The Colorado Buffaloes have successfully acquired former Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter from the transfer portal, positioning him as a potential replacement for Shedeur Sanders in the upcoming season.

Salter will be vying for the starting quarterback role against highly-touted high school prospect Julian “JuJu” Lewis, who is set to join the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) in the spring session.

Displaying his capabilities as a dual-threat quarterback, Salter completed a strong regular season with the Flames. He rushed for 579 yards and scored seven touchdowns while passing for 1,886 yards and 15 touchdowns. His average of 224.09 total yards per game placed him fourth within Conference USA.

During Salter’s tenure, Liberty achieved an 8-3 record, and his previous team is scheduled to compete in the Bahamas Bowl against Buffalo on January 4.

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur emphasized the significance of adding a player like Salter to the roster, especially as Lewis develops. He acknowledged Lewis as a “great decision maker.”

“Lewis possesses an exceptional sense of timing and accuracy,” Shurmur remarked about the standout from Carrollton High School in Georgia, suggesting that Lewis demonstrates a heroic nature that is highly desirable in a quarterback. “If he maintains his high school performance and continues to progress, he is bound for a promising future.”

The quarterback position will have substantial expectations following Sanders’ departure post the Alamo Bowl on December 28, where they’ll face BYU. Sanders has set numerous school records, including a single-season passing yardage record of 3,926 yards and 35 touchdown passes. He holds a remarkable streak of tossing touchdown passes in 48 consecutive games, dating back to his time at Jackson State.

In additional news from the transfer portal, Tennessee has welcomed former Arizona offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr. to their roster.