Pat Shurmur on Julian Lewis, Kaidon Salter quarterback battle: 'Both guys could be our very best players'

After losing its 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winning quarterback Shedeur Sanders to the 2025 NFL Draft, Colorado brought in two immediate impact arms this offseason.

Former Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter made his way to Boulder via the Transfer Portal after leading the Flames to an 8-4 record in 2024. Last season, he passed for 1,886 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 587 yards and seven more scores.

Along with Salter, Colorado secured a commitment from freshman four-star quarterback Julian Lewis. Lewis was ranked No. 56 overall in the 2025 class. He also ranked as the No. 7 quarterback in the class and the No. 7 overall player from the state of Georgia, hailing from Carrollton (GA).

Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who is embarking on his second season as the Buffaloes’ OC, revealed that he believes Salter and Lewis could be two of their best players.

“We as coaches owe it to our fans, our team and everybody out there to play the very best players,” Shurmur said on Friday. “In reality, in terms of the quarterback, both guys could be our very best players. So then, we’ll have to work something out. In the meantime, we just keep working with them and those decisions will be made behind the scenes. Coach [Deion Sanders] will have to deal with all of that.”

Coach Prime is also high on the duo of Lewis & Salter

Sanders spoke at Big 12 Media Days last month, where he revealed that he is also extremely high on both Lewis and Salter.

“We brought both of them because I don’t know which one is going to start,” Sanders said. “Yeah. Long as they’re doing their jobs and we’re winning. “We definitely want to continue to develop JuJu, but Kaidon is unbelievable. Kaidon is off the chain. He’s been there, done that, he can get the job done. I wouldn’t have brought him here if I didn’t trust him.

“But JuJu is coming around the mountain when he comes. And I love him, I love what he brings to the table. I don’t know how it’s going to play out, as long as it plays out. We can’t lose either way, with either of those two.”

Colorado opens its 2025 campaign at home on Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM on ESPN. It will mark the first season (and just the second game) of the Coach Prime era in Boulder without son Shedeur Sanders starting at quarterback.