Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Ryan Staub picked up major slack in head football coach Deion Sanders’ absence from the team due to an extended battle with bladder cancer this past offseason.
As the Associated Press’s Pat Graham explained, Staub helped facilitate the relationship between Liberty Flames transfer Kaidon Salter and four-star Carrollton (GA) recruit Julian Lewis.
“One person who helps facilitate that is backup Ryan Staub, who started the final game of the 2023 season for Colorado when Shedeur Sanders was injured. Sure, Lewis may be the new kid and Salter the veteran, but Staub knows the ropes around the program,” Graham wrote.
Staub has admitted to wanting to play any role he can in Coach Prime’s purview. The Stevenson Ranch (CA) product is a long shot to win the QB1 role over Salter or Lewis, but still wants to be an all-star teammate.
“I’d say my role is just to be the best teammate that I can be and help these guys grow. Help the room grow as a whole. I think the team moves as our (QB) room does,” Staub said.
Sanders believes in Staub. Not only did he commend him after stepping in for Shedeur Sanders in Week 13 of the 2023 season against the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City, but Coach Prime called Staub the most versatile player in the QB room in April.
“They are learning. Every day they are getting better and better. They are starting to understand the system. It is tougher on Pat (Shurmur) and the offensive coaches because you have two different type of quarterbacks. So, you are pretty much calling two different type of offenses. When this quarterback is in, you call it in this way. When this guy is in, you call it this way. (Ryan) Staub is the most versatile. He can do a little bit of both,” Sanders said, per 247 Sports.
Sanders loves Staub. Even if Staub never ends up in a “major” role with CU.
Then again, if Staub can help keep Lewis happy in Boulder during a season in which Salter will probably get more snaps, he will have played a “major” role.