Deion Sanders has settled on the quarterback who will replace his son Shedeur at Colorado.
Fifth-year senior and Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter will start for the Buffaloes in their season opener against Georgia Tech, Sanders told reporters Tuesday.
“The kid has a ton of experience,” Sanders said of Salter, according to The Athletic. “Dual threat. Throws the heck out of the ball as well. He’s the guy.
“... (Salter) has done it before. This is not his first time running down the tunnel and getting the start … His experience is vital ... I like what he’s been doing in camp. I like what he did in the spring, and he’s growing and growing and growing. (Quarterbacks coach) Byron Leftwich has done a wonderful job with him.”
Salter beat out highly-touted freshman Julian Lewis for the starting job, though Sanders did say he hopes to somehow get Lewis on the field as well.
“At this point, we’re praying and we’re hoping that you see some Juju (Lewis) periodically through the game as well,” Sanders said. “We would like to get him some reps as well, but the game predicates that.”
Salter spent the past four seasons at Liberty, passing for 5,887 career yards and 56 touchdowns while adding another 2,013 yards and 21 scores on the ground.
His best season came in 2023, where he led the Flames to a 13-1 finish, Conference-USA championship and New Year’s Six bowl berth. Salter threw for 2,876 yards, ran for more than 1,000 more and scored 44 total touchdowns that year.
Assuming Salter maintains the starting job, he would face BYU on Sept. 27 in Boulder, as well as Utah on Oct. 25 in Salt Lake City.
With Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, Colorado defeated the Utes 49-24 in 2024 before later being pummeled by the Cougars in the Alamo Bowl. In two seasons leading the Buffaloes, Sanders has posted a 13-12 record.