As Colorado enters week three and opens Big 12 play, the Buffaloes have a new starting quarterback. According to multiple outlets Ryan Staub will be the starter heading into Houston this Friday. Ryan Staub to some came out of nowhere, but Ryan Staub has always played at high level dating back to high school. 

The question that BUFFS fans have is “Who Is Ryan Staub?” Coming out of high school Staub was a 3 star recruit out of West Ranch high school in Stevenson Ranch, California. Staub was a 2-year starter that was very productive and took over at quarterback for a season that was shortened by the COVID 19 epidemic in the 2020-2021 season. West Ranch went 1-4 with a 5-game conference schedule during the 20-21 season. Enter Ryan Staub.

Staub started his junior season and instantly improved the team’s record. Staub had an outstanding junior year where he put up 2414 yards, 21 touchdowns, and a 94.6 quarterback rating. The team went 8-3 and with the Foothill league had a record of 4-1. It was a massive turnaround not only overall but within league play. West Ranch made the division 4 CIF Southern Section Football playoffs. They did fall short and lost to Lawndale in the first round of the playoffs. Progress was made and Staub was returning for his senior season.

Staub’s senior season was remarkable. West Valley Ranch also moved up a division from division 4 to division 3 in the CIF Southern California Section. Staub responded to the move up in competition and almost doubled his touchdowns from his junior year. He also cut his interceptions in half from 10 to 5. Staub’s senior season stat line was 3008 yards, 37 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 125.0. Staub and West Ranch were also rolling in the win column where they finished 11-1 and, in the Foothill, conference went undefeated with a 6-0 record. West Ranch finished the season undefeated and was heading to the Division 3 CIF Southern Section Football playoffs where they hosted St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy out of Downey, California. West Ranch won the game 42-21 behind Staub’s monster performance. Staub threw 37 times, completed 26 of those passes for 312 yards, 2 touchdowns, had a completion percentage of 70%, and a QB rating of 113.8. Staub shined in this playoff performance. The following week West Ranch ran into Upland and lost 28-21. Staub did play well with a stat line of 16/30, 290 yards, 3 touchdowns, a 92.4 quarterback rating, but his 2 interceptions proved costly in a 1 possession game. Staub finished his career at West Ranch with 5,422 passing yards, 58 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 110.8 

Staub’s senior year was in the books and his high school career coming to an end, he had some decisions to make and where he wanted to play at the next level. He had offers on the table from: The University of Arizona, Southern Methodist University, Fresno State University, The University of Nevada, The University of South Florida, and The University of Colorado. Staub on December 21st of 2022 signed his letter of intent to The University of Colorado. Staub, however, was faced with adversity after Colorado is coming off one of the worst seasons in school history going 1-11 and a coaching change looming. Karl Dorrell was fired mid-season and Mike Sanford took over as head coach. Colorado and the team as well as recruits knew a change of the program was coming. Enter Deion Sanders. Deion Sanders accepts the position for head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. Deion makes his presence known and the Colorado football program undergoes a mass exodus of players with Coach Sanders letting players know to hit the portal and said, “I’m bringing my luggage with me, and its Louis.” In an interview in 2023 with Buffs Stampede’s Jimmie Searfoss, a question was asked by Searfoss. He asks, “How does it feel that the new staff still wanted you here?” Staub responds with ““Definitely makes me feel good. Like I said, I think I hit the jackpot with coach Lewis, coach prime, just ever the whole staff, I think there’s a whole new energy here. I’m just happy to be under such a great team and especially a great offensive coordinator.” Staub at this point was ready to learn as much as he could from Coach Prime and the staff that had been built by Prime. 

Through all the adversity that Staub has faced from the beginning of his time at Colorado to now, he has not once wavered. He was asked after the game on Saturday vs Delaware why he did not enter the portal. Staub’s response was “to be honest, I don’t know, I fell in love with the process, I really enjoyed being here and under the coaches. I stuck my head down and continued to keep working, and I got rewarded for that.” Colorado fans at first seemed confused with the decision to play Staub but after seeing the play on the field and the whole team behind him, Colorado has decided to start Staub and at S2S BUFFS we think this is the correct decision. BEST OF LUCK STAUB AND HERE AT S2S, GO GET EM!!!!! 

-Manuel Tobin S2S BUFFS