Ryan Staub should be the starting quarterback at a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) university somewhere.
Instead, he’s third-string for the Colorado Buffaloes.
At least that’s what he was heading into last Saturday’s game against Delaware.
Who knows what he’ll be for CU’s Big 12 opener at Houston tomorrow night.
Staub is an exception in today’s major college football world, a player who resisted the lure of the portal to stick with the program he chose coming out of high school.
By comparison, some quarterbacks have played for a different school each year—four in four years.
“To be honest, I don’t know,” Staub answered when asked why he stayed in Boulder when other players in his situation have jumped for a better opportunity.
“I really enjoyed being here. I enjoyed being in this building, under our coach.”
Delaware has won six second-level national championships (currently known as Football Championship Subdivision or FCS) and was runner-up two other times. The Blue Hens moved up to FBS this year as members of Conference USA and are adjusting to the higher talent level.
Because of that, Coach Prime viewed this as an opportunity to rotate his three quarterbacks, giving each two series as the game unfolded.
It was similar to a preseason National Football League game. Except this counted, and CU needed a win after dropping an opener that was winnable..
The QBs, in order, were portal transfer Kaidon Salter, prized five-star recruit Julian “JuJu” Lewis, then holdover Staub.
“I was just hoping for an opportunity,” he said postgame. “I wasn’t really expecting to play.”
Salter, who played all of the Buffs’ snaps in the 27-20 loss Georgia Tech, began the game under center, and produced 10 points. Lewis followed with two series that ended in punts.
At that point, Colorado didn’t look much different than the week before.
Delaware scored to cut CU’s lead to 10-7, and 45 seconds were all that was left of the first half when it finally was Staub’s turn.
“I didn’t know my first drive would be a two-minute drill,” he joked.
After two incompletions and a 23-yard run by DeKalon Taylor, Staub completed strikes of 31 yards to Joseph Williams and 21 to Taylor, with an incompletion in between. Just like that—75 yards in 36 seconds—CU ‘s lead at the half was 17-7.
It took only three plays for Staub to cover 75 yards and increase CU’s lead to 24-7 on the first series of the second half.
Suddenly, momentum was solidly behind the Buffs, and Ryan Staub heard an unfamiliar sound—CU students chanting his name.
“There’s been a lot of days of a lot of work and some self-doubt,” he admitted. “It’s crazy to be rewarded this way.”
A redshirt sophomore, Staub filled in for an injured Shedeur Sanders once in 2023, passing for 195 yards and one touchdown but losing 23-17 to Utah. Last season he played 20 snaps across four games.
Last Saturday, Staub completed seven of 10 passes for 157 yards and two TDs. Afterward, he was presented with a game ball by his coach.
This is a feel-good story if ever there was one.
Not only did Staub wait his turn, sitting behind Shedeur for two years. But then he watched as Coach Prime chose a fifth-year senior out of the transfer portal and recruited a top freshman prospect.
Yet he stayed.
“He never jumped in the portal,” said Prime, “though he had every right to think that way. He’s just been a great human being and a great young man.”
It’s a lesson for not just athletes, at all levels, but for everyone: Stay at it.
Coach Prime deserves some kudos, too.
Most coaches in big-time college programs wouldn’t give a third-stringer a turn, not even against a 23.5-point underdog.
Some would argue Prime did it almost out of desperation. Kaidon Salter hadn’t established himself at quarterback as Prime thought he would.
But dipping down the depth chart shows a willingness to admit that maybe he sold someone short, that maybe someone deserves another look.
There’s no telling where we go from here with Colorado’s QB situation.
Houston is 2-0 and has allowed only nine points in victories over Stephen F. Austin and Rice.
But for a day, Ryan Staub’s commitment was rewarded.
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Denny Dressman’s 17th book, a collaboration with Kansas City artist Anthony High titled Black Baseball’s Heyday – Capturing An Era in Art and Words, will be published late this year. You can write to Denny atdenny
dressman@comcast.net.