Colorado may still be chasing more traction with local prospects, but one rising quarterback from the area gave Buffaloes fans something to notice before Week 1 even kicked off.
The player in question is Theodore “Theo” Lee, a 2028 quarterback at Arapahoe High. Ahead of his Aug. 27 matchup against Mountain Vista High, a Denver TV reporter for 9 News Denver captured Lee in Colorado Buffaloes gear, wearing a Colorado towel and Coach Prime-themed gameday cleats during warmups.
The sight immediately made the rounds, especially with Colorado class of 2028 QB target Theo Lee (@TheoLeeQB9) rocking a CU towel and Prime’s ahead of his Week One matchup against CSU commit Marquise Reese.That’s enough for me this is the closest thing we’re getting to a Rocky Mountain Showdown for a minute. pic.twitter.com/8SdaV87rzB
The wrinkle that added even more buzz: the quarterback on the other side was Colorado State verbal commit Marquise Reese, which gave the Littleton rivalry game a Rocky Mountain Showdown feel.
Lee’s appearance in Colorado colors comes at a time when Deion Sanders and his staff are working to build out the Buffaloes’ recruiting board beyond the transfer portal. Colorado has already landed four-star wide receiver Jaiden Kelly-Murray, a former South Carolina commit, and four-star safety Gabe Jenkins, who flipped from Pittsburgh, as part of its push on the recruiting trail.
At quarterback, Colorado already has Tennessee prospect and four-star Andre Adams leading the way in the 2027 class. But the Buffaloes still need to keep building depth for 2028, especially with 2026 starter Julian “JuJu” Lewis eligible for the 2028 NFL Draft if he decides to enter after the 2027 season.
Lee fits the profile of a player Colorado can sell hard. He’s a 6-5, 235-pound junior with a frame that already jumps off the page, and his arm talent shows up in the way he layers deep throws and attacks the intermediate part of the field. He’s also willing to squeeze the ball into tight windows with defenders nearby, trusting his receivers to finish the play.
There are questions, too. Lee doesn’t project as a major runner, which leaves some wondering how his game would translate in Brennan Marion’s “Go-Go” offense if he ends up in Boulder. Still, he’s shown enough toughness to be hard to bring down once he does take off, and his comfort from the pocket stands out when pressure arrives.
That arm strength and poise fit what Colorado wants to do in the passing game, especially with Marion’s deep play-action approach. Lee got his Colorado offer on June 17 from director of player personnel Darrius Darden-Box and director of recruiting Rashad Rich, and it was his first Power Four offer. Before that, Kent State was the only other school to offer him.
For now, Colorado has a chance to keep building on the momentum with Lee, who is in close proximity to the program and still early in his recruiting process. Sanders and his staff will have to stay active with him through the rest of 2026, but the fact that he was wearing Buffaloes gear already gives the program a visible foothold with a quarterback who could become a meaningful local addition.
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Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo framed the move as a practical one, saying the point is to create rules that can actually be enforced and that add another layer of protection beyond what the NCAA already provides. It is the kind of policy that will satisfy some fans who want clearer boundaries, while others are likely to see it as another sign that college sports is still sorting out where the line should be drawn. [Read more 🡒]