Julian Lewis, Colorado’s projected starting quarterback, just got named to The Athletic’s list of ten rising quarterbacks who could make a huge jump this year. This redshirt freshman is stepping into the 2026 college football season with a totally cleaner plan at quarterback, and honestly, the rest of the Big 12 better be taking notes on what’s coming.
From “Free Balling” to Full Potential
Look, Lewis has always had serious potential, but the game changer here is Brennan Marion now running the offense. Marion’s known for coaching up guys like current USC standout Jayden Maiava, so the odds of Lewis actually hitting that ceiling just rocketed. The Athletic dropped Lewis into their fifth tier, slotting him at No. 49 overall, and get this, he wasn’t even on their breakout list last year. Talk about a climb! The dude himself admitted at Big 12 media days that he was “high school free balling” on the field last season. Can you believe it? Now, the word is he’s *actually* reading defenses. That’s a massive step for any quarterback, especially one with his natural talent.
All the Pieces for a HUGE Season
It’s not just Lewis either. This Colorado offense should be light years better, not just in terms of production but schematically. You combine Lewis actually reading defenses in Marion’s Go-Go offense with an experienced offensive line and a bunch of wide receiver transfers they brought in? That’s a recipe for a breakout season. Lewis isn’t as mobile as some of Marion’s past QBs, but if he’s processing the game like they say, who cares? He’s got a competent backup in Utah transfer Isaac Wilson, who’ll keep the pressure on. Lewis isn’t alone on this list of rising stars either; he’s joined by other Big 12 signal callers like Texas Tech’s Will Hammond (No. 2), Arizona State’s (No. 3), and West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins (No. 9).
Colorado kicks off Week 1 against Georgia Tech, and guess who their starting quarterback Alberto Mendoza is? Yep, another guy on The Athletic’s breakout list! This is the perfect stage for Lewis to show what he’s made of. Everything is lined up for him to have at least a solid season, if not a complete, full-blown explosion. This kid is ready, and it’s going to be wild to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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