Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' powerful message after Julian Lewis silences doubters

The final stat line won't show the anxiety that surrounded Julian Lewis for most of the night. It won't capture the missed throws, the growing frustration or the questions that inevitably follow a highly touted young quarterback when things aren't going according to plan.

What it will show is a game-winning touchdown drive, a road victory and a ringing endorsement from the most important voice in the Colorado program. After the Buffaloes escaped Georgia Tech with a dramatic 14-13 victory in Atlanta , Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders made it clear that patience remains the key when it comes to his young quarterback.

"I want you guys to give him time, man. Let it happen," Sanders told reporters after the game. The message was aimed at everyone eager to judge Lewis after a difficult start to the season, especially after an awful campaign that ended with a 3-9 record for the Buffaloes.

For three quarters, the highly regarded quarterback struggled to find a rhythm in front of a sellout crowd of 52,113 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Through the first 45 minutes, Lewis completed just 10 of 21 passes for 64 yards as Colorado trailed 10-7 and searched for answers offensively.

Sanders confronted the situation head-on

At halftime, he challenged his quarterback in front of the entire team.

"I addressed him in front of the whole team," Coach Prime said. "I tell them , the whole team, let's go. You that man. We believe in you. Let's go. And I challenged him in front of the whole team, and he went and did his thing." That challenge ultimately changed the game.

After Colorado used all three of its timeouts attempting to preserve time late in the fourth quarter, the Buffaloes got the ball back at their own 25-yard line with 1:40 remaining and no timeouts, trailing 13-7. It was the exact scenario Sanders and offensive coordinator Brennan Marion had prepared for.

The Colorado coach recalled telling Lewis before the drive that this moment could be coming. "I said, 'Look, I'm getting ready to use every one of these timeouts,'" Sanders explained. "'You're probably gonna have a minute-something left on the clock. Go to work.'" Lewis responded like a quarterback far more experienced than his age would suggest.

He completed four of six passes on the decisive drive, including key throws to DeKalon Taylor and Joseph Williams . Then, with 37 seconds remaining, he delivered the biggest pass of the night, a 20-yard touchdown strike to fellow Georgia native Charlie Williams. Eight plays. Seventy-five yards. One minute and three seconds. Just like that, the narrative changed.

Everyone was talking about Lewis' resilience

Asked what the game-winning drive revealed about his quarterback, Sanders repeatedly emphasized Lewis' maturity. "He reacts like a kid would react," Coach Prime said. "He's very respectful. He's very intuitive, understanding, and he understands the moment." Most importantly, Sanders added, Lewis did not back down when the pressure intensified.

The expectations surrounding the quarterback have been enormous from the moment he arrived in Boulder. Replacing stars, carrying a national spotlight and playing for one of college football's most visible coaches leaves little room for mistakes.

Even elite players struggle. Even future stars endure rough stretches.

What matters is how they respond. Lewis responded by engineering a game-winning drive on the road against an ACC opponent. The victory also carried special significance because it came in Georgia, where Colorado's roster featured 17 players from the state. L ewis, a Carrollton native, was among several Georgians who played pivotal roles in the win.

Running back Micah Welch , another Georgia product, scored Colorado's first touchdown and led the team with 58 rushing yards as the Buffaloes piled up 183 yards on the ground. The performance gave Sanders plenty to celebrate, but his strongest comments were reserved for his quarterback.