Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has pulled a reverse and decided to redshirt freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis, who will not play Saturday Nov. 29 in the season finale at Kansas State.
Sanders made the announcement at his weekly news conference Tuesday while admitting that he’s “not going to say (Lewis) was happy” with the decision.
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“I’ve made a decision that JuJu is gonna redshirt,” Sanders said. “That’s my decision. I want what’s best for the kid, what’s best for his family, what’s best for this wonderful university.”
Lewis said after his first career start at West Virginia Nov. 8 that he didn’t want to redshirt and instead wanted to play it out this season after sitting so long on the bench. Sanders also said his redshirt plan was to go with the player’s wishes, telling reporters Nov. 1 that he’s “not gonna mandate” that decision. TNT reported during its broadcast Nov. 8 that Colorado said it planned to not redshirt him.
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis (10) runs out of the pocket during the third quarter against West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium.
What does this decision by Deion Sanders mean?
According to NCAA rule, players can play in up to four games in a season and not lose that season of eligibility, making it a so-called redshirt year. Lewis has played in four games so far, including two starting assignments the past two weeks. By playing at Kansas State, he would return next year as a sophomore with three years of college eligibility left instead of as a redshirt freshman with four seasons left. Players have five years to play in four seasons under current rules.
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The whole redshirt issue still might be moot anyway, because litigation is underway seeking to allow players to have five years to play in five seasons. A court hearing in Nashville, Tennessee, in Dec. 15 could lead to an injunction against the NCAA’s four-year eligibility limit, but only involves five players for now.
Sanders still said this decision is “best for the program” and is betting Lewis will be around long enough to take advantage of four more full seasons.
Colorado is 3-8 this year and is “trying to play spoiler this week” against Kansas State, Sanders said. The Wildcats are 5-6 and trying to become eligible for a bowl with a win against Colorado Saturday.
Veteran quarterback Kaidon Salter will start in Lewis’ place after previously being demoted.
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“It’s best for everyone, but mainly it’s great for him” Sanders said. “So I’m not going to say he was happy because he’s a competitor. He wants to compete. He wants to play.”
Lewis, a top recruit out of Carrollton, Georgia., finishes the season having completed 52 of 94 passes for 589 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions. Colorado lost his two starts at West Virginia and last week against Arizona State, but he’s shown flashes of moxie and poise at age 18. Colorado has started three different quarterbacks this season, including Lewis, Salter and Ryan Staub.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deion Sanders flips on Julian Lewis redshirt: Says it’s ‘my decision’
