BOULDER - Deion Sanders left little doubt about where things stand with Julian Lewis.
When asked whether the quarterback could get back on the field this season, Sanders put the burden squarely on Lewis.
"That's on him," Sanders said. "I don't think you could find a player in this program - or you may could find some bitter players that have left and didn't want to leave, but life is what it is - but I don't treat people unfairly.
I don't play games with young men and their careers and hate on folks. If I'm anything, I'm too forgiving and very, very kind.
You can ask that gentleman (punter Damon Greaves) over there; I don't play those games with kids. You've got to always understand that we may know a little more than you do, because we're inside the locker room.
We're there. We understand what happens."
Sanders was even more guarded when the subject came up again, refusing to take the bait on whether Lewis is still battling to win back the job.
"If you answer that, you may say I'm taking a shot at a kid, and I'm not going to do that," Sanders said. "I'm not going to go down that rabbit hole because I'm so honest that honesty gets you in trouble.
All my life, I've been brutally honest in my entire life. I've never been sideways when I played the game, when I left the game, when I did television, when I did radio, when I did anything, social media; never in my life have I been questioned with my integrity and honesty, so I don't want to go down there.
You guys do your homework."
The comments point to a rough stretch for Lewis, who has been on the bench since getting pulled midway through Colorado's Week 4 game against Baylor. The source material describes him as appearing detached on the sideline and not showing much urgency to reclaim the starting role. With Isaac Wilson settling in as the leader and freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne offering upside, Sanders doesn't appear inclined to hand Lewis another chance.
If Lewis never gets back on the field, his CU run would end with 1,322 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions over eight games.
Wilson has handled the offense in Lewis' absence, and his season numbers now sit at 979 passing yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions. In his third start after taking over, he helped Colorado put together three first-half touchdowns in Saturday's loss to Oklahoma State, then faded after halftime.
Sanders praised Wilson’s opening half while also pointing to the issue that showed up after the break.
"He was 14-for-16 in the first half, and everything was lovely," Sanders said. "He was balling.
But it's almost like when he makes a negative play - at times he has the ability to forget and just move on, and sometimes it just puts him in a little funk. And I think you could see it after the fumble after the halftime.
He was in a little funk, and we was just trying to give him things that he could handle, that he could complete, to get him back together."
In Other News...
Deion Sanders Doubles Down As Latest Buffs Backlash Builds
Deion Sanders spent part of this week trying to clean up a comment that quickly took on a life of its own, and the Colorado coach made clear he was not actually offering anybody money to stop talking about him. He said the $50,000 line was meant as a joke about someone profiting off his name and brand, but once it landed in the wider conversation, it became another flashpoint around a program that rarely goes long without one.
The remark resurfaced again at his weekly news conference before Colorado hosts Kansas State, where Sanders stuck to the same message: he does not pay people to avoid criticism, and he was misinterpreted. The larger point sounded familiar from him, too, because criticism has followed much of his career and he said he remains unapologetic about what he says and does. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado's New Frontcourt Has To Fix What Sank The Buffs
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Eric Jacobsen is part of that conversation too, even if the first-year forward is still easing his way back from a torn ACL. His adjustment to the physicality of Big 12 play is still underway, which makes the early-season frontcourt rotation even more interesting for Colorado. However the minutes shake out, the Buffs need their new pieces to help stabilize a defense that has to be better if the season is going to go anywhere. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados First Big 12 Win May Hinge On One Kansas State Decision
Colorados search for its first Big 12 win could end up tied to one decision in Manhattan, where Kansas State is still sorting through the health of quarterback Avery Johnson. The Buffaloes already know the challenge he presents when hes available: he drives the Wildcats offense as both their top passer and their top runner, which makes him the kind of dual threat that can stress a defense on every snap.
Colorados plan, at least in theory, is to keep Johnson bottled up in the pocket and force him to win with his arm. But Kansas State has been dealing with quarterback injuries beyond Johnson, and even if he is cleared to play, theres no guarantee hell look or play the same way he normally does. For a Colorado defense trying to steady itself in conference play, the difference between an injured Johnson and no Johnson at all could shape the whole afternoon. [Read more 🡒]