November 02, 2026 | Football
BOULDER — Colorado linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron has been named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday, after a career-high 16 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks in the Buffaloes' 27-24 overtime win over Kansas State on Saturday at Folsom Field.
Lampron's 16 tackles (eight solo) were the most by a Buffalo this season and his third straight game setting a Colorado career high, following 13 against Utah and 14 at Oklahoma State. His four tackles for loss, covering 20 yards, were also the most by a Colorado player this season, and his two sacks went for 18 yards. He added a quarterback hurry.
The biggest of the sacks came with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter and the game tied 21-21, when Lampron dropped Blake Barnett for an 11-yard loss on second down at the Colorado 42, turning a manageable down into third-and-21 and forcing the punt that gave the Buffs their final possession of regulation. His 7-yard sack in the third quarter forced a third-and-18 that ended in another Kansas State punt.
"I was just doing what the coach called," Lampron said. "I try not to pay too much attention to stats. I'm proud of this team. I just want to win games, and whatever I can do to help the team."
The fifth-year transfer from Bowling Green has reached double figures in tackles in four consecutive games (11, 13, 14, 16) and five times this season, and he leads Colorado with 81 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. It is his 17th career game with 10 or more tackles — five at Dayton in 2024, seven at Bowling Green in 2025 and five at Colorado. He was named to the PFF Big 12 Team of the Week and CU's Athlete of the Week after the Utah game.
Lampron is the second Buffalo to earn the league's weekly defensive honor this season, joining defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr. after the opener at Georgia Tech. Colorado's defense recorded five sacks against Kansas State, a season high, held the Big 12's leading rushing team to 121 yards on 39 carries without a rushing touchdown, and stopped the Wildcats at the Colorado 7 in overtime to set up Charlie Williams' game-winning touchdown catch.
"I've never had a situation really like that in my career," Lampron said of the overtime stand. "But we were ready to go make the play and win the game, for sure."
Colorado (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) plays at Arizona State on Saturday on ESPN2.
Lampron's 16 tackles (eight solo) were the most by a Buffalo this season and his third straight game setting a Colorado career high, following 13 against Utah and 14 at Oklahoma State. His four tackles for loss, covering 20 yards, were also the most by a Colorado player this season, and his two sacks went for 18 yards. He added a quarterback hurry.
The biggest of the sacks came with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter and the game tied 21-21, when Lampron dropped Blake Barnett for an 11-yard loss on second down at the Colorado 42, turning a manageable down into third-and-21 and forcing the punt that gave the Buffs their final possession of regulation. His 7-yard sack in the third quarter forced a third-and-18 that ended in another Kansas State punt.
"I was just doing what the coach called," Lampron said. "I try not to pay too much attention to stats. I'm proud of this team. I just want to win games, and whatever I can do to help the team."
The fifth-year transfer from Bowling Green has reached double figures in tackles in four consecutive games (11, 13, 14, 16) and five times this season, and he leads Colorado with 81 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. It is his 17th career game with 10 or more tackles — five at Dayton in 2024, seven at Bowling Green in 2025 and five at Colorado. He was named to the PFF Big 12 Team of the Week and CU's Athlete of the Week after the Utah game.
Lampron is the second Buffalo to earn the league's weekly defensive honor this season, joining defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr. after the opener at Georgia Tech. Colorado's defense recorded five sacks against Kansas State, a season high, held the Big 12's leading rushing team to 121 yards on 39 carries without a rushing touchdown, and stopped the Wildcats at the Colorado 7 in overtime to set up Charlie Williams' game-winning touchdown catch.
"I've never had a situation really like that in my career," Lampron said of the overtime stand. "But we were ready to go make the play and win the game, for sure."
Colorado (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) plays at Arizona State on Saturday on ESPN2.
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