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With Shedeur Sanders set to potentially be one of the first picks in the 2025 NFL draft, head coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes have their next quarterback of the future.

Signal-caller Julian Lewis committed to Colorado during Thursdays episode of The Pat McAfee Show.

According to 247Sports composite rankings, Lewis is a 4-star prospect and the No. 35 overall recruit and No. 6 quarterback in the 2025 class. He was initially committed to USC as part of the 2026 class but eventually reclassified into the 2025 cycle and decommitted from the Trojans.

Collin Ginnan of On3 noted Lewis visited Colorado, Indiana and Auburn multiple times and also visited Georgia this past weekend prior to coming to a decision.

While the late push from the Bulldogs was notable, Sanders was able to land a major win on the recruiting trail.

Colorados gain is USCs loss, and ESPNs Pete Thamel and Eli Lederman reported his decommitment on Sunday continued a recent pattern for the Trojans. Lincoln Rileys 2025 class has also lost commitments from high-profile recruits in Justus Terry, Isaiah Gibson, Hayden Lowe and cornerback Shamar Arnoux.

Lewis is the latest future difference-maker to leave, and Thamel and Lederman noted he plans on enrolling early in college to begin his career at the next level.

That career will be with the Buffaloes, and he will step into the spotlight at a program that is trending in the right direction. After going 4-8 in Sanders first season as head coach, Colorado is in the middle of the Big 12 and College Football Playoff races at 8-2. It controls its own destiny into the conference title game with two remaining matchups against Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Lewis is an ideal quarterback to keep building on that momentum, as Andrew Ivins of 247Sports called him a de facto point guard on the gridiron that can distribute the football like few others.

Ivins highlighted his soft touch on deep throws that helps him make up for the lack of a true cannon of an arm. His mobility also helps him pick up yards with his legs and extend plays both inside and outside of the pocket.

That skill set should help him compete for the lead quarterback role at Colorado as early as his freshman season.