After two statistically brilliant years at Colorado, Shedeur Sanders left college football for the place that was always the end goal: the NFL. His departure created a massive void in the Buffaloes’ locker room and, more importantly, under center. That left his father, head coach Deion Sanders, scrambling to find a new signal-caller. This offseason, he landed two: Kaidon Salter, a transfer with some experience, and prized freshman recruit Julian Lewis.
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Camp and training quickly revealed the value of experience. Salter edged out Lewis to win the QB1 job to open the season, and today he got his first test as Colorado kicked off against Georgia Tech. Early returns, however, were shaky.
The Buffs trailed the Yellow Jackets 10–13 at halftime, struggling to establish rhythm on offense. Salter attempted only 10 passes in the first half, completing six for just 48 yards. Still, amid the growing pains, there were glimpses of what he brings to the table.
One highlight came on his touchdown strike to Dekalon Taylor. When the pocket collapsed, Salter didn’t fold. He rolled left under heavy pressure, bought himself just enough space, and threaded the ball between defenders with pinpoint accuracy, a play that showcased his improvisational ability.
Kaidon Salter Dot
— We Coming (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) August 30, 2025
Another came on a deep shot to Omarion Miller down the left sideline. This time, with protection holding, Salter stepped into the pocket and delivered a perfect throw.
Miller did the rest, beating the Georgia Tech secondary and somehow keeping both feet in bounds to complete the play. The connection displayed Salter’s touch and Miller’s poise in equal measure.
Nah kaidon salter threw a dime to Omarion miller pic.twitter.com/9mz0Ro5CWh
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) August 30, 2025
By the third quarter, Kaidon Salter had settled in. He improved to 7-of-12 for 69 yards and one touchdown, while also adding 26 yards on the ground.
His mobility already sets him apart from Shedeur, and though he remains unproven, early signs suggest the Buffs may have found a capable successor.
While Salter and the Buffs managed to tie the score in the third quarter, and it looked like they would enter the fourth all square, Georgia Tech once again found a way to break through the defense, punching it into the end zone to make it 20-13.
Colorado responded, with Salter leading the offense back down the field to even things up. But as had been the story all night, they couldn’t hold the line. Yellow Jackets’ dual-threat quarterback Haynes King continued to run circles around Colorado’s defense, capping off his night with another score. With just a minute left on the clock, Deion’s team couldn’t mount the kind of comeback that defined last season, and Georgia Tech walked out of Folsom Field with a deserved 27-20 win.
Much like the past two seasons, Coach Prime’s defense once again proved leaky, surrendering 463 total yards. The run defense was particularly porous, giving up 320 yards on the ground, including 45 on King’s game-clinching touchdown run.
Still, there were some bright spots. The offensive line and run game showed real improvement compared to last season, and Salter displayed plenty of promise in his first start, hinting at upside despite the tough loss. Colorado takes on Delaware next weekend.
