Everything Colorado star freshman Julian Lewis said in his interview with USA TODAY Sports
Everything Colorado star freshman Julian Lewis said in his interview with USA TODAY Sports
Julian Lewis has been doing everything the right way since he committed to CU last November.
He hasn't complained about Deion Sanders and the Buffs bringing in veteran quarterback Kaidon Salter from the transfer portal or about practice reps during spring practice. The 18-year-old signal caller has put his head down and gotten to work.
Lewis has every chance to be the Buffaloes' starting quarterback when the season opens on Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech, but until then, he has been in Boulder getting his work in every day.
Recently, the Colorado star freshman conducted an email interview with USA TODAY Sports, discussing his adjustment to living in Boulder and college, while also delving into his NIL endeavors.
Here is everything Julian Lewis said in his latest interview, courtesy of USA TODAY Sports and Brent Schrotenboer, broken down by topic:
On the Colorado quarterback battle
"Coach Prime runs this like an NFL team," Lewis said. "Plus, every program in college football is always going to try and get better and have depth at every position. You can't even prepare for the season without enough QBs on the roster."
"CU is about development and competition," Lewis said. "The only thing I was looking for as a recruit was to be coached by great coaches and have an opportunity to compete as a freshman. I've been competing for QB jobs since I was 7. I joined a team at 10 that already had a QB. I competed every day against the guy who was there, and we ended up winning the Battle Youth National Championship that season, and I threw 70 touchdown passes."
On a possible quarterback rotation
"Coach Prime and Coach (Pat) Shurmur are going to put me in the best position to develop and our team in the best position to win. I have total faith in that. And I've got a lot of work to do in a little bit of time, so I'm ready when my coaches say I'm ready."
On adjusting to the physicality of college football
"I've gained 15lbs since January," Lewis wrote to USA TODAY Sports. "I'll probably put on whatever I can add before we get into pads, and that will be what it is for this season."
On NIL as a high-profile recruit
"I'm blessed to be a part of this era in college and high school sports," Lewis replied. "There are thousands of great athletes who came before us who didn't have the opportunities today. NIL has nothing to do with my college career; football and NIL are two very separate things. Football is my priority. I have a responsibility to myself, my teammates, and my university to become the best player that I can be. NIL is going well, I'm thankful for the opportunities that I have. My dad and my team have done a really good job creating opportunities for me."
On balancing football with NIL
"No it wasn't," Lewis said when asked whether NIL was part of his decision to attend Colorado. "It really came down to where I wanted to live and the opportunity to follow Shedeur who everyone knew was leaving for the NFL."
"That's [NIL] the last thing I'm worried about," Lewis said on if money would make a difference if he stayed at Colorado. "I'm a Buff."
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