With the announcement of Kaidon Salter as the starting QB for the Colorado Buffaloes, Julian Lewis’s freshman season just got more interesting. Instead of throwing touchdowns, Lewis is going to be (apparently) standing on the sideline. Given the uncertainty around Deion Sanders’ health, if Lewis doesn’t see significant early playing time, could he be on the move?
While most schools are set for 2025, Lewis might elect to play a few snaps, and as long as he decides before playing in more than four games, he could still use 2025 as his redshirt season. Anything’s possible, and here are five potential transfer spots for Lewis.
Top 5 potential transfer destinations if Julian Lewis leaves Colorado
USC
USC was actually Lewis’ chosen college before a late-in-the-process decommit in favor of Coach Prime and the Buffaloes. Jayden Maiava is the slated starter, and he’s a junior, so Lewis could redshirt this year and back up Maiava for a season and then take over at USC. A wild card in the whole situation is the lack of stability in Lincoln Riley’s coaching role with the Trojans. A new coach could be part of the USC situation in 2026.
Georgia
The Bulldogs will utilize junior Gunner Stockton this season, but the potential path for Lewis is there. Lewis hails from Carrollton, Georgia, and was significantly recruited by the Bulldogs. He’d be an upgrade over the in-house talent that Kirby Smart has assembled and would again likely have a season to work his way into the starting role in 2027. Being close to home would be a nice bonus for Lewis.
Auburn
Auburn is another school that went after Lewis seriously as a high school recruit. Hugh Freeze, if he can survive the 2025 season, could utilize an upgrade in QB talent. Things are a little crowded at Auburn, but Freeze is talking about playing all three of his QBs in Week 1 of 2025. Given the uncertainty in the coaching situation and the future QB situation, this is far from a sure thing, but it could work out as Lewis’s shot at 2026 stardom.
Indiana
Indiana could be a good landing spot for Lewis. After an 11-win season, the recruiting reality that the Hoosiers are a national player has been a bit slow to arrive for coach Curt Cignetti. Junior transfer Fernando Mendoza is slated as the starter this year for IU. But Lewis would be a top-flight addition to plug into an electric offense. If Kurtis Rourke could lead Indiana to the CFP, what could Lewis do as the new Hoosier QB?
Florida State
Florida State is another school that would be a move closer to home for Lewis. Off a brutal 2-10 season, the Seminoles are trying to scratch back to respectability. Boston College transfer Thomas Castellanos will run the offense this year, but he’s a senior. Lewis would immediately be the likely starter next season for the Seminoles, which could be a welcome thing after losing out on the CU job.
Besides, taking over Coach Prime’s own school would be something. To be prepared to run the offense for a coach as media savvy as Coach Prime, Lewis must know a thing or two about a good story. He, as the next FSU Seminole QB, would be one of those stories.
Read More:
5 Starting QBs That Might Not Meet Expectations in 2025
10 Transfer QBs to Watch For in New Programs in 2025
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