogThanksgiving Travel: Map Shows States Where Travel To Be Impacted By Winter Storms2 min read
PoliticsWhite House Reacts to Report of Trump Considering Kash Patel’s Ousting4 min readTrending
National Weather ServiceWinter Storm Alert Issued as 12 Inches of Snow Set To Hit3 min read
MoneyNew ‘Cash Law’ Could Change Grocery Store Rules3 min read
SnowfallWinter Storm Warning Issued As 25 Inches of Snow To Strike5 min read
Higher EducationFull List of Degrees Not Classed As ‘Professional’ by Trump Admin8 min read
LawsuitCampbell’s Soup VP Mocks ‘Poor People’ Who Buy Its Food in Secret Recording6 min readOpinion
OpinionGOP Rep.: The U.S. Must Close Critical AI Chip Export Loophole Exploited by China | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAgriculture Secretary: Giving Thanks to the American Farmer This Thanksgiving | Opinion4 min read
OpinionFormer White House Middle East Envoy: What We Keep Getting Wrong About the UAE and Sudan | Opinion5 min read
OpinionGovernment-Mandated Affordability—Music to Consumer Ears | Opinion6 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: Ukraine Peace Plan Edition2 min read
