In arguably the largest shift with the 2025 recruiting class, five-star quarterback Julian Lewis has dedicated to the Colorado Buffaloes, he introduced on The Pat McAfee Present Thursday.
Lewis, rated the No. 2 participant within the 2025 class by ESPN, had lengthy been dedicated to the USC Trojans, having verbally pledged to go coach Lincoln Riley’s group in August of 2023.
Nonetheless, because the summer season got here alongside, a string of curiosity from prime applications started to actually materialize, with Lewis taking official visits with the Trojans, Buffaloes, Indiana Hoosiers and Auburn Tigers, whom have been all in quest of an elite quarterback within the 2025 class.
The Georgia Bulldogs additionally had curiosity within the in-state recruit, with Lewis heading out to Athens for a recreation this previous weekend. Nonetheless, on the finish of the day, the thrill with the Buffaloes was an excessive amount of to go up on for the Carrolton, Georgia native, as Lewis is heading to Boulder in one of many largest recruiting swings of the 2025 class.
How did we get up to now and what does this transfer imply for the applications concerned?
Lewis’s recruitment
As talked about above, Lewis was an early decide to USC, having pledged there again on August 22, 2023, to function the following huge quarterback for head coach Lincoln Riley.
The transfer made sense for each events, as Lewis was going to be the following five-star recruit in Riley’s two-year cycle, following former USC quarterback Malachi Nelson, who was the No. 1 recruit within the Class of 2023.
After all, that plan didn’t absolutely materialize for the Trojans, as Nelson transferred after his freshman 12 months, main USC to land Jayden Maiava within the switch portal and go together with him and Miller Moss as the highest choices for the 2024 season.
Nonetheless, Riley prioritized a prime signal-caller within the Class of 2025 to function the inheritor obvious in USC’s quarterback chain, following No. 1 choose Caleb Williams, who left for the NFL Draft after final season.
Lewis shortly emerged as that candidate, re-classifying from the Class of 2026 and forgoing his senior season to enter school one 12 months early and get a faster likelihood to compete on the subsequent stage.
Initially, a number of blue-blood faculties have been concerned for the five-star; USC, Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, Ohio State, Texas A&M and LSU comprising of his prime eight faculties previous to the early dedication.
Lewis in the end picked the Trojans, but it surely was clear that there was nonetheless work to be finished to actually land the five-star quarterback, because the Georgia native was nonetheless visiting different faculties on recreation day visits.
Colorado started to enter the image firstly of the 12 months, getting Lewis down for a Junior Day go to, the place the curiosity actually began to construct between the 2 sides.
The Buffaloes had a transparent opening at their quarterback spot, as starter Shedeur Sanders is predicted to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, the place he’s presently projected as a top-10 choose.
That relationship continued to develop by means of the summer season, with Lewis taking an official go to to Boulder earlier than returning to campus this fall for one more recreation day go to.
Finally, the need to play early and the intrigue that Colorado supplied with its high-octane offense was an excessive amount of to go up, prompting Lewis to de-commit from USC on Sunday and decide to Colorado on Thursday.
The playing cards cleared up earlier than his de-commitment, as USC moved to flip five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet from Texas A&M, securing their quarterback of the cycle because the Buffaloes shored up their place as effectively.
“It was huge for me simply coming in after Shedeur [Sanders] simply seeing what he’s finished to Colorado and what he’s turned it into,” Lewis mentioned upon committing to Colorado. “It’s positively a blessing getting put on this place after him and along with his dad, I couldn’t beat it.
“Coach Prime’s all the time mentioned one of the best man’s going to play and that’s actually what I wished was to have the ability to are available and compete to start out as a freshman. I wouldn’t have a lot enjoyable sitting on the bench so I need to are available with someplace I can get an opportunity to play, so he’s going to let me compete for that and that was huge for me.”
After all, Lewis must earn his spot as a freshman, which isn’t a assure, as seen with former five-star Cormani McClain, a former prime recruit who ended up leaving Colorado after one season. Nonetheless, the quarterback place has the within observe to incomes his spot early in Boulder, and will observe Sanders’s footsteps.
What’s subsequent?
It’s clear that Shedeur Sanders is predicted to depart after this season, however there have been questions on head coach Deion Sanders and whether or not he’d entertain an NFL head teaching alternative if one arises this offseason.
Sanders has repeatedly denied that, which is smart as he appears greatest match to be a frontrunner of a faculty program. Touchdown a five-star recruit with Lewis’ star energy solely furthers the concept that the top coach will stay in Boulder previous this season, so let’s take a look at what may very well be subsequent for the Buffaloes.
Like they’ve finished lately, Colorado is seeking to make some noise within the 2025 cycle late, with the early signing interval approaching December 4th.
They presently have 11 commits of their 2025 class, with Lewis main the best way because the lone five-star, whereas there are a number of four-star recruits within the group as effectively.
However, Colorado continues to be actively recruiting a variety of high-profile gamers. Among the many prime of the group is five-star linebacker Nathanial Owusu-Boateng, who stays one of many highest uncommitted recruits within the 2025 class. He was on campus final week, as was four-star defensive finish London Merritt, who’s presently dedicated to Ohio State.
Moreover, the highest-profile recruit remaining for the Buffaloes is five-star Alabama offensive lineman Michael Carroll, who lately visited Colorado, with all three recruits hailing from IMG Academy.
With the switch portal doubtless being a supply of expertise but once more, the Buffaloes may very well be in for a giant 2025 offseason, as they’re seeking to construct a robust recruiting class late to shore up the remainder of their roster.
General, the addition of Lewis ought to assist Colorado of their pursuits of some prime recruits, with lower than two weeks left until the early signing interval.
