Five-star quarterback Julian Lewis, the No. 2 recruit in the 2025 ESPN 300, committed to Colorado on Thursday, making Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes a potentially transformational prospect in the 2025 recruiting class.

Lewis announced his commitment Thursday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” sealing his commitment to Colorado just four days after ESPN’s No. 2 quarterback prospect was decommitted from USC on Nov. 17. Lewis will sign with Colorado when the early signing period opens on December 4. and plans to enroll early in the program in January, sources told ESPN.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to get started and compete,” Lewis told ESPN. “Colorado didn’t recruit me until I reclassified, so it was really perfect timing. This is just the beginning. I trust Coach Prime and (offensive coordinator Pat) Shurmur to help me become the player I want to be. “

The signing of the coveted quarterback from Carrollton, Georgia, marks a monumental recruiting victory for Colorado and gives the Buffaloes a promising quarterback in the final weeks of Sanders’ second season leading the program.

Colorado emerged Sunday as the immediate frontrunner for Lewis’ pledge after the 6-foot-1 passer rescinded his long-standing commitment to USC and became the nation’s top prospect in the final weeks of the 2025 cycle. Lewis had been closely associated with the Buffaloes since his official visit to the program in June, and the mutual interest continued throughout the fall, through Lewis’ return trip to Colorado for the 34-23 win over Cincinnati on Oct. 26.

Georgia, where Lewis made an unofficial visit on November 16, was another contender. Indiana also remained involved in Lewis’ recruitment after his official visit to the Hoosiers in May.

With Colorado quarterback Shadeur Sanders – Deion’s son – heading to the NFL after this season, Lewis will land on campus in 2025 with a clear path to early playing time with the Buffaloes. And combined with Colorado’s on-field success this fall, Lewis’ promise could be just the first domino in a late-cycle recruiting boom as the program continues to target a handful of elite prospects in the final days before the early signing period prospects, including top players. -100 recruits London Merritt (Ohio State commitment), Michael Carroll (Alabama) and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (uncommitted). As things stand now, Lewis is the highest-ranked member of a 2025 Buffaloes class that includes 10 other 2025 commits, all from outside the ESPN 300.

Lewis was the top prospect in the Class of 2026 when he initially committed to USC on August 22, 2023. Later this year, he was reclassified to the 2025 cycle and remained the cornerstone of the Trojans’ ninth recruiting class until his release. . Shortly after Lewis rescinded his commitment, USC secured a commitment from four-star quarterback Husan Longstreet, a former Texas A&M pledge and ESPN’s No. 4 pocket passer in the class of 2025.

After a 4-8 finish last season, Sanders has Colorado tied at the top of the Big 12 standings at 8-2 with two games remaining in the regular season. And in Lewis, Sanders has his latest recruiting boon.

Lewis represents Sanders’ top prospect since converting Travis Hunter from Florida State to Jackson State as the No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2022. Lewis now trails offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and cornerback Cormani McClain as the highest-rated of the three five-star prospects who have committed to Colorado since Sanders took over the program in late 2022. When he signs next month, Lewis will mark the Buffaloes’ highest-ranked signing since Colorado landed running back Darrell Scott as the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2008 class.

The Buffaloes climbed to No. 16 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings. Colorado visits Kansas on Saturday and can clinch a berth in the Dec. 7 Big 12 Championship Game with a fifth straight win and losses to Iowa State and Arizona State.