November 10, 2026 | Football
BOULDER — Colorado linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron has been named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday. The award is presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
Lampron is one of 18 semifinalists and one of just two from the Big 12. He is the third Buffalo to reach the semifinalist stage, joining Travis Hunter, who won the award in 2024, and linebacker Jordon Dizon, a semifinalist in 2007.
The announcement comes a day after Lampron was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week, the first Buff to win his conference's defensive honor after back-to-back games since Nate Landman in 2020.
Lampron leads Colorado with 99 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks through nine games. His 16 tackles for loss are tied for second on CU's single-season list for inside linebackers with Greg Jones (1995) and Greg Biekert (1992), one behind Matt Russell's record 17 in 1995, with three regular-season games to play.
He has set a career high in tackles in four straight weeks, most recently with 18 (10 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks at Arizona State on Saturday. That followed 16 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks against Kansas State, and he has gone 11-13-14-16-18 over the last five games for 72 tackles.
That stretch began when fellow linebacker Tyler Martinez left the lineup.
"Tyler is irreplaceable. He's a leader," Lampron said. "He meant a lot to the defense, and I felt like I had to step up my game, just because I know he would want me to."
A fifth-year linebacker from LaGrange, Ohio, Lampron came to Colorado after one season at Bowling Green and three at Dayton, and opened the year on the Bednarik Award and Butkus Award watch lists. He owns 368 tackles, 61.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in his college career.
Three finalists for the 32nd Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 24, and the winner will be named Dec. 10 on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
Colorado (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) hosts Houston on Friday at Folsom Field. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. MT on ESPN.
"We've got to move forward and get ready, and we're going to put a good product on the field versus a high-quality opponent," Lampron said. "I'm excited for the chance."
Lampron is one of 18 semifinalists and one of just two from the Big 12. He is the third Buffalo to reach the semifinalist stage, joining Travis Hunter, who won the award in 2024, and linebacker Jordon Dizon, a semifinalist in 2007.
The announcement comes a day after Lampron was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week, the first Buff to win his conference's defensive honor after back-to-back games since Nate Landman in 2020.
Lampron leads Colorado with 99 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks through nine games. His 16 tackles for loss are tied for second on CU's single-season list for inside linebackers with Greg Jones (1995) and Greg Biekert (1992), one behind Matt Russell's record 17 in 1995, with three regular-season games to play.
He has set a career high in tackles in four straight weeks, most recently with 18 (10 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks at Arizona State on Saturday. That followed 16 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks against Kansas State, and he has gone 11-13-14-16-18 over the last five games for 72 tackles.
That stretch began when fellow linebacker Tyler Martinez left the lineup.
"Tyler is irreplaceable. He's a leader," Lampron said. "He meant a lot to the defense, and I felt like I had to step up my game, just because I know he would want me to."
A fifth-year linebacker from LaGrange, Ohio, Lampron came to Colorado after one season at Bowling Green and three at Dayton, and opened the year on the Bednarik Award and Butkus Award watch lists. He owns 368 tackles, 61.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in his college career.
Three finalists for the 32nd Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 24, and the winner will be named Dec. 10 on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
Colorado (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) hosts Houston on Friday at Folsom Field. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. MT on ESPN.
"We've got to move forward and get ready, and we're going to put a good product on the field versus a high-quality opponent," Lampron said. "I'm excited for the chance."
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