File photo WVU defenders apply pressure on Houston quarterback Connor Weigman during Saturday’s game.

MORGANTOWN — Colorado comes out with true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis under center, Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter lined up behind him, and then redshirt freshman Ryan Staub to the side. The Buffaloes line up in the triple option.

That would be a nightmare scenario for West Virginia defensive coordinator Zac Alley on Saturday when he faces Colorado.

“I don’t think they’re going to suddenly come out in the triple option under center,” Alley said. “They might, but I doubt it.”

Like WVU’s had this season, Colorado has a quarterback issue, and head coach Deion Sanders is subbing them out, trying to see what works. He even brought Lewis and Salter to the Big 12 Media Day because he didn’t know who’d be the quarterback of the future.

In the season opener, Sanders went with the veteran Liberty transfer Salter. Salter spent four seasons with the Flames and threw for 5,887 passing yards and 56 touchdowns to go along with 2,063 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. He was the safer option.

Salter started in most of the games this season and had his ups and downs. He was benched for the Houston game with Staub jumping Lewis on the depth chart. Staub struggled, and Salter took back over the reins.

This week, there was a report that the true freshman, Lewis, will start against WVU after back-to-back lopsided losses. Lewis has played here and there and finished out the Buffaloes’ latest game against Arizona.

“They’re probably going to be similar to what they’ve done, because all three quarterbacks are fairly similar,” Alley said. “They’re good athletes. They can throw the ball down the field.”

Alley and Rich Rodriguez said that WVU is going to prepare for all three of them just in case, since they are pretty similar.

But in the back of their mind, there will be a bit more focus on Lewis. Lewis was a unanimous top 10 quarterback in the class of 2025. In 2024, he was named Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year, which is given to the best player in each state. Lewis was committed to Southern California before pledging to Sanders.

There was a lot of anticipation for his arrival in Boulder because of his high school career.

“He can sling the ball over the field,” Alley said. “He runs well. He’s shifty in the pocket, gets away from people… I don’t know for sure what he did in high school, but based on the tape of what he does now he looks like a great player. He’s still a freshman. All freshmen have growing pains anywhere at any position across the country, but I think he’s got a chance to be an elite talent, just from his arm and his ability to scramble, see the field.”

Lewis has played in just two games against Delaware early in the year and Arizona. He went 11-for-21 throwing and threw for 121 yards and a touchdown so far.

There isn’t much to go off, which is why Alley is focusing on his defense first, getting out the kinks, then preparing for all three. If Alley gets his defensive scheme down, he shouldn’t have an issue rattling the projected true freshman starter on Saturday, as long as Colorado doesn’t come out in a Military Academy formation with all three.

“I guess you get ready for all of them, thinking you’re going to see everybody, because they may start the freshman,” Alley said. “Hopefully, he throws three picks and they pull him out. So you get ready for everybody and just try and take what you can.”