Like the rest of Buff Nation, head coach Deion Sanders is praying that quarterback Shedeur Sanders stays healthy this season.
“We don’t want to miss a beat when, if by God – and God, please don’t let it happen, but if something happens with Shedeur …,” Coach Prime said at CU’s media day on Friday.
As Shedeur’s father, of course Coach Prime wants his son to stay healthy. But, as a coach, he knows Shedeur gives the Buffs the best chance to succeed on offense.
One of the most talented quarterbacks in the Pac-12, Shedeur is the unquestioned leader of the CU offense and, according to his father, he’s never missed a game due to injury. But, what if something happens to him? The Buffs have four quarterbacks behind Shedeur, but nobody that’s solidified the No. 2 spot.
“I don’t know if they’ve emerged,” Coach Prime said. “They’re doing well, but we’re still unsatisfied. It’s tough to satisfy us, our whole staff. We’ve got to find that guy that we can trust. He’s in house; we’ve just got to develop him.”
True freshmen Ryan Staub and Kasen Weisman are the only scholarship quarterbacks behind Shedeur. The Buffs also have walk-ons Gavin Kuld and Colton Allen.
Staub had a solid spring, while Kuld has shown some flashes in the early days of camp after joining the team this summer.
Receiver Javon Antonio said the backups don’t have Shedeur’s knowledge, but they’re getting there.
“He’s teaching them that role if he does go down,” Antonio said. “They’re up next, so they know the process of what’s going on and stuff like that because we know if he goes down, we have somebody else that can step up. They’re taking mental reps behind him and seeing what’s going on. … He’s teaching them the game, as well as (offensive coordinator Sean Lewis).”
Centers battling
Sophomore Van Wells and senior Landon Bebee are competing for the starting spot at center and they’re getting in sync with Shedeur Sanders.
“I like those guys a lot,” Sanders said. “It’s real fun just playing with them, having them just be able to see the same thing I see each and every play. So it’s just real fun playing with those guys because they understand football and they got knowledge of it.”
Wells started six games for the Buffs at center last year as a true freshman (in addition to two at guard). Bebee was an all-conference lineman at Missouri State and transferred to CU this summer for his final year of eligibility.
Notable
Coach Prime said that both of his coordinators – Lewis and defensive coordinator Charles Kelly – will be on the sidelines during games instead of upstairs in the coaches’ box. “I like them to feel the guys, I like them to touch the guys,” he said. … After an off day on Sunday, the Buffs return to the field Monday.