Kaidon Salter Says Being Benched by Deion Sanders, Colorado 'Kind of Messed My Head'

Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter admitted being benched earlier in the season by head coach Deion Sanders had an impact on his football psyche.

Speaking to reporters after Saturday's 24-21 loss to BYU (starts at 20:00 mark), Salter explained that the benching two weeks earlier "kind of messed up my head" as he tried to become "that leader" Sanders was looking for with a young team this season.

Salter was named Colorado's starter entering this season, taking over after Shedeur Sanders was drafted into the NFL. The 22-year-old spent the previous four seasons at Liberty before entering the transfer portal in December.

The early returns for Salter were mixed, at best. He went 30-of-44 for 261 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions through the air, plus 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground in two games.

Sanders made a change to Ryan Staub as his starting quarterback for Colorado's game against Houston on Sept. 12. He struggled in that outing, completing 19 of 35 attempts with one touchdown and two interceptions in a 36-20 loss.

Coach Prime went back to Salter as the No. 1 quarterback the following week against Wyoming. He had his best performance of the season with 304 passing yards and three touchdowns in the Buffaloes' 37-20 victory.

Saturday started out looking like it would be a celebratory moment for Salter and Colorado. He led the team out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before BYU scored 17 unanswered points.

Colorado did go back on top 21-17 after Salter hit Drelon Miller for a 19-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, but BYU came right back with the go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing possession.

Salter and the offense faltered down the stretch in their attempt to either take the lead or at least tie the game. Their final three possessions ended in two punts and an interception.

The encouraging sign is that Salter has been more efficient since returning to the lineup—he completed 11 of 16 attempts on Saturday—but the offense still lacks the consistent explosiveness it had in the previous two years with Sanders and Travis Hunter.

Sanders will go back to the drawing board to get Colorado back on track after a 2-3 start this season. Next up is a matchup with TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Oct. 4.