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 move coach Lincoln Riley’s workforce in August of 2023.
Nonetheless, because the summer season got here alongside, a string of curiosity from high applications started to really materialize, with Lewis taking official visits with the Trojans, Buffaloes, Indiana Hoosiers and Auburn Tigers, whom had been all searching for 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 excitement 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 subsequent large quarterback for head coach Lincoln Riley.
The transfer made sense for each events, as Lewis was going to be the subsequent 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.
In fact, 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 high signal-caller within the Class of 2025 to function the inheritor obvious in USC’s quarterback chain, following No. 1 decide Caleb Williams, who left for the NFL Draft after final season.
Lewis rapidly emerged as that candidate, re-classifying from the Class of 2026 and forgoing his senior season to enter faculty one 12 months early and get a faster probability to compete on the subsequent degree.
Initially, a number of blue-blood colleges had been concerned for the five-star; USC, Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, Ohio State, Texas A&M and LSU comprising of his high eight colleges previous to the early dedication.
Lewis in the end picked the Trojans, nevertheless it was clear that there was nonetheless work to be executed to really land the five-star quarterback, because the Georgia native was nonetheless visiting different colleges on recreation day visits.
Colorado started to enter the image at the start 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 anticipated to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, the place he’s at present projected as a top-10 decide.
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 will 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 nicely.
“It was large for me simply coming in after Shedeur [Sanders] simply seeing what he’s executed 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 together with his dad, I couldn’t beat it.
“Coach Prime’s at all times mentioned the perfect man’s going to play and that’s actually what I needed 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 wish 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 large for me.”
In fact, Lewis must earn his spot as a freshman, which isn’t a assure, as seen with former five-star Cormani McClain, a former high 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 comply with Sanders’s footsteps.
What’s subsequent?
It’s clear that Shedeur Sanders is anticipated 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 finest match to be a frontrunner of a faculty program. Touchdown a five-star recruit with Lewis’ star energy solely furthers the concept that the pinnacle coach will stay in Boulder previous this season, so let’s take a look at what could possibly be subsequent for the Buffaloes.
Like they’ve executed lately, Colorado is seeking to make some noise within the 2025 cycle late, with the early signing interval approaching December 4th.
They at present have 11 commits of their 2025 class, with Lewis main the way in which because the lone five-star, whereas there are a number of four-star recruits within the group as nicely.
However, Colorado remains to be actively recruiting various high-profile gamers. Among the many high 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 at present dedicated to Ohio State.
Moreover, the highest-profile recruit remaining for the Buffaloes is five-star Alabama offensive lineman Michael Carroll, who not too long ago 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 could possibly be in for an enormous 2025 offseason, as they’re seeking to construct a powerful recruiting class late to shore up the remainder of their roster.
Total, the addition of Lewis ought to assist Colorado of their pursuits of some high recruits, with lower than two weeks left until the early signing interval.