

Tattoo culture in college football isn’t just a trend-it’s personal. At Michigan, Jim Harbaugh made headlines last year for tattooing “15-0” on his shoulder to celebrate a perfect season. In Boulder, the vibe hits just as hard. Former Buff Xavier Weaver wore the CU logo on his skin, and now freshman quarterbackJulian Lewis is taking the tradition a step further-one bold, cryptic tattoo at a time.
While most of Boulder celebrated the 45th annual BOLDERBoulder race, Lewis was in the gym-alone-posting a video of himself squatting 585 pounds. The caption read, “Ain’t nobody in the building, but there’s somebody in the building.” And now, a few weeks later, he’s back with something louder than weight plates: a full Joker tattoo.
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The piece, done by local artist Joshua Butierres, is unfinished but already fierce. With Key Glock’s “Made A Way” blaring in the background of his Instagram story, Lewis flashed the black-and-gray Joker ink, leaning hard into an image of chaos, grit, and control. It’s not just a look-it’s a statement.
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This isn’t just about aesthetics. The Joker ink seems like a message to critics, fans, and maybe even himself. If Shedeur Sanders was Colorado’s lightning rod last season, Lewis is watching-and learning. The scrutiny that followed Shedeur as Deion’s son and QB1 was intense. Yet he kept his poise, and Julian Lewis took notes.
The two have grown close, and Lewis has publicly said, “You left huge shoes to fill, but I promise to work to leave @CUBuffsFootball even better than I found it.”Shedeur’s leadership and pressure-tested poise clearly made an impression, and JuJu’s already applying those lessons-even if he hasn’t taken a collegiate snap yet.
He could’ve gone home this summer. Instead, he stayed in Boulder. No vacations. No distractions. Just the weight room, the film room, and his own standard to meet. “The work won’t do itself,” Colorado GM Corey Phillips recently said. JuJu lives that.
At just 17, after reclassifying into the 2024 class, Lewis sounds more like a seasoned vet than a kid who skipped prom. “You have to be here,” he said after spring camp. “The extra time with the GAs, the complexity of plays, the speed-it’s different.” He’s not rattled. He’s adjusting.
Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter might have the edge right now, but insiders say the energy in the QB room hasn’t felt this alive since Sefo Liufau. JuJu’s presence is shifting the culture-even before he’s under center.
Colorado struggled with consistency last season-especially up front. The Nebraska loss stung, and the offense never quite found its rhythm. But with a beefed-up line and a young quarterback already earning respect, there’s quiet optimism again. The Joker tattoo may just be the start. The real chaos might come when Lewis finally steps onto the field.
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