Julian Lewis has had a whirlwind of a week.
Just a few days after leading Carrollton (Georgia) High School to its second state championship game in the last three years, the five-star Colorado quarterback commit arrived in Boulder to begin his college football career as an early enrollee.
Now in San Antonio as the Buffs prepare to play in the Alamo Bowl, Lewis is already learning from the man who he’s expected to succeed.
“It’s very meaningful,” Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said Thursday of Julian Lewis being able to practice with Shedeur Sanders ahead of the Alamo Bowl. “Julian has a bright future. Quarterbacks are always looking for perspective. They’re always trying to learn from other quarterbacks. Any time Julian can spend around Shedeur is time well spent.
“This is kind of like an orientation and I love this bowl prep. For the guys who are going to be here next year, in my opinion, it’s the beginning of their next season. For Shedeur as he goes out, any wisdom he can impart on Julian and also Kaidon (Salter) is important. They should listen because he’s a terrific player.”
Julian Lewis will certainly glean any knowledge he can get from Sanders because, well, that’s what Sanders would do if the roles were reversed.
Colorado’s current QB and its QB of the future both have a high football IQ and it’s part of the reason why Deion Sanders wanted Lewis to be the heir to his son’s throne.
“Smart coaches at this level understand what has worked for them and they try their best to replicate that,” Deion Sanders said last week. “Shedeur has worked really well for us. I saw a lot of similarities in the way Julian’s life has been structured.
“The similarities are unbelievable so you want someone of that nature. He’s everything we desire in a quarterback. He’s smart, can make every throw, he has pocket awareness, pocket presence and he’s a darn leader. Most of all, he’s a winner.”
Winning is what matters most to Deion Sanders when he’s evaluating the sport’s most important position.
Julian Lewis has thrown for over 11,000 yards and 144 touchdowns across his three-year high school football career, but none of that matters to Sanders without team success.
The right QB to lead Colorado into a new era must not only be used to success, he must expect it. The right QB to lead Colorado into a new era must be able to lead and motivate his teammates whether the score is in their favor at the moment or not.
Shedeur already checks those boxes, and now Julian Lewis — who had a 39-4 record as a high school starting QB — is getting an up-close-and-personal view of what that looks like in a potential No. 1 overall draft pick.
“People forget that category when you’re looking at quarterbacks: are they winners? We have one right now and we have one coming in (Julian Lewis),” Deion Sanders said last week. “That’s the intangible that you want. You don’t want a guy that’s been getting his butt kicked his whole life.
“What is that going to do? What is he going to say during a TV timeout to his team when it gets to a pivotal point in the game and he’s always lost? I don’t want that at all. Not leading our team.”
The invaluable time spent around Shedeur in meetings and at practices will do wonders for Lewis’ development.
It won’t be easy to deal with the expectations of being a five-star QB on top of the pressure that comes with following up Shedeur. Luckily for Julian Lewis, he’s used to the uneasy path.
The former USC commit threw for 531 yards and five touchdowns in a state title game as a true freshman. It’s that kind heroic nature that has future teammates excited to play alongside him.
“I think it’s awesome and a great opportunity,” incoming transfer center Carter Miller said of playing with Julian Lewis. “Being around guys who know football at a high level, you can only learn from them and get better.
“I’m looking forward to building a good relationship at center and quarterback, you know how that is.”
Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.