JuJu Lewis isn’t used to losing, or being sacked seven times in a game.
Lewis also isn’t used to sitting. So, on Saturday, there was a measure of satisfaction for the Colorado quarterback who got his first starting assignment.
“Realistically, I didn’t know if it was going to come anytime this season, so I kind of just look at that as a blessing,” Lewis said after the Buffaloes’ 29-22 loss at West Virginia. “Just an opportunity to take advantage of my opportunity. The loss hurts and sucks, but just like I said, just come out and get to the next week.”
Certainly a loss in his debut start isn’t what Lewis or the Buffs (3-7, 1-6 Big 12) wanted, but Saturday was a launching point for what appears to be a promising career for the former five-star recruit.
“I think he did a phenomenal job for his first start. I really do,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said.
Lewis was supposed to be a senior at Carrollton (Georgia) High School this fall, but chose to reclassify and graduate 1 1/2 years early. He enrolled at CU in January and didn’t turn 18 until Sept. 21.
Despite his talent, it made sense that Lewis came out of preseason camp in a backup role, behind fifth-year senior Kaidon Salter, a former star at Liberty.
In the first eight games of the season, Lewis played just once, on Sept. 6, against Delaware. He completed two of four passes for eight yards and CU punted on both of his possessions.
After that game, Lewis dropped to third on the depth chart, behind Salter and redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub. With Salter and Staub struggling, however, and the Buffs’ season spiraling, Sanders directed his eyes on the future.
“Common sense,” he said when asked why he played Lewis off the bench in a 52-17 loss to Arizona on Nov. 1. Lewis went 9-for-17 for 121 yards and a touchdown in that game, earning the start against West Virginia.
Now, barring injury, it’s unlikely Lewis will sit again this season. Although CU lost to the Mountaineers on Saturday, Lewis went 22-of-35 for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He was over 300 yards before his final pass went for a 3-yard loss.
Lewis also showed some resilience – and youth – in taking seven sacks.
“Yeah (there was resilience), and he’s got to get the ball out,” Sanders said. “He’s going to learn that. He’s got to get the ball out a few times that you see them coming; we’ve got the checks, just get it out. But he’s young.”
And eager. CU has a bye this week before hosting Arizona State on Nov. 22 and visiting Kansas State on Nov. 29 in the season finale. If Lewis plays in both games, he’ll burn a redshirt season, but he’s not concerned about that, he said. He wants to play and he’s looking forward to building off Saturday’s performance.
“It’s a blessing having this off week to sit around (and learn),” he said. “I’m not going home or anything like that. I’m going to sit in the facility, watch film, try to grow, get better. Try to keep all the receivers back out there so we can keep building that connection and get ready for next year.”
Lewis said he knows he has to get better in the pocket, but that’ll come with experience.
“The offensive line held up for a long time,” he said. “I’ve just got to sit back there and make the throws and sometimes I escaped too early. I mean, just getting frantic and stuff like that. So just try to regather and come back next week and sit in that pocket.”
For Lewis, this has been a new experience. He started on varsity in all three of his high school seasons, throwing for over 11,000 yards and 144 touchdowns. Yet, coming off his first start and looking toward his future, he said this season has been “a blessing.”
“Coach Prime is a great mentor, (offensive coordinator Pat) Shurmur is a great mentor,” he said. “There’s a lot of very knowledgeable guys around with great football knowledge. So, just trying to soak up as much as I could on the sideline, even from K-Salt from his experience and Staub from his experience. Just trying to soak it all in. Just a blessed opportunity.”
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