Colorado

Colorado coach Deion Sanders begins battle to replace son at quarterback

Published

9 months ago

March 11, 2025

Press Room

Colorado coach Deion Sanders begins battle to replace son at quarterback

Let the best player win, but this quarterback situation at Colorado could get delicate

Before spring football practice sprung again Tuesday at Colorado, a certain controversy already had started to bloom under head coach Deion Sanders.

It’s all about the quarterbacks: Who will replace Sanders’ son Shedeur at the most important position on the field?

Will it be the veteran transfer from Liberty, Kaidon Salter?

Or the hotshot rookie recruit from Georgia, Julian “JuJu” Lewis?

Could it even be both?

“We have to determine who the best guy is,” Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said Tuesday at a news conference in Boulder. “And God willing we have a number of guys that could be the best guy, and they just go out there and compete.”

The answer might not come until the fall, but it likely will remain the biggest storyline to follow as the Buffaloes begin their third spring season this week under “Coach Prime.”

Both new quarterbacks, along with returning backup Ryan Staub, are vying to replace Shedeur Sanders, who is likely to be a top NFL draft pick next month after becoming arguably the top quarterback in school history. Salter, Lewis and Staub addressed the news media for the first time Tuesday after the first spring practice of the season.

What did the new Colorado quarterbacks say?

A big reason this quarterback situation is so intriguing is that both players came to Colorado to play right away, not wait for next year.

Lewis is only a freshman but told the Pat McAfee show in November that he chose Colorado in part because he wanted a chance to start as a freshman and that he “wouldn’t have much fun sitting on the bench.”

But then in December, the Buffaloes also brought in Salter, who is down to his final year of college eligibility in 2025 after starting for Liberty the past two seasons.

Salter explained Tuesday he chose Colorado in part because he saw a wide-open opportunity after the departure of Shedeur.

“They really had nobody after him,” Salter said. “They brung in JuJu, and coach wanted to see me come in and compete with JuJu. And it’s all working out right now, just coming in helping JuJu out, and also helping each other out.”

Lewis was not directly asked about Salter Tuesday but acknowledged it’s the biggest topic of the spring outside the program at least.

“I mean, of course, everybody thinks it’s a quarterback battle and stuff like that,” Lewis said. “But I mean, we’ve got such great quarterbacks in the room and just great personalities. I just love being around the guys every day and just happy to be here.”

Kaidon Salter vs. JuJu Lewis

Another factor adding to the drama is how different they are in terms of experience and style. Salter, 21, is a dual runner and passer who had 5,887 passing yards and 56 passing touchdowns in four years at Liberty, along with 2,063 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.

“Everybody know I have no problem with running,” Salter said. “It’s something that a lot of teams won’t be able to stop whenever they do throw me out there to do those types of things.”

Lewis, 17, is more of a pocket passer. He threw for 3,798 yards and 48 touchdowns last year in high school at Carrollton, Ga., but had only 86 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Both know how to win. Lewis was 39-4 as a starter in high school. Salter was 23-6 at Liberty, including a 13-1 season in 2023.

“I’ve got more to prove to myself than anybody else,” Lewis said. “I’ve been getting called overrated since I was 7. So it’s kind of like, it kind of is what it is on that part of football. But I just want to go in and ball out.”

Delicate situation for Deion Sanders

For all the talk of letting the best player win the job in competition, the reality is both could be offered more money to play somewhere else if things don’t go their way this spring. Lewis originally committed to Southern California before switching to Colorado. He’ll have options if Salter wins based on experience.

“It’s not that deep,” Shurmur said of how the decision will be made. “You bring in new players and they come in and compete their butts off. And our responsibility as coaches is to make sure we play the best player.”

That decision was easy the past two seasons with Shedeur Sanders as QB1. Now it’s up for grabs through the spring game at Folsom Field April 19 and beyond.

“We gotta replace him,” Shurmur said. “I think the important thing for all teams, you sort of rebuild the roster and you have to start over.”

`We have a better team’

Deion Sanders did not speak to the news media Tuesday but shared his thoughts about his new team in a team meeting Monday, as documented on the YouTube channel of his eldest son, Deion Jr.

“We have a better team than we had last year, and we’re gonna prove it this spring,” Deion Sanders said to his team Monday.

That’s quite a statement considering Colorado lost Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter to the NFL, along with Shedeur and his brother Shilo Sanders, a starting safety.

Colorado finished with a 9-4 record last year under Deion Sanders. The Buffs open the 2025 season at home against Georgia Tech on Aug. 29.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

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Colorado

What I’m Hearing: Colorado keeps retooling, another Liga MX bid and more around MLS

Published

30 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

What I’m Hearing: Colorado keeps retooling, another Liga MX bid and more around MLS

The offseason in MLS is in full swing and The Athletic has you covered on all the latest breaking news.

Here’s the latest I’m hearing around the league…

Colorado Rapids to acquire Sealy

The Rapids are finalizing a deal to acquire Trinidad and Tobago international winger Dante Sealy from CF Montréal, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic. Montréal will receive around $2 million GAM from the Rapids, sources add.

Sealy, 22, was a highly rated graduate of FC Dallas’ academy and moved to Montréal ahead of the 2025 season, enjoying a breakout campaign with nine goals and two assists.

Colorado is among the most aggressive teams in the trade market, seeking young, domestic-based talent, and Sealy is the latest example. He previously spent two seasons with PSV’s second team as well, where he made 54 appearances.

It’s a busy winter of change for the Rapids, who will name Tottenham assistant Matt Wells their next head coach, The Athletic reported last week. He has been involved in player acquisition decisions.

CF Monterrey bid for Orellano

Liga MX’s Monterrey has submitted a bid to sign Luca Orellano from FC Cincinnati, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic. Orellano was the subject of bids from Cruz Azul last winter, but ultimately signed a new contract to stay.

Orellano, 25, is a natural winger who has excelled in a wingback role for Cincy. He had a strong debut season with 10 goals and seven assists in 2024 but didn’t match that output this past year as he struggled with injury. He had two goals and six assists in just under 2,000 minutes.

Monterrey is one of the highest-spending Liga MX clubs and has acquired talent from MLS clubs before – including from Cincinnati, when Los Rayados signed forward Brandon Vazquez in 2024.

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Orlando City to sign Coronel

Orlando City is finalizing a deal to sign Paraguay international goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.

Coronel is a free agent after departing the Red Bulls this winter. He was one of the best players in this free agency class.

Orlando was looking to sign a new starting goalkeeper after longtime backstop Pedro Gallese departed this winter when his contract expired.

Coronel, 28, made 180 appearances for the Red Bulls, an anchor for their playoff run to reach MLS Cup in 2024, where they fell to the LA Galaxy. He made 31 MLS appearances in 2025.

Coronel has nine caps for Paraguay, starting the first six matches in World Cup qualifying. Paraguay, which will open the 2026 World Cup as the co-host U.S.’s first opponent, secured qualification in September.

Orlando has been busy to kick off its offseason, with The Athletic previously reporting the club is finalizing deals for a pair of highly-rated young Brazilian talents via the U-22 initiative: Tiago from Bahia and Luis Otávio from Internacional.

Red Bulls sign Che

The Red Bulls have signed American defender Justin Che from Brøndby, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.

Che, 22, is a graduate of Dallas’ academy and a former U.S. youth international. He has bounced around in recent years, including stints in Germany with the youth setups at Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim.

The versatile defender, who can play right back or right centerback, gives the Red Bulls – and new manager Michael Bradley – options in defense.

Che made 15 MLS appearances for Dallas before heading to Europe. He made 24 appearances for Hoffenheim’s second team.

It’s a busy winter for the Red Bulls, with The Athletic previously reporting the club is finalizing deals to send Peter Stroud to Minnesota United and Lewis Morgan to San Diego FC.

Bartlett asks D.C. to speak about future

D.C. United center back Lucas Bartlett is attracting interest on the trade market and has asked the club to discuss his future, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.

Teams around MLS have called D.C. about a potential deal, as well as a club in Europe, sources say. Bartlett, 28, joined D.C. United ahead of the 2024 season and has been a key starter the last two years, making 67 appearances.

The aerially dominant center back spent time with FC Dallas and St. Louis City in his career as well.

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Colorado

United States Postal Service offers reward after mail carrier robbed in Denver

Published

13 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

United States Postal Service offers reward after mail carrier robbed in Denver

December 14, 2025 / 5:14 PM MST
/ CBS Colorado

The United States Postal Service is offering a reward for information on the person who robbed a Denver mail carrier this weekend.

According to the USPS Inspection Service, a man approached the letter carrier around 9:45 am.n. on Friday near Roslyn Street and 8th Place. Officials said he was around 5’5″ and was wearing a black mast, black jacket, blue jeans and black shoes. The USPS says a possible firearm was tucked in his belt.

CBS

They are offering a $150,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the robbery.

The USPS encouraged anyone with information on the case to contact their inspection service at 1-877-876-2455 or make a report online.

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Colorado

Medina Alert issued after hit-and-run crash seriously injures motorist in Denver

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Medina Alert issued after hit-and-run crash seriously injures motorist in Denver

DENVER — Authorities issued a Medina Alert Sunday following a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a motorist.

Police said the driver of a gold 2008 BMW X3 SUV struck another vehicle at the intersection of Sheridan Boulevard and W. 17th Avenue in Denver around 4:37 p.m. Saturday.

The crash left the driver of the victim vehicle with serious bodily injuries, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

CBI

The BMW driver fled following the crash, traveling northbound on Sheridan Boulevard, CBI said in a bulletin.

The gold BMW X3, with Colorado license plate ECB F17, sustained heavy damage on the driver’s side from the collision.

If seen, call 911 or the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000.

This was the second hit-and-run crash and Medina Alert in Denver on Saturday.

Earlier Saturday, a pedestrian in a crosswalk was seriously injured after being struck by a 2010 white Toyota Corolla, Colorado license plate EDM U42, at the intersection of Federal Boulevard and W. Kentucky Avenue.

The driver of the Corolla left the scene—heading northbound on Federal Boulevard.

No arrests have been announced.

A Medina Alert honors the memory of Jose Medina, a 21-year-old valet driver who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2011.

A taxi driver witnessed the event, followed the driver, and gave the police the license plate number, leading to the capture and arrest of the suspect.

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