Colorado football 2023 state of the position: Quarterback
We are quickly approaching a new era of Colorado Buffaloes football. After the hiring of head Deion Sanders, there has been an excitement level around Boulder that hasn’t been seen in over 20 years. We now stand less than two months from the Sept. 2 kickoff against TCU.
Prior to last season, I previewed each position group and with all of the recent changes to the roster, it should be valuable to learn about the new players who will be taking the field for the Buffs this fall.
What better way to start than with the most crucial position in all football? Let’s take a look at the quarterbacks of the 2023 CU Buffs:
No. 1 on our projected depth chart: Shedeur Sanders
2022 statistics at Jackson State:
3,732 passing yards
40 passing touchdowns
6 interceptions
No. 2: Ryan Staub
2022 statistics at West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch, California:
3,008 passing yards
37 touchdowns
5 interceptions
No. 3: Gavin Kuld
2022 statistics at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M:
72 passing yards
4 interceptions
No. 4: Kasen Weisman
2022 statistics at South Paulding High School in Douglasville, Georgia:
1,756 passing yards
15 touchdowns
9 interceptions
Breakdown
Although this fact is a bit deceiving, none of Colorado’s current QBs have taken snaps at the FBS level. Sanders and Kuld come from the FCS and junior college ranks, respectively, while both Staub and Weisman are true freshmen.
Sanders dominated his first two college seasons at Jackson State. He was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and looked every bit of that and more in leading JSU to a 23-3 record during his time with the Tigers. In his first spring game at Folsom, Sanders completed 16-of-19 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns.
Staub looked good in his spring game action as an early enrolee and will have the inside track on the primary backup spot with Kuld and Weisman joining the competition this fall.
Also of note, Colton Allen is the lone current walk-on in Colorado’s QB room.
Star Player: Shedeur Sanders
Sanders has it all when it comes to the QB position. Known primarily for his accuracy, he showed off his arm talent and ability to extend plays with his legs by hitting a long touchdown pass during the spring game. He has also gotten rave reviews for his understanding of the game and ability to absorb the offense that Sean Lewis is looking to employ. If he continues to impress, Sanders could become a high NFL draft pick someday.
Position Pipeline
Staub is a holdover of sorts from Karl Dorrell’s 2022 recruiting class and has shown why Colorado coaches were wise to keep him on board. Staub looked composed for a true freshman during the spring game, showing good arm talent and poise under the pressure of CU’s first-team pass rush.
According to his 247Sports scouting report, Weisman brings a gunslinger mentality to the Buffaloes. While he’s not a runner in the mold of Kordell Stewart or Marcus Mariota, Weisman is at his best when he’s improvising on the run and throwing from different arm angles. Coaches will still likely have to work with him on his decision-making, though.
Further reading
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