It is the JR Sport B Show here with you coast to coast. on the infinity Sports. Network. The two days of Big Twelve Media Day. We've heard about everything from the Well, the hopeful college football player from the Big Twelve's perspective to even Deion Sanders closing things out.
Not too much on his health, not too much on his players, but just a lot of winning that Deion wants to do. It's time to have a chat with someone who is in attendance, who covers all things. Colorado Buffaloes on the beat for the buff zone, as well as the Daily Camera in Boulder. Joining us right now. It's Brian Howell.
Brian, welcome back. How are you? I'm good. How are you? Thanks for having me on.
Well, thank you for being back. Always a pleasure. Always a pleasure. When you think about everything that took place down in the Metroplex today surrounding Deion, what was the biggest story? He talked about a lot.
Yeah, I mean, honestly, the biggest story was that he was here, you know, because that's. There's been some speculation on his health, and he hasn't been in Boulder in several weeks because. He's been at his home in Canton, Texas, just kind of. Recovering from whatever health issue he has that nobody's really talked about. This is really the first Public appearance he's made since Colorado Spring Game back in April.
So it was just kind of good to see him and see that he. was his usual confident self on the stage today.
Well, he did put out a message a couple of weeks ago that eventually he would share when it's time. We know about his issues of clotting and his legs, his toes, his feet. We've heard. All of that is he eventually going to share, and if he doesn't, God bless him, it's his business. Is he eventually going to share, or is he just not doing it now?
I don't know. I've heard that he might once we get into like fall camp, but clearly he doesn't think this is the time to do it. Um yeah, you're right. I mean, it's When it comes to your own health, and it's I think it's a personal Choice if you want to share that stuff. And maybe it's a little bit different because he is a public.
figure and like that. But I still think it's a it's a personal choice and um I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't address it, but I've heard he might when we get into fall camp. Yeah, he's been very, very public about every other health issue he's dealt with.
So. Let's see. Different things at different times.
Well, Brian, when it comes to the action that we will be seeing eventually on the football field, the biggest question is between. Who's going to start at quarterback? Is it going to be Lewis, who's young as heck? I don't even think he's 18 yet. And then you have Salter, who's transferring over.
From Liberty, I would assume that Salter will get first crack before they even hand Lewis the ball, no? Yeah, I would think so. I think that, you know, I mean, they're clearly much different stages of their career. You know, Salter is the senior. He's been a.
You know, two-year full-time starter at Liberty, like two and a half years basically. And you're right. I mean, Lewis does not turn 18 until the buffs are about three or four weeks into the season.
So he's supposed to be a senior in high school this next year. He's very young. very talented, but very young.
So I would think it's gonna be Salter. kind of that bridge quarterback between Shadura Sanders and Julian Lewis of the future. But you know Coach Prime brought them both down here to Texas because he said I don't know which one's going to start. Wow, that's a bold statement to make. Brian Howell is here with us, covers the Colorado Buffaloes.
Well, under what circumstances, outside of here's a quick package three or four times a game just to maybe run the ball? Deception, deception, would we see Julian Lewis? Yeah, I don't know. I think Lewis actually has never been a running threat. As a high school quarterback, so I don't really know.
you know, what he would what he would bring in that regard. I think I think that if we see Lewis, it's because he's the guy. I think it's because he's won the job or Salter's hurt. I don't see them. A situation where Salter's healthy and playing well.
That they would bring Lewis in for packages and burn a red shirt year. You know, I think you can obviously play up to four games, and maybe they would. Give them some spot experience here and there. I think if Salter's going well and healthy. I think that I could see a situation where Lewis just gets into a couple of games to get his feet wet.
And then red shirts.
Well, it's one thing to look at who's going to go out there and replace Shador, but the best player on the team last year. Was Travis Hunter. And so you're losing the star on offense. You're losing the star on defense. This is a team that really ran the ball last year.
It was just like Air Core Real every time they were out there. What do you expect from the offense and whole and the defense, knowing that the two biggest stars and the best offensive player and defensive player are gone? Yeah, there's so many question marks there, and you know, there's so many people. From last year, that are gone. And people are going to focus on Chadur and Travis Hunter.
And they're obviously huge losses, but they lost a lot of guys on that defense. It was a pretty good defense. Shiloh Sanders and their linebackers are gone. And Cam Stillman Craig was the heart of that defense at safety.
So a lot of those guys are gone, but the buffs are loaded at receiver. People don't know about them because. The top four guys from last year are all in the NFL right now, but they are loaded at receiver and they're better on the offensive line. And then, you know, Salter, I think, is a pretty good quarterback if he's the guy.
So I think offensively, they're still going to be okay. Defensively, it's kind of How do they replace all those pieces from last year and they feel like they've got a really strong defensive line? And if they do have a strong defensive line, I think they'll be.
Okay, defensively. I'm not sure how good they're going to be. Brian Howell is here with us. Covers the Colorado Buffaloes for the Buff Zone and the Boulder Daily Camera. When you think about how the offense has run in the past, we've had guys like Zimmer, who Deion Sanders has brought in.
You can think even putting Warren Sappers back there, and now we got Marshall as the running backs coach. Do we have all these celebrity names out of who's in and who's out? Yeah, you got most of them. You know, there's obviously three Hall of Famers on this staff with Coach Prime and. Marshall Falk and uh and Warren Sapp, and then Then there's all the guys that just kind of show up from time to time that Help out and mentor some of these guys, like Michael Irvin, who was here today.
Or Terrell Owens and You know, Michael Vick, who's now coaching his own team, you know, has showed up at times. And so You get all these Hall of Famers that show up from time to time.
So you never know who's gonna be there, but he did hint at. Iron Leftwich and Mike Zimmer joining the staff at some point. I don't know what roles they would have, but he wants to have them on the staff as well.
So there's a ton of NFL experience on this staff. Yeah, well, your name's Deion Sanders. I guess you can make a few phone calls. My buddy Champ Belly has swung out there. quite a few times.
Obviously very familiar with the Colorado In Denver Boulder area. What are the expectations for this team in the Big Twelve? I mean, the first year they start off hot and then they falter. Last year, they kind of get close to a bowl game.
Well, they get to a bowl game, not the playoff. They're going to fall somewhere in the middle this year, right? I think so. You know, the expectations are are very Buried depending on who you talk to. I mean, I think if you talk to most people on the outside, they're going to.
You know, let's say Colorado is somewhere between twelfth and thirteenth in this conference. And Deion Sanders keeps saying, I think we have a better team than last year. I think they're probably in the middle. I don't see how they're a better team when you don't have Shudor and Travis, but I think that they're a bull team. I think they're.
Six and six, seven and five type of team. And I don't think people should. That's nothing to sneeze at. I mean, you got to think of the context of this program. The last time You know, Colorado went to back-to-back bowl games.
Gary Barnett was the head coach 20 years ago.
So, you know, if he can take them to back-to-back bowls, That's something to really hang his hat on. I mean, that'd be a huge accomplishment for Deion Sanders. It'll be a huge accomplishment for him.
Somebody who had to get knocked hard on his way into the NFL is Shador. Are you surprised at that fall in the draft that he took? I am, yeah. I r I I was covering uh The draft from home, and I really expected to cover about the first half of the first round and then take it easy for a while. And that certainly didn't happen.
So I was definitely surprised. I think he's a. a first round talent that uh I think is going to surprise a lot of people after that fall. Why do you think he fell? Is it his dad?
Did he really, from what you hear, were the interviews that bad? It seems like he was. kinda sorta being punished a little bit just for like D and put in his place. Yeah, I think that's part of it. I think that But I think that's probably part of it that You know, maybe his dad rubbed some people the wrong way.
Maybe he had some bad interviews. Maybe people just weren't sold on him. It's interesting because if you don't think he's your starting quarterback, I can see from there if he's not taking the first. 40-50 picks. I can see where he fell fur farther from there because You don't want to bring that in as your backup, that quote, distraction, you know, high-profile guy like that.
But I think the Browns are a good spot for him. I think that that's a job he can win, and I think he will win it at some point. Brian Howell here with us talking about the other. A young man. He didn't fall.
He was actually traded for, traded up to get, and that's Travis Hunter. How do you see him fitting in Jacksonville? What do you think his best usage case would be there? I think however they want to use them is what's best for Jacksonville. I remember their head coach, Liam Cohen.
I saw him at one of the mini camps. He said, if it can look for us like it did at Colorado, that'd be great. And I like that quote because I don't know if he can play like that and that much, but I think they'd be smart to use him like that because that's just who Travis Hunter is. He's a fantastic player. On both sides of the ball, and The more you can use them on either side of the ball, the better your football team's going to be.
Well, you've been able to see them kind of grow as young men, but then as people, it seems that they both, and of course, this is social media era. They get a lot of negativity thrown their way. How have you seen them, even though they've now moved on? evolved from when they first arrived from Mississippi to when they left Boulder. Yeah, I think they've matured a lot.
I mean, and that happens a lot with these kids. at this time of life. I mean, I think Most people are different when they start college from when they leave. And you know, I think you saw it in Shadur, you saw it in Travis a little bit, and they're just different people. Their bodies are more mature, but also their minds.
I mean, you go through more experiences and Um I think that that helps you grow up a little bit and You know, Shadur got more comfortable in his surroundings in Boulder, and I think Travis did too. And I think they're both going to experience the same thing in Cleveland and Jacksonville. Brian, to wrap things up, knowing that Dion has dealt with health issues, now an undisclosed health issue. It seemed to be a flirtation possibly with the Dallas Cowboys job. Like wh what what would we safely Pencil him in as for being the coach in Boulder.
Are we talking another year at minimum? Are we year to year? Could he still one day just up and leave? Is it up in the air? I think so.
Especially with this health issue coming up, which we don't know about. We don't know if it's serious, but I think. as you get up in age and i think he's going to be 58 in august You know, and then he's having some health issues. It's hard to really say he's going to move on to a different job and maybe at some point he looks at, you know what? I'm going to take care of my health, take it easy a little bit, and go enjoy watching my sons play in the NFL.
And I think it is year-to-year. He just signed a new five-year contract, but. We know how those work. And it doesn't mean you're going to be there for five years.
So I still think it's going to be year to year and He's obviously here this year, but I think Once this season's over, I think some more speculation is going to happen of What's he going to do? I wouldn't be surprised if this is his last year in Boulder. I wouldn't be surprised if he's here for three, four more years. It's crazy, Brian. Life comes at you fast and it comes at you in phases.
And nobody would fault Deion if he said, you know what, I need to move on. To the next phase. That's just how it goes. Brian, thank you so much for the time. Please tell everybody how they can keep up with you and all your amazing work.
Yeah, I appreciate it. On Twitter or X at BrianHowell33, and then also buffzone.com. Hey, Brian, thank you. Try to enjoy the summer a little bit. We'll catch you down the line, okay?
Sounds good. Thank you.
