Three weeks into the 2025 college football season, Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes have yet to establish their starting quarterback. Ryan Staub led the team in his second career start in Week 3 against Houston, but after his performance, Sanders and the Buffs are back to square one.
Colorado also has transfer Kaidon Salter and five-star recruit Julian Lewis on the team, yet neither played in the 36-20 loss to the Cougars. Speaking at his weekly press conference in Boulder, Sanders addressed the future of the quarterback position for the program this year.
“Leadership and consistency,” Sanders said when asked about what he’s looking for in a quarterback for the Buffaloes. “That’s it. That ain’t much to ask for. Leadership and consistency. I look for that for everyone, every man, every woman that’s involved in their life.”
Colorado has started the season with a 1-2 record, losses to Georgia Tech and Houston. After Shedeur Sanders set multiple school records last year at the quarterback position, the team has yet to find a full-time starter in his place.
Deion Sanders On The Colorado QB Position
Sanders didn’t commit to any of his three quarterbacks as a starter for their Week 4 game against Wyoming. However, the coach was blunt when he was asked about Staub’s performance in last week’s game.
“Staub didn’t play well,” Sanders said after their Week 3 loss. “That wasn’t his best, to say the least.”
Staub completed 19 of his 35 passes for 204 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions against Houston. Previously, against Delaware, he went 5/7 for 157 yards and two touchdowns, earning the starter role, which resulted in the disappointing outing.
Colorado transfer Kaidon Salter started the first two games of the year, but has yet to see action since the first half of their game versus Delaware. He has a combined 30/44 passing for 261 yards and a touchdown in two appearances, while the freshman Lewis has completed just two of four total passing attempts for eight total yards.
As things stand now, Sanders and the Buffaloes have played three quarterbacks in three different games. Both Salter and Staub have seen a majority of that action, but as both have put up similar numbers that don’t jump off the page, CU has yet to have any of their passers stand out.
While Sanders was focused on expressing his shock at the team’s loss against Houston, after the game, he said ‘I have no idea. Right now, I’m not thinking about that. I’m thinking about what transpired and how to prevent … that from happening again,‘ in regards to the quarterback situation.
Sanders said in his Tuesday press conference that he had a starter in mind for Week 4, but didn’t elaborate further.
Famous Guest In Boulder Gives High Praise
Along with the topic of who will start at quarterback for Colorado this weekend, there was another major storyline around the team’s facility on Tuesday.
In attendance with Sanders and the team was famous actor and musician Ice Cube. He took a tour of the facility, watched practice, and talked to players in what was another chapter of his friendship with Sanders.
“Much love, much respect to everybody out here,” he said when speaking to the team. “It’s good to see y’all. Just want to tell you, I’m pretty sure a lot of people come out here and talk to y’all. They got a lot to say, you know. But the thing is, you guys got the best of the best.”
Ice Cube then went on to discuss some of the former NFL players on Sanders’ coaching staff. Among those are Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp and running back Marshall Faulk. Ice Cube told the Colorado players to appreciate their presence and listen to their feedback.
Since Sanders arrived in Boulder, the football program has seen numerous celebrities and friends of the coach pass by to either watch practice or a game. While that topic itself has received criticism in the past, Sanders remains unique when it comes to his coaching style and personality.
Regardless, when and who Sanders goes public with as his starting quarterback will be against Wyoming remains the biggest topic of speculation for the 1-2 Colorado Buffaloes.
Deion Sanders Sends Blunt Message To Colorado QBs After Loss