Almost every scholarship quarterback from Colorado’s 2022 roster has transferred to another school.

Drew Carter is still in Boulder, however, and fighting for a spot with the overhauled Buffaloes under first-year head coach Deion Sanders.

“This is the place for me. I’m a Buff,” Carter said Saturday after CU’s second scrimmage of the spring. “I just felt like it was a good opportunity for me to stay and grow and learn and achieve my hopes and dreams.”

Brendon Lewis (Nevada), JT Shrout (Arkansas State), Owen McCown (UTSA) and Maddox Kopp (Miami-Ohio) were in the QB room with Carter last year, but have all since moved on.

Junior Shedeur Sanders, the son of the head coach, will be the Buffs’ starter as long as he’s healthy. A two-year starter and star at Jackson State, he’s got a lock on the top job.

Meanwhile, Carter, a third-year sophomore, and true freshman Ryan Staub are currently battling for the No. 2 role.

“I’ve just been trying to learn and get better each and every day and soak up as much information as I can,” said Carter, who threw a touchdown pass in Saturday’s scrimmage. “There’s a lot of great coaches around me. I’m very blessed to be in this situation right now, so I’m just trying to take full advantage of it.”

Carter played sparingly over the past two seasons and struggled when he got his opportunities, completing just six of his 16 passes for 38 yards. New offensive coordinator Sean Lewis is giving everyone a fresh start, however.

“Very blessed to have him as a coach,” Carter said. “I love him. He’s a really good teacher and I can’t wait to keep learning from him. I’ve grown a lot mentally, been in the playbook a lot and just trying to fine-tune some things.”

Staub is pushing Carter, despite arriving just three months ago.

A standout at West Ranch (Calif.) High School, Staub committed to CU early, when former head coach Karl Dorrell was still leading the team. After the coaching change, Sanders and his staff weren’t interested in most of CU’s prep commits, but they wanted Staub.

“It definitely makes me feel good,” Staub said. “I think I hit the jackpot with coach Lewis, Coach Prime, just the whole staff. I think there’s a whole new energy here. And I’m just happy to be under such a great team and especially a great offensive coordinator.”

Staub graduated from high school early to get to CU and believes that decision is paying off.

“Getting here early to learn the new offense, it’s been great for me,” he said. “I think I’ve done well adapting to the college level. The big learning curve is definitely the speed. Reads gotta be quicker and throws have to be quicker, tighter windows. But I think I’m adapting well.”

Carter said his main area of improvement has been with the mental side of the game and Staub said his knowledge of football “has massively increased.”

In the summer, another true freshman, Kasen Weisman, will join the competition and it’s possible CU will add a transfer to the room. (Walk-on Colton Allen is also competing this spring).

Regardless of who is in the room, Carter and Staub are ready to compete.

“You’re fighting for your spot every day,” Staub said. “If you’re not ready to play, your spot’s on the line every day.”

New numbers

Two more players earned their uniform numbers on Saturday.

Linebacker Marvin Ham II, a fifth-year junior, is now wearing No. 25, becoming the fourth returning Buff to earn a number. Walk-on freshman receiver Kaleb Mathis also earned his number, as he’s wearing 13.

Overall, 11 Buffs have earned their uniform number this spring.

Notes

According to a YouTube video posted by Well Off Media, receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. is nursing a sore hip. Horn said he hopes to return to the field by Wednesday so can participate in the spring game on April 22. … CU basketball legend and current Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups attended practice on Saturday.