Deion Sanders Denies Naming Ryan Staub QB1 for Colorado vs. Houston

Following a strong performance during Colorado's 31-7 win over Delaware last week, Buffaloes quarterback Ryan Staub is reportedly expected to be elevated to QB1 status.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is planning to start Staub when the Buffs go on the road to face the Houston Cougars on Friday night.

Sanders, however, pushed back against the notion he had decided on a starter.

"In today's media, we don't care about being correct anymore," he told reporters on Tuesday. "We just want to be first."

Sanders added that Staub has been taking most of the first-team reps at practice.

Kaidon Salter, Julian Lewis and Staub all received playing time against Delaware, and it was Staub who impressed the most, going 7-of-10 for 157 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Entering the 2025 season, every indication was that Salter and Lewis were battling for the right to succeed Shedeur Sanders as Colorado's starting quarterback.

Salter, who starred for four seasons at Liberty before transferring to Colorado, won the competition and started Colorado's opener against Georgia Tech.

The Buffaloes fell 27-20 to the Yellow Jackets, and Salter had an uneven performance, going 17-of-28 for 159 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, while also rushing for 43 yards and a score.

Given that the Blue Hens were an easier opponent, Coach Prime decided to give all three of his quarterbacks a look last weekend.

Salter started again and went 13-of-16 for 102 yards with no touchdowns or picks, to go along with 25 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

Lewis, who is a redshirt freshman, followed Salter and went 2-of-4 for eight yards with no touchdowns or picks.

When Staub took over late in the second quarter, Colorado was only up 10-7, but he immediately led a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, culminating in a 21-yard scoring strike to Dekalon Taylor.

Staub went on to lead two more touchdown drives in the second half before Salter re-entered the game. Colorado did not score on either of Salter's fourth-quarter drives.

A redshirt sophomore, Staub stayed at Colorado despite being a long shot to beat out Salter and Lewis for the starting job.

Following his showing against Delaware, Sanders praised Staub for sticking around and working hard, telling reporters:

"He's just been waiting for his opportunity. Never jumped in the portal, he had every right to think that way. But he's just been a great human being and a great young man, like a leader amongst that room. All he needed was the opportunity, and I thought it was time."

A 247Sports 3-star recruit from Stevenson Ranch, California, Staub's résumé pales in comparison to those of Salter and Lewis on the surface.

Salter was the 2023 Conference USA Most Valuable Player, while Lewis arrived at Colorado as a 4-star recruit and the No. 10 quarterback in his recruiting class.

Staub showed great poise against Delaware, though, and he also played well in a one-off start as a freshman in 2023, going 17-of-24 for 195 yards, one touchdown and no picks in a 23-17 road loss to Utah.