Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders may be trying to poach elite quarterback prospect Julian Wilson as the team prepares to fill the void left by Shedeur Sanders.

Shedeur has been one of his famous father’s revelations since he joined Buffs in 2023, following a two-year coaching stint at Jackson State in which he led them to two consecutive Celebration Bowl appearances and the first undefeated regular season in the school’s history.

Shadeur Sanders followed Deion to Jackson State from Florida Atlantic and was immediately named the team’s starting quarterback. Now, in just two years with the Buffaloes, he’s averaged 2,749 passing yards and 23 touchdowns per season. But Sanders will soon be drafted to the big league, likely as a first-round pick, in 2025, and so the Buffs need a replacement. Well, they may soon have their man.

Yes, a 17-year-old standout from Carrolton High School — a five-star recruit — could be that man as the top-ranked prospect is in Colorado. In fact, the school is hosting five-star kicker Rhett Armstrong, Buffs commit Alex Graham, and four-star wideout prospect Adrian Wilson together with Lewis, via Gridiron Heroics.

The quarterback, according to Yahoo Sports, is in town for Colorado’s game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field — and it’s not his first trip to Colorado, either, the report said. This “makes one believe there is serious interest in the Buffaloes,” wrote Yahoo Sports. This is despite the player’s recent commitment to the University of Southern California Trojans.

There is also form to consider as USC is on a three-game losing streak, which contrasts with how Coach Prime has changed the fortunes of a once-ailing Colorado team, who are 5-2 this season.

Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes talks with Shedeur Sanders #2 during the second half of a game against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium on September 28, 2024

Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes talks with Shedeur Sanders #2 during the second half of a game against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium on September 28, 2024 ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

“It’s a great space and a great fanbase,” Wilson told On3 earlier in the year. “To sit down with Shadeur and Coach Prime and all those guys, there’s great people out there. Talk about brand, I don’t think there’s a bigger area than Colorado right now.”

Wilson then spoke specifically about the Coach Prime effect. “Colorado, before last year, I’d never have looked at them, smiled at them, but Coach Prime going there really boosted their whole situation.” Wilson also said, “It’s a possibility” Sanders recruits him as Coach Prime and his father “get on very well.”

He added: “I wasn’t around when he was playing but building a relationship with his son [Shadeur] has been a big thing for me … Coming in to play as a freshman would definitely be the best situation, nobody would want to sit on the bench and be bored.”

Speaking to Sports Illustrated shortly after his last visit to Colorado, Wilson called his weekend there “cool.” He added: “I met a lot of good people while I was in Boulder and definitely noticed the things they did around town.”

This time, he’ll likely be shown even more.