A Tiered Outlook for the 2026 Quarterback Class
Colorado’s emerging talent Julian Lewis is positioned 49th overall in The Athletic’s latest college football quarterback tiers, placing him in the fourth division of the publication’s five‑level system.
The fourth tier, described as a mix of inexperienced signal‑callers with upside and seasoned players seeking redemption, highlights Lewis as a projected star of tomorrow despite an unproven résumé.
Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, who recently joined the Buffaloes staff, is expected to be a catalyst for Lewis’s ascent, with one Big 12 assistant asserting that Marion’s scheme could markedly improve the quarterback’s trajectory.
Within the Big 12, Lewis is slotted as the twelfth‑best quarterback, trailing only Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, who tops the conference at No. 6 nationally, and Arizona’s Noah Fifita, ranked second at No. 10.
The rankings also reflect a broader picture that includes other notable arms such as Isaac Wilson, Jaylen Raynor, Michael Hawkins Jr., JC French IV and Cole Ballard, who are all being watched as the conference deepens its depth chart for the upcoming season.
The Athletic’s tiered approach groups players not just by current performance but by potential and the likelihood of rapid improvement, a framework that aligns with Colorado’s ambition to climb back into contention.