Colorado QB Julian Lewis Shines in Spring Practice

Redshirt freshman quarterback expected to lead Buffaloes' revamped offense in 2026 season

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:03pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic motion and energy of a Colorado Buffaloes football game or practice, with overlapping planes of muted earth tones and shades of gold, green, and blue.A cubist interpretation of the Colorado Buffaloes' revamped offense, with quarterback Julian Lewis leading the charge under new coordinator Brennan Marion.Boulder Today

Colorado's redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Lewis has been a standout performer during the team's spring practices, drawing praise from analysts and coaches alike. Lewis showed flashes of potential last season and is now poised to take on a larger leadership role as the Buffaloes look to improve their offense under new coordinator Brennan Marion's innovative 'Go-Go' scheme.

Why it matters

After a disappointing 2025 campaign, Colorado is hoping that the combination of Lewis' talent at quarterback and Marion's up-tempo offensive system will help the Buffaloes take a big step forward next season. The team has also bolstered its receiving corps and offensive line through the transfer portal, giving Lewis plenty of weapons to work with.

The details

Lewis was one of the few bright spots for Colorado last season, showcasing his ability to move the offense downfield. His best performance came against West Virginia, where he threw for 299 yards, 2 touchdowns, and had a QB rating of 153.5. For the full season, Lewis totaled 589 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and a 122.0 QB rating. This spring, Lewis has taken on more of a leadership role and is expected to be the Buffaloes' starting QB in 2026.

  • In 2025, Lewis was the Buffaloes' starting quarterback for the entire season.
  • During spring practices in 2026, Lewis has continued to impress and solidify his status as the team's QB1.

The players

Julian Lewis

Redshirt freshman quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes who showed promise in 2025 and is expected to lead the team's revamped offense in 2026.

Brennan Marion

Offensive coordinator for the Colorado Buffaloes, known for his innovative 'Go-Go' offense that emphasizes getting the ball to playmakers in space.

Deion Sanders

Head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, who has made several key roster additions through the transfer portal to bolster the team's offense.

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What they’re saying

“Julian Lewis has been a standout performer for us this spring. He's really taken on more of a leadership role and is poised to have a big season running our new offense.”

— Deion Sanders, Head Coach, Colorado Buffaloes

“Brennan Marion's 'Go-Go' offense is a perfect fit for Julian Lewis' skill set. He's a quarterback who wants to get the ball to his playmakers, and that's exactly what this system is designed to do.”

— Brad Shepard, Analyst, Bleacher Report

What’s next

As spring practices wrap up, the focus will shift to Colorado's annual spring game on April 15th, where Lewis and the rest of the Buffaloes' offense will have a chance to showcase their progress in front of fans.

The takeaway

With a revamped offense led by coordinator Brennan Marion and quarterback Julian Lewis, Colorado is hoping to turn things around after a disappointing 2025 season. The Buffaloes have bolstered their skill position talent through the transfer portal, giving Lewis plenty of weapons to work with in Marion's up-tempo system.