In the race to become the next starting quarterback of the Colorado Buffaloes, Ryan Staub might be somewhat of a forgotten man.

CU has to replace arguably the best quarterback in program history, as record-breaking Shedeur Sanders is now preparing for next month’s NFL Draft.

During December, the Buffs signed five-star recruit Julian Lewis, a highly touted star from Carrollton (Ga.) High School. They also snagged former Liberty star Kaidon Salter out of the transfer portal.

Staub, meanwhile, has been quietly improving his craft as Sanders’ top backup the past two years and now enters his third spring with the program.

“I think my approach is the same,” he said. “I’m trying to go out there and make every play the best play, but really just develop and take this time to grow as a player, grow as a teammate, and kind of whatever happens happens.

“I’m in the middle of my road, year three, and obviously I have goals and dreams in mind, but I think it’s a long journey and I’m pushing every day.”

Staub has really had only one opportunity to play, filling in for an injured Sanders during the 2023 season finale. He went 17-of-24 for 195 yards and a touchdown and nearly led the Buffs to an upset at Utah before falling, 23-17.

This past season, Staub threw only four passes, with no completions, getting his only snaps late in blowouts.

Staub, however, said he is “a lot better” than he was last August when the 2024 season got underway.

“I think just with time the game feels a little slower,” he said. “Reads are a little bit slower, and I think just experience, I’ve got years under my belt now and it feels good. I feel comfortable out there.”

While Lewis and Salter are considered the frontrunners in the competition, Staub has experience in offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s system.

“I’ve learned a ton from coach Pat,” he said. “He’s as smart as they come. He has all the experience. It’s been great. It’s been a journey for me. I’m going to year three with him, and it’s been great. He’s been a great coach. He’s hard on us as quarterbacks, and he’s smart, and so I just try to, every meeting, try to take one little thing from him, because he’s got all the knowledge and everything that a quarterback needs.”

Denver ties

New running backs coach Marshall Faulk, a Hall of Famer who starred for the St. Louis Rams from 1999-2005, has never lived in Colorado but has spent time in the state.

The Rams are owned by Kroenke Sports, which also owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids and more.

“I’ve spent some time with the Kroenke family here,” Faulk said. “They’re good friends of mine. Wonderful owners, and friends of mine as well.”

Notable

Defensive ends coach George Helow said Thursday that Samuel Okunlola and Keaten Wade are both out with injuries for now. Projected as two of CU’s top edge rushers, Okunlola had three sacks and seven tackles for loss last year, and Wade had four sacks and 7.5 TFLs. … Right tackle Phillip Houston, who missed the last two games of the 2024 season with a knee injury, “probably won’t” be back this spring, offensive line coach Gunnar White said. But White added, “I think he’s rehabbing very well, and he’s doing pretty well, too. He’s starting to fill out a little bit more, so he’s going to have a little bit more size, a little bit more strength.”