Julian Lewis commits to Deion Sanders, Colorado football: A look at Buffs' 2025 recruiting class

Deion Sanders has landed his quarterback of the future.

Five-star QB Julian Lewis committed to Colorado on Thursday morning after decommitting from USC on Nov. 17. The Carrollton (Georgia) High School football star had been committed to the Trojans since August 2023 but will instead be the heir apparent to Shedeur Sanders.

Lewis has elected to forgo his senior season after reclassifying and moving up a year. The 17-year-old completed 66.4% of his passes (186-of-280) for 3,094 yards and 48 touchdowns to just two interceptions last season as he earned MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year honors.

At the time of his commitment to Colorado, the future Buff has completed 77.8% of his passes (200-of-257) this season for 2,842 and 40 TDs to four INTs while playing in Georgia’s highest classification.

“A de facto point guard on the gridiron that can distribute the football like few others,” 247Sports’ director of scouting Andrew Ivins said of Julian Lewis on April 15. “Won’t blow many away with his build, but makes up for his subpar measurables with his ability to scan the field and manipulate defenses with his eyes. Compact release allows him to rip tight, accurate spirals to all different levels. Might not have a true cannon, but will drop balls over coverage well into the deeper third. Has proven to be a crafty mover both in and outside of the pocket and will extend plays like a true escape artist.

“Size might be a sticking point for some, but rare intangibles make him one of the top passers in the 2025 cycle as he constantly finds ways to move the chains. Tailor made for a modern spread attack that wants to push the pace and constantly challenge defenses.”

Julian Lewis is expected to lead Colorado into a new era with Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter headed to the NFL draft.

The questions of if Deion Sanders will leave Boulder after this season can be put to rest.

Colorado football’s 2025 recruiting class

Five-star QB Julian Lewis (Carrollton, Georgia)

Four-star WR Adrian Wilson (Pflugerville, Texas)

Four-star WR Quanell Farrakhan Jr. (Spring, Texas)

Four-star OL Chauncey Gooden (Nashville, Tennessee)

Four-star CB Alex Graham (Detroit, Michigan)

Four-star S Antonio Branch (Miami, Florida)

Four-star DL Christian Hudson (Daytona Beach, Florida)

Three-star LB Mantrez Walker (Buford, Georgia)

Three-star TE Zayne DeSouza (Loveland, Colorado)

Three-star Corbin Laisure (Bluff City, Tennessee)

Three-star OT Jay Gardenhire-Crooks (West Bloomfield, Michigan)

Who could be the next Colorado football commit after Julian Lewis?

Former USC commit Carde Smith decommitted from the Trojans just three days after Julian Lewis did. The four-star offensive lineman may very well be the next Colorado commit.

“I definitely feel like we have some big flips on the way,” 2025 Colorado LB commit Mantrez Walker told DNVR this week.

Now that Julian Lewis is officially in the fold, the Buffs may land a few high-profile IMG recruits.

Five-star offensive lineman Michael Carroll (Alabama commit), five-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (uncommitted) and three-star defensive lineman Alexander McPherson (Oklahoma State commit) each visited Colorado last week.

“Big Mike Carroll, Nate (Owusu-Boateng), Alexander McPherson, I feel like all those IMG boys are going to come,” Walker told DNVR. “Ju Ju (Lewis) and Carde (Smith), that’s really going to cap off the class. It might even be a couple more in the works.

“Everybody that we went out and pretty much recruited, I think they’re going to come through.”

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