Ryan Staub may be in line for his second career start with the Colorado Buffaloes, but head coach Deion Sanders wasn’t interested in validating a report about his quarterback situation.
On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Staub is expected to start at quarterback when CU plays at Houston for its Big 12 Conference opener Friday night (5:30 p.m., ESPN) at TDECU Stadium.
“I’m not confirming nothing to y’all. Y’all know that,” Sanders said about the report at his weekly press conference Tuesday. “We ain’t like that. We good. We have capable guys.”
Fifth-year senior Kaidon Salter, a transfer from Liberty, has started the first two games, but Staub came off the bench and sparked the Buffs (1-1) in a 31-7 win against Delaware on Saturday.
A redshirt sophomore, Staub was seen on a video by Well Off Media working with the first-team offense in Monday’s practice. In the same video, Salter was seen working with a backup offensive line.
“Staub has been doing a phenomenal job and getting the majority of the reps (in practice),” Sanders said, “but I haven’t made that assessment and decision yet.”
Against Delaware, Sanders employed a three-quarterback rotation, with his plan going into the game to give two series each to Salter, freshman JuJu Lewis and Staub.
Salter staked the Buffs to a 10-0 lead during his first two series, came back in during the fourth quarter and finished the game 13-of-16 for 102 yards and a rushing touchdown. Lewis, a 17-year-old freshman who was a five-star recruit, struggled in going 2-for-4 for eight yards, as CU punted twice.
The third quarterback into the game, Staub completed 7 of 10 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns during his two series, so Sanders kept him in for two more. When Staub came into the game, CU led 10-7. By the time he left, the Buffs were up 31-7.
Sanders said this week he would prefer to play just one quarterback against the Cougars.
“That’s the goal,” he said. “I don’t want to play musical chairs with quarterbacks. Why would I want to come to the game and do that?”
Salter started and played the entire game during CU’s 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech on Aug. 29. He completed 17 of 28 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown. He ultimately gave the Buffs a shot to win but showed nerves and missed some plays.
Salter’s mixed results in Week 1, plus CU going in as 23.5-point favorites against Delaware, led to the coaching staff wanting to give Lewis and Staub a shot.
Although Salter had a successful start to Saturday’s game against Delaware, Staub was sharp in directing the offense to three touchdowns in four possessions.
“Staub did what we expected him to do,” Sanders said. “You all are surprised. We weren’t. We’re thankful and appreciative and just happy for him and elated for him that he seized the darn moment. We talk about the moment all the time in our meetings. We talk about taking advantage of opportunities, not only on the football field, but in life and he did that. He did that. I’m proud of him.”
Sanders acknowledged that Staub also brought some energy to the team — as well as the fans — with his performance, but said Tuesday, “Oftentimes what the team thinks may not be correct. Oftentimes what the fans think, or the media (is incorrect). It’s got to be what we as coaches have come to conclusion of what best fits us for where we’re headed.”
Where the Buffs are headed Friday is the start of Big 12 Conference play. While he didn’t officially name a starter at quarterback, Sanders expressed confidence as the Buffs head to Houston.
“I’m proud of where we are offensively, but we’re improving, to me, every week,” he said. “We’re getting better and better.
“I like where we are, man. I like what we have. I like what we’re playing with. I like these dice I’m shaking. I do. I really do.”
The primary backup to Shedeur Sanders – now in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns – the past two years, Staub has made just one career start. On Nov. 25, 2023, at Utah, he filled in for an injured Shedeur and completed 17 of 24 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown in a 23-17 loss to the Utes.
Last year, Staub appeared in just three games, going 0-for-4 on his passes. In his career, Staub is 30-for-54 for 411 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
