Deion Sanders updates Colorado QB plan vs Houston: Ryan Staub or Kaidon Salter?

Deion Sanders isn’t confirming anything about his quarterback situation ahead of Friday’s Big 12 opener.

Despite a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel stating that third-string QB Ryan Staub will vs. Houston, Coach Prime says he hasn’t made that decision just yet.

“In today’s media, we don’t care about being correct anymore, we just want to be first,” Deion Sanders said Tuesday. “Nobody gives a darn about being correct or right. Everybody just wants to be first and that doesn’t make any sense to me.

“I would love the integrity that we once had with media.”

Coach Prime admitted that Staub has gotten the “majority” of reps at practice this week after the redshirt sophomore made the most of his opportunity vs. Delaware. Staub completed 70% of his passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns in just four drives (three of them ended in TDs).

He clearly looked like Colorado’s best QB and showed some of the things that Coach Prime is looking for, including complete control of the offense. On the longest two pass plays of the game (a 71-yard TD and 36-yard completion), Staub made a pre-snap adjustment to Sincere Brown’s route.

“Leadership is involved, understanding the totality of the offense is involved and being able to do some things that are off script,” Deion Sanders said Tuesday. “When the play breaks down, what you got? I feel like a QB has to make three plays on own a game.

“Staub did what we expected him to do. You all are surprised, we weren’t. We’re thankful, appreciative and just happy for him that he seized the darn moment. We talk about the moment all the time in our meetings. We talk about taking advantage of opportunities not only on the football field, but in life, and he did that. I’m proud of him.”

Coach Prime says he doesn’t want to “play musical chairs” so the plan is for just one QB to play Friday vs. Houston. There’s a chance Deion Sanders could start Kaidon Salter for the third straight week, but all indications point to Staub getting an opportunity to win the starting job for the remainder of the season.

It wouldn’t be Staub’s first start for Deion Sanders and the Buffs, either. As a true freshman, Staub started for an injured Shedeur Sanders in 2023 regular season finale and seized his opportunity much like he did vs. Delaware. He completed 70% of his passes for 195 yards and a touchdown with zero interceptions.

“He’s gonna give you everything he has,” Deion Sanders said of Ryan Staub. “I think he was giving signals last week. Going from giving signals and getting in the game, come on man, that don’t happen.

“This is a real life story that’s happening right before your eyes. Hats off to him because he’s the ultimate teammate.”

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