Deion Sanders drops major hint about 5-star QB Julian Lewis’ potential commitment to Colorado

By Aman Sharma

Modified Jul 11, 2024 16:16 GMT

Last month, Deion Sanders hosted Julian Lewis, a five-star quarterback who has committed to USC. Lewis is a significant target for Sanders, and there is growing speculation that he might flip his commitment from the Trojans to the Buffaloes.

Following his appearance at Big 12 Media Days, Sanders posted a message to potential recruits via X, formerly known as Twitter, hinting at the challenges they might face if they choose Colorado.

"To whom it may concern, if you desire to come play for us, they may drop your HS (high school) rankings just because," Sanders wrote. He shared an anecdote about a friend from Ft. Myers, suggesting this practice is still ongoing, but emphasized, "Fortunately we don’t care about rankings."

Despite Lewis’ commitment to USC since last summer, On3's national recruiting analyst Phillip Dukes believes Sanders "has a real shot" at flipping the star quarterback. Lewis' third visit to Boulder in late June was notable, especially with a photo of him receiving keys from Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, with Lewis captioning it:

"Could it be 'Perfect Timing'?"

Interestingly, Julian Lewis' ranking dropped recently, despite no recent game performance. On3 and 247Sports now rate him as a 4-star prospect, ranking him 44th and 46th nationally, respectively, and the 7th-best quarterback.

However, ESPN and Rivals still view him as a 5-star recruit, with ESPN ranking him as the No. 2 player in the country and Rivals placing him at the top of the 2025 class. Julian Lewis' rankings can be attributed to his 48 touchdowns to just two interceptions in 2023, and winning the 2024 Elite 11 Pro Day championship with a perfect score of 50.

Julian Lewis and the unique connection with Colorado's coaching staff

Julian Lewis' father, TC Lewis, highlighted a special bond with the Colorado Buffaloes' coaching staff, led by Deion Sanders and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. During a podcast with Rivals' Adam Gorney, TC Lewis emphasized the relatability among Sanders, Shurmur, and himself, all being fathers to talented quarterbacks.

“Not only are they coaches, but they're also fathers," TC remarked. "We spent probably an hour and a half talking during our last visit, and the genuine nature of the staff stood out. The kids on the roster genuinely seem happy, which is rare.”

Despite his commitment to USC, Julian Lewis remains open to Colorado and Auburn. A visit to Boulder on June 21 left a strong impression on him.

"Coach Prime isn’t the kind of person to tell you what you want to hear. Coach Pat isn’t a recruiter; he comes from the NFL, so that’s probably the biggest difference," Julian told Brian Howell.

With Shedeur Sanders likely heading to the NFL after this season, Colorado seeks a new starting quarterback. Julian Lewis, with his stellar high school stats of 4,118 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions as a freshman, and 3,094 yards, 48 touchdowns, and only two interceptions as a sophomore, could be the perfect successor.