Colorado QB Coach: Julian Lewis Ready for Georgia Tech After Growth
Colorado quarterbacks coach Hajj-Malik Williams said Julian Lewis is ready for the season opener against Georgia Tech. Williams noted that Lewis has faced new challenges in practice, which has sparked growth. Lewis, a redshirt freshman, will start for the Buffaloes.
Lewis enters the Georgia Tech game with a minimal college résumé, having appeared in just four contests and started twice. His lone road start came at West Virginia, where he completed 22 of 35 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns despite frigid conditions. Saturday's forecast in Atlanta calls for 88-degree heat, a stark contrast to that chilly November outing.
Williams described his coaching approach as intentionally demanding, noting that friction in their training sessions has pushed Lewis to improve. The Buffaloes' previous meeting with Georgia Tech was decided largely by quarterback mobility, with Yellow Jackets signal-caller Haynes King doing significant damage on the ground. Lewis will face a sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium crowd in his first true road test of the season.
This game could serve as an early measuring stick for both Lewis's development and Colorado's postseason aspirations. A strong performance in a hostile road environment may validate the coaching staff's confidence and quiet skeptics of the young quarterback's readiness. Conversely, struggles could raise questions about the program's quarterback succession plan and affect recruiting momentum. The outcome may also influence early Big 12 conference positioning, as both teams seek a statement win to open their seasons.