Deion Sanders reveals whether JuJu Lewis will play in Week 2
After they’d hoped to have him play in their opener at some point, Colorado QB Julian Lewis, the former four-star recruit and top-ten quarterback in the incoming class, did not make his collegiate debut last week in their loss to Georgia Tech. However, the Buffaloes won’t be waiting another week to see the true freshman take the field.
Deion Sanders was asked about Lewis’ chances of playing this week against Delaware during his press conference on Tuesday. Coach Prime confirmed at that point that the true freshman will appear in his first college game this weekend at some point against the Blue Hens.
“Yeah, he’s playing. He’s playing this week, for sure,” said Sanders. “I know when I’m going to see him. You just don’t know when you’re going to see him. I know when we’re going to see him.”
Later to end the presser, another member asked him if this was an opportunity for Lewis to not just play but to start at quarterback for Colorado. However, Sanders slowed that roll in just focusing in on the fact that he’ll be playing this week.
“Can we take one thing at a time? I just told you he was playing. Now you’re saying he’s starting. C’mon, dog. Work with me, baby, you know. Just work with me. Work with me,” said Sanders. “He’s playing, alright. He’s playing.”
When he announced Kaidon Salter as Colorado’s QB1 last week, Sanders had said they were “praying and hoping” that Lewis, set now as their backup, would get a chance to check in “periodically through the game”. The Buffaloes wanted to get him some reps in the opener, but it just didn’t work out in how the game happened against the Yellow Jackets, as it ended in a 27-20 loss. In that one, Salter was 17-28 (60.7%) for 159 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for another score off of 43 yards.
This week, though, Lewis is going in. That’s whether he’s ready or not as Sanders has already decided that.
“You got to understand, I love that kid, man. I really do and I want him to be extremely successful,” said Sanders. “Sometimes, you don’t want to rush things. Sometimes, you don’t want to delay things. You want to make sure the timing is right.
“I didn’t think the timing was appropriate last week. I really don’t, at the way the game was flowing, the rhythm of the game. But, this week, I made up my mind already before. Now, he’s going to play. So, I don’t give a darn about the flow or nothing. He’s playing.”
This is a good opportunity for Lewis against a smaller opponent like Delaware, who comes from Conference USA to play in their first-ever power matchup having just made the move this offseason up to the FBS. With that, those at Folsom Field should be excited to see how their top freshman, and their future at the position, plays in his debut come Saturday afternoon.
