Julian Lewis’ emotional post about transferring to Colorado drew love from teammate Cash Cleveland, showing brotherhood runs deeper than football decisions.
Cash Cleveland Responds with Love After Julian Lewis’ 2-Word Hurt Post on His Transfer Portal Decision
When top quarterback recruit Lewis took to Instagram to share his feelings about his transfer to Colorado, he didn’t need many words to get his point across. Posting a photo of teammate Cleveland with just two words – “Hurt family” – and some heartbreak emojis, Lewis pulled back the curtain on something fans don’t always see: the real human connections that get stretched when players make these big career moves. Cleveland’s response showed that brotherhood sometimes remains even when paths diverge in college football.
Behind the ‘Hurt Family’ Message
Lewis isn’t just another recruit. The Carrollton, Georgia, standout has been turning heads since early high school, piling up more than 11,000 passing yards and 144 touchdowns over three seasons. Those numbers helped earn him multiple Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year awards and made him one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the country.
After initially committing to USC in August 2023, Lewis eventually changed course and joined Coach Prime’s revolution at Colorado in November 2024. It was a massive win for Deion Sanders’ program, but like most big decisions in life, it came with emotional weight.
When Lewis made his transfer portal decision official, he shared that now-viral Instagram Story featuring Cleveland. The caption was simple but powerful:
“Hurt family” with a sad and broken heart emoji, Lewis wrote on the Instagram Story featuring his teammate.
A Teammate’s Support When It Matters Most
You can learn much about people by how they respond when situations get tough. Cleveland showed his character with a brief but meaningful reply to Lewis’ emotional post. Instead of resentment or disappointment, Cleveland chose support and understanding.
“Love brudda,” Cleveland commented, followed by a peace sign emoji.
Those two words speak volumes about the culture being built at Colorado. Even as players come and go through the revolving door that college football has become with the transfer portal, genuine connections don’t just disappear overnight.
Lewis now faces the challenge of filling the enormous shoes left by Shedeur Sanders, who’s headed to the NFL after putting Colorado back on the college football map. It’s a pressure-filled position, but knowing he has the support of teammates like Cleveland might make that transition a bit easier.
This small exchange between two college athletes reminds us what’s easily forgotten in the era of NIL deals, transfer rankings, and constant program movement: at its core, college football is still about young men forming bonds that often last well beyond their playing days.
KEEP READING: Why Julian Lewis Committed to Colorado — and Why He’s Gunning for QB1 Against Kaidon Salter
While Lewis’s “Hurt family” post acknowledged the pain of transition, Cleveland’s response showed that family—even football families—can stretch across different paths.
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