Colorado coach Deion Sanders confirmed that true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis will not play in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Kansas State, thereby preserving his redshirt status.

“I’ve made a decision that JuJu is gonna redshirt,” Sanders said. “That’s my decision. I want what’s best for the kid, what’s best for his family, and what’s best for this wonderful university.”

Lewis has played in the last four games, the limit to keep a redshirt year, and started the last two after Kaidon Salter started earlier this season.

Salter will start against for Colorado (3-8, 1-7 Big 12) against Kansas State (5-6, 4-4) in Manhattan, Kan.

Lewis finishes the season having completed 52 of 94 passes for 589 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman and his players spent much of Monday’s weekly press conference not talking about Colorado but instead discussing Klieman’s emotional comments after the Wildcats’ 51-47 loss at Utah last weekend.

Klieman broke down during his opening statement in the postgame press conference.

The seventh-year coach addressed fans who are calling for a new coach and different players by saying he was “tired of it.”

“I care for the kids, and I’m not going to apologize,” Klieman said Monday. “I care for our guys, and I’m gonna always have their back.”

Kansas State captain Damian Ilalio said Klieman has earned the Wildcats’ respect.

“Some people call him emotional, and some people have theories on who he is as a person, but I’ll be the first to tell you that he just dedicates everything he is into this game and this team,” Ilalio said.

To become bowl eligible, Kansas State needs a victory over Colorado, which has lost four straight games.

Colorado’s rush defense, which ranks No. 134 out of 136 FBS teams, allowed Arizona State to gain 355 yards on the ground in last week’s 42-17 defeat.

Kansas State is coming off a program-record 472-yard rushing performance at Utah.

Joe Jackson also broke a school record with his 293 yards on 24 carries with three touchdowns.

–Field Level Media