Deion Sanders won't be happy with Julian Lewis over 'free-balling' comments

The Colorado Buffaloes contribution to the Big 12 Media Days was as expected, until it wasn’t. Coach Prime brought his one-liner material, which was nothing significant or noteworthy until the individual breakouts. There has always been a balance between what players and coaches will reveal about the game.

Deion Sanders is an artist when it comes to the information being provided. Many times over his tenure with the Buffaloes, he has almost said something before pausing and shutting it down. You might believe there's a divine intervention preventing him from saying the thing he shouldn’t say.

However, that has been lost on some of his team. Buffaloes QB Julian Lewis might want a second take for a question he was asked on Tuesday. Actually, he just might have been operating under the Mark Twain concept of "If all else fails, tell the truth. It’s easier to remember."

Lewis was asked on the ESPNU broadcast about the differences between the end of last year and now. He forgot to channel his inner Prime.

“I’m actually looking at the defenses now,” Lewis said. “Last year, we really wasn’t looking at defenses much. Kinda just like high school free-balling. Just out there playing football. But it’s a lot bigger than that now.”

Lewis’ comments stretch far beyond the realm of being concerning. It speaks to a much larger narrative. A quarterback’s ability to read and diagnose a defense is not only an expected part of the job description, but also a requirement for the NFL. It's also something Sanders claims to prepare his players for at Colorado.

Anyone who intently followed the Buffaloes last year remembers just how bad it was.

Three wins against Delaware, Mountain West and front range foe Wyoming, and a surprising victory over No. 22 ranked Iowa State. The trio couldn't outweigh a 16-point loss to Houston,14-point loss to TCU, and a 46-point loss to Utah. Not to mention, the inability to beat Arizona, West Virginia, Arizona State and Kansas State during down years for the respective programs.

Sanders has a new-look coaching staff with few who survived from last year. One step in the right direction, if those hires pan out. While Lewis’ comments are questionable, most of the offensive players and coaches from the 3-9 dismal season have been replaced.

Coach Prime needs to be successful in 2026. Plain and simple. What we saw in the first two seasons was a rush. However, the honeymoon is over in Boulder. Colorado football was must-see TV. Will that come back with success? The jury is still out.

Without Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, the Buffaloes lack identity. With or without the very real and challenging health concerns of their head coach, who beat bladder cancer last year at this time, the talent on the field has to be there with a coaching staff to support them.

After Utah and Arizona combined for 105 points in consecutive games, there was a noticeable difference in Coach Prime’s demeanor. He wasn’t beaten, but he looked exhausted from the lack of fight in his players. A couple of months later, the next big exodus from Boulder happened.

Every single transfer addition to the Buffaloes roster follows a similar archetype. Starting reps and production, lower national ranking, a hunger for an opportunity and comparatively low NIL payouts. According to On3, DeAndre Moore Jr, Boo Carter and Santana Hopper do not exceed $2.2M combined in NIL.

Only time will tell if Sanders’ 180-degree turn will pan out. Will he be able to copy Indiana's Curt Cignetti, who won a national championship without 5-star talents? If not, fans will point to Lewis admitting he wasn’t reading defenses and the program will be viewed as less than a serious program.

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