Four days before Colorado hosts No. 12 Texas Tech, the most important name on the depth chart was the one Deion Sanders wouldn’t say.
Sanders did not name a starting quarterback at his weekly news conference Tuesday, and he pushed back on reports that the choice had already been made.
“I know some people are running with the narrative that it’s already decided,” he said. “I think I’m the one who makes that decision.”
Later, when a reporter began a question by noting that he hadn’t made a decision yet, Sanders cut in with three words: “I may have.”
Isaac Wilson replaced Julian Lewis at halftime of and led Colorado’s only touchdown drive. Sanders said Wilson stood up in a team meeting and “challenged them in many ways.” He also reminded reporters that Wilson “had a great, great spring.” Freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne threw a touchdown at the end of Tuesday’s practice, Sanders added, calling him a quarterback who is “athletic, energetic and can run and pass.”
What Sanders wants from the starter — whoever it is — goes beyond the stat sheet: rhythm, confidence, a grasp of the offense and a huddle that believes in him.
“This is Tuesday,” Sanders said. “We’ve got a ways to go until the end of the week.”
He also swatted down a rumor that Sweetwyne had been kept off the field because he and receiver Quanell Farrakhan Jr. both wear No.14. “That’s how stupid some of this stuff is, man,” Sanders said, noting that Colorado has extra jerseys.
Colorado (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) hosts Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Folsom Field (FOX). The Buffaloes have a bye the following week.
Losing a leader
The other news from Tuesday cut deeper into the defense. Linebacker Tyler Martinez, who suffered a lower-leg injury at Baylor, may miss the rest of the season, Sanders said.
“He may be out for the season,” Sanders said. “We don’t know that for certain, but he may be.”
The staff’s focus now, he said, is making sure Martinez has his eligibility for next year. The fifth-year senior from New Mexico State has worn the green-dot on his helmet as the defense’s on-field communicator this season. He earned one of Sanders’ “Dawg” patches before the Northwestern game and had spent the past two weeks
Sanders called him “one of our favorites,” a player who wants to talk football any time. Gage Goldberg filled in at Baylor and made two tackles “right off the bat.” Sanders said Colorado still has two proven starters at linebacker.
“That kid is all heart,” Sanders said of Martinez.
Three weeks for Scudero
The bye is shaping how Colorado handles receiver Danny Scudero, who battled an injury in camp before playing in the first two games. Sanders said it “would make a lot of sense” to hold him out against Texas Tech and use the off week, too, giving Scudero three weeks before the Oct. 17 home game against Utah. Scudero hurried back once already, Sanders said, and “he just didn’t come back as Danny.”
“We’re going to be smart with Danny,” Sanders said.
Receiver DeAndre Moore Jr., who needed help off the field after a big hit over the middle at Baylor, wanted to practice Tuesday. The staff wouldn’t let him.
“He is ready,” Sanders said. “He’s ready to go.”
Asked about defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr., who also exited last week’s game in Waco, Sanders said he is “going to be OK.”
Decision making
Colorado converted 13 of 30, or 43.3%, of its third downs in its two wins and just 7 of 27 (25.9%) in the two losses. Asked about that, Sanders looked past the call sheet and put it on the 11 players who have to run it.
“That’s decision making. That’s all that is,” he said. “The young men out there have got to make the decision to execute the play that’s called, and when we all do that, we’re fine.”
He defended first-year offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, whose offenses, Sanders said, have averaged 33 points a game over his career. “He’s overqualified for doing this,” Sanders said, “so it’s got to be a reason. And we’re going to fix that reason.”
Sanders pointed to a defense that has not allowed a rushing touchdown in three of four games, and to Toby Anene, who has a tackle for loss in every game. The kickoffs were another matter. Cadel Ayala sent two went out of bounds at Baylor, and Sanders said he won’t wear out Elliott Arnold, the kicker he needs for field goals, to fix it.
“You can blame me for special teams,” he said, “but the kids got to do their job.”
Old friends
Sanders opened by praising Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire, a friend who built Cedar Hills High School in a Texas power and once coached Deion Sanders Jr. there. “He’s a winner,” Sanders said. “He’s proving he can win.”
McGuire’s Red Raiders are the defending Big 12 champions and haven’t slipped yet this season. Sanders’ scouting report was simple.
“They get it done,” he said. “Sometimes when you win, it becomes a habit. When you lose, it becomes a habit. You’ve got to make sure you have the right habits inside your locker room as well as on your staff.”
