Deion Sanders Makes the Call: Kaidon Salter Gets the Nod As Colorado’s Starting QB
The waiting game is finally over in Boulder, and Coach Prime has made his decision. After what felt like an interminable quarterback battle, Deion Sanders announced Tuesday that Kaidon Salter will be under center when the Buffaloes kick off their season against Georgia Tech on Friday. Will he be able to live up to it?
Why Salter Was the Smart Choice
Salter brings something to the table that you just can’t teach: experience. While five-star freshman Julian Lewis has all the potential in the world, there’s nothing like having a guy who’s actually been there, done that.
“The kid has a ton of experience, dual threat, can throw the heck out of the ball as well,” Sanders said. Salter didn’t just show up to Liberty and collect a paycheck. This dude was slinging it for three years, racking up nearly 6,000 passing yards with 56 touchdowns.
Salter isn’t just your typical pocket passer. The guy can move. We are talking about someone who rushed for over 2,000 yards during his Liberty stint. In an era where defensive coordinators are losing sleep over mobile quarterbacks, having a dual-threat like him under center is like bringing a Swiss Army knife to a butter knife fight.
The Weight Of Replacing a Legend
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Salter isn’t just stepping into any quarterback role – he’s replacing Shedeur Sanders, the coach’s son who basically carried this Colorado offense on his back for two seasons. Shedeur threw for over 7,300 yards and 64 touchdowns in his two seasons in Boulder. The guy was responsible for more than 80% of Colorado’s total offense last season. That is the kind of production that keeps offensive coordinators employed and fans happy.
Salter doesn’t need to be Shedeur Sanders. He just needs to be himself, and that might actually be exactly what this team needs.
A Different Kind Of Weapon
While Shedeur was the master of extending plays and finding receivers downfield, Salter brings a different dimension entirely. His ability to take off and run opens up the playbook in ways that Colorado hasn’t had in recent years.
During his breakout 2023 campaign at Liberty, he rushed for 1,089 yards at 6.7 yards per carry. That is not just good – that’s “defensive coordinators waking up in cold sweats” good. When you can threaten to break off a 20-yard run at any moment, it changes everything about how defenses have to approach you.
Pat Shurmur, Colorado’s offensive coordinator, is going to have some serious fun designing plays for a quarterback who can beat you with his arm or his legs. It is like having a sports car that can also tow a boat – you’ve got options.
The Julian Lewis Factor
Of course, we can’t forget about the five-star elephant in the room. Julian Lewis, the highest-rated quarterback recruit in team history, is sitting there ready to make his mark. Sanders made it clear he is hoping Lewis gets some game action, too, which tells you everything you need to know about the program’s confidence in their depth.
Lewis can learn from watching Salter handle the pressure of replacing a legend while developing his skills. Sometimes, the best thing for a young quarterback is not to be thrown into the fire immediately. Just ask Aaron Rodgers how sitting behind Brett Favre worked out for him.
The Road Ahead
Salter’s path to this moment hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. After getting dismissed from Tennessee during his first offseason, he resurrected his career at Liberty under Hugh Freeze and Jamey Chadwell. That kind of adversity builds character, and character wins games.
The 2023 Conference USA MVP award didn’t just fall into his lap. Salter earned it by leading Liberty to an undefeated regular season and a Fiesta Bowl appearance. When the lights were brightest, he delivered 52 total touchdowns. That’s the kind of clutch performance that translates to any level.
Bottom Line: Trust the Process
Look, nobody’s expecting Salter to immediately replicate what Shedeur Sanders did in Boulder. That would be unrealistic and unfair. But what Colorado is getting is a proven winner who knows how to handle pressure and can make plays with both his arm and his legs.
Sanders has shown he knows how to evaluate quarterback talent. His son’s success is proof enough of that. When Coach Prime says Salter is “the guy,” you better believe he’s done his homework. The Buffaloes open with a tough test against Georgia Tech, but they’ve got a quarterback who’s been in big games before. Salter has already proven he can rise to the occasion when it matters most. Now he gets to do it in the black and gold.
