Report: Deion Sanders promotes Colorado analyst Pat Shurmur to offensive play-caller over OC Sean Lewis

Colorado is making a big change on its coaching staff. Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders is promoting quality control analyst Pat Shurmur to an on-field assistant role. Shurmur will be the team’s play caller against Oregon State on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

Shurmur is replacing Sean Lewis, who has been serving as the team’s play caller, according to Rittenberg.

Shurmur is a former longtime NFL coach who most recently served as the offensive coordinator of the Broncos in 2020 and 2021, prior to joining Sanders’ staff for the 2023 season. He also previously spent time as the offensive coordinator of the Rams, Eagles and Vikings, in addition to stints as the head coach of the Giants and Browns.

In order for Pat Shurmur to serve as the play caller, he must be elevated to a full-time assistant role. Deion Sanders will have to demote a coach to an off-field role, in order for that to happen.

Sean Lewis joined Sanders’ program this offseason after spending five years as the head coach at Kent State.

Colorado and Oregon State will face off on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET. The Beavers are currently 13-point favorites heading into the matchup.

The Buffaloes enter the game with a 4-4 record on the season and are 1-4 in their past five games.

Deion Sanders shares that Alton McCaskill has asked to be redshirted this season

Elsewhere with the Colorado offense, Deion Sanders shared that Houston transfer running back Alton McCaskill has asked to be redshirted this season.

McCaskill had an outstanding freshman season with the Cougars, before missing the entire 2022 season after suffering from a torn ACL injury.

After playing in four games this season for Colorado, McCaskill took it upon himself to request being redshirted this season, a decision that Sanders pulled back the curtain on in his press conference Tuesday.

“Alton, I don’t know if he wants me to disclose what transpired, you know I’m always honest with you guys and straight up,” Sanders said initially hesitant. “I don’t like to you guys or falsify anything. Alton came in my office yesterday and he wanted to be redshirted, which I think is very wise.”

This season was McCaskill’s first in action after rushing for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns in his true freshman season at Houston, catching 21 passes for 113 receiving yards with two scores through the air as well. But his knee injury suffered in the spring of 2022 kept him from building on that impressive debut season.

“I’m all for him, if he wanted to continue to play I’d have been all for him. He’s one of my favorite human beings on this team, he’s a great young man, was raised properly, and he wants it,” Sanders said. “But he does understand that it’s been a while since he has had his full strength, and full potential, and ability to move and cut in explosion and he understands that.”