Deion Sanders chooses third-stringer who backed up son Shedeur over five-star recruit as starter: report

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Deion Sanders found himself in a quarterback conundrum on Saturday, but he said he "(knew) exactly how I’m going to handle it."

The answer appeared to be revealed on Tuesday.

The University of Colorado scored big when five-star quarterback Julian Lewis committed to the Buffaloes last November after decommitting from USC.

Sanders gave Lewis his first taste of college action this past weekend against the University of Delaware in a de facto quarterback battle where Week 1 starter Kaidon Salter, Lewis himself, and Ryan Staub, who entered the season as the third-stringer, all rotated drives.

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Colorado quarterback Ryan Staub throws against North Dakota State on Aug. 29, 2024, at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. (Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

All three quarterbacks saw the field in what essentially was a tryout. Salter, who started again, got the first two drives. Lewis entered, and his two drives ended in punts.

Then Staub came in, and his first two full drives ended in touchdowns.

In total, Salter went 13-for-16 for 102 yards, and Staub went 7-for-10 for 156 yards and two touchdowns. They took the remaining drives after Lewis' pair.

Staub is now reportedly parlaying that performance into a start this Friday against Houston in Colorado’s Big 12 opener.

Staub was Shedeur Sanders' backup in each of the previous two seasons — he even honored the new Cleveland Browns quarterback by hitting his signature pose after a score on Saturday.

Colorado quarterback Ryan Staub takes the snap during the Oklahoma State game on Nov. 29, 2024, at Folsom Field in Boulder. (Kevin