Colorado football pulls contradictory antics in attempt to flip USC commit Julian Lewis

The city of Boulder pulled out every gimmick to welcome Julian Lewis for his official visit to Colorado. On Saturday, a video emerged of Colorado football fans on campus holding up signs and chanting, “We want JuJu.” The crowd was relatively small, which is surprising, considering all the fans who turned up for the Buffs’ 3-0 start last season.

The marquee above a cinema featured a plea to the five-star quarterback. A Boulder restaurant produced a “JuJu burger” on its menu. Lewis met Miss Peggy, Colorado’s oldest and most loyal fan. Finally, social media clips showed Lewis on Folsom Field in a Buffs’ uniform with hip-hop music playing in the background.

I wonder why Colorado dressed the top 2025 quarterback prospect in an outdated (Nike Flywire) uniform template. I also wonder how many of Shedeur Sanders’ rap tracks Lewis and his fellow recruits were forced to listen to.

Coach Prime just contradicted himself.

The gimmicks Colorado pulled out to persuade Julian Lewis are common in college football. USC football pulls its fair share of communal appeal and recruits photo shoots that rival Hollywood promotion materials. But not long ago, Deion Sanders made a statement that contradicts the antics his program put on this weekend.

"I think when a guy is in his 20s and he has one or two more shots, he don’t give a darn about the picture...
He don’t give a darn about the parade that you want to take him on."

- Deion Sanders, Colorado head coach

Sanders’ comments were in response to questions regarding his reluctance to make recruiting visits. Indeed, the Colorado staff has not visited high schools or recruits’ homes since Coach Prime took over as head coach.

Coach Prime’s recruiting strategy is unusual and somewhat egotistical. I agree with his suggestion that high school players are most interested in college programs that increase their NFL prospectus. However, Sanders’ “they’ll come to me” approach to college football recruiting is a product of his well-advertised ego.

Julian Lewis remains committed to USC football.

The five-star quarterback entered Boulder as a USC commitment and will leave with his status quo. Lewis has repeatedly stated his belief in Lincoln Riley’s program and what he’s building in Southern California. The Trojans head coaches’ pedigree with college football quarterbacks also favors USC in the hunt to sign Lewis.

Attending college in Los Angeles is the best move for Lewis if he is seeking preparation for NFL stardom. Riley has produced a trio of Heisman Trophy winners-turned-first-overall draft picks at quarterback. Moreover, after one season, the USC head coach evolved Jalen Hurts into a Heisman finalist and the 53rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Meanwhile, no Colorado football player has been drafted in three years, including Coach Prime’s 2023 roster.

Retaining Lewis’s commitment will not come easy to Riley and the Trojans. There’s nearly six months from now until National Signing Day, which is plenty of time for rival schools to make their pleas. Either way, I am confident Julian Lewis will not sign with the Colorado Buffaloes.