Sanders Benches Top Recruit Lewis for NFL Quarterback's Brother

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders benched starting quarterback Julian Lewis at halftime of Saturday's game against Baylor, opting for Isaac Wilson, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson, in an attempt to spark the offense. The Buffaloes went on to lose the game 23-13, marking their second consecutive defeat.

Lewis, a highly touted recruit who decommitted from USC to join Sanders' program, had struggled in the first half, with Colorado managing only three points. After Wilson entered the game, the offense showed improvement, but it was not enough to secure a victory.

"I'll take the responsibility. It was a decision that I made because I was trying to get us going," Sanders said after the game when asked about benching Lewis. "That's it, just based on let's go, we gotta get going. We gotta score some points."

Sanders acknowledged Wilson was initially shaky but eventually settled down and moved the offense. "Did his job. That's all we wanted," he added.

This decision comes after a difficult previous week, where Colorado lost to Northwestern 41-7. Lewis threw two interceptions in that game, but Sanders had defended him at the time, urging against placing excessive pressure on the young quarterback.

Lewis's commitment to Colorado was considered a significant achievement for the program, being one of Sanders' highest-rated recruits. Sanders had previously praised Lewis's intangibles and potential.

With the loss, Colorado's record falls to 2-2 on the season. Sanders expressed frustration that the team's performance on the field did not align with his perception of their capabilities. "It seems as though we're better than our opponents, but the score is just not dictating that," Sanders stated. "And that's the fascinating thing. We've got to find out why."