Colorado Linebackers Blend Experience and Competition Entering Spring

BOULDER – Colorado's linebacker room enters the season with a mix of proven production and developmental depth.

The unit features returners with starting experience, transfers who have produced at multiple levels and a group of younger players working to establish roles. The blend of experience and competition gives the Buffs flexibility to both inside and outside linebackers.

Position Group: Linebackers

Returners: Gage Goldberg, Bo Simmons-Lapenna
Newcomers: Rodney Colton, Carson Crawford, Colby Johnson, Gideon ESPN Lapron, Liona Lefau, Tyler Martinez

Position Group Preview

Gideon ESPN Lampron, Liona Lefau and Tyler Martinez bring starting experience and consistent tackle production at the collegiate level, giving the defense stability at the second level. Their experience in multiple schemes and high-level competition provides a foundation for the room.

Behind them, returning contributors and special teams regulars continue to compete for expanded roles, while a group of freshmen adds size, speed and high school production to the depth chart.

The focus entering camp will be communication and role definition. With veteran leadership and competition throughout the room, the development of cohesion will determine how consistently the linebackers anchor Colorado's defense this season.

Let's meet the linebackers

Rodney Colton Jr.

Year: Freshman
Hometown: Newnan, Ga.
High School: Newnan

Colton enters the linebacker room as a productive high school defender with experience on all three downs.

A consensus three-star prospect, he was rated among the top linebackers in Georgia by multiple recruiting services, with ESPN listing him as a four-star recruit.

At Newnan High School, Colton played four varsity seasons. In addition to football, he competed in basketball and track and field.

Colton brings range, production and multi-sport athleticism to Colorado's linebacker room as he begins his collegiate development.

Carson Crawford

Year: Freshman
Hometown: Carthage, Texas
High School: Carthage

Crawford enters the linebacker room as one of the more accomplished high school defenders in his class.

A consensus three-star prospect, he was rated among the top linebackers in Texas, with 247Sports listing him as a four-star recruit and one of the top linebackers nationally.

Crawford helped compile a 57-2 record across four varsity seasons and earned All-State honors three times. As a senior, he led Carthage to an undefeated regular season and a deep playoff run while recording 97 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and six sacks. He also contributed on offense with 15 receptions and three touchdowns.

Crawford also competed in track and field and baseball and was an honor roll student throughout high school.

He brings length, versatility and proven production to Colorado's linebacker room as he begins his collegiate career.

Gage Goldberg

Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Boerne, Texas
High School: Champion

Goldberg returns as a special teams contributor with defensive experience.

In 2025, he played in nine games, primarily on special teams. He logged 81 special teams snaps, the 16th most on the team, and saw action on kickoff, kickoff return and punt return units. He recorded seven knockdown blocks; two fair catch kickoff returns and one fumble recovery.

As a true freshman in 2024, Goldberg appeared in three games. He made his collegiate debut at Arizona and finished the season with one tackle and 11 defensive snaps.

At Champion High School in Texas, he competed in baseball.

Goldberg is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg. He is the second member of his family to play at Colorado, joining cousin David Goldberg, who lettered from 2009 to 2011.

Colby Johnson

Year: Freshman
Hometown: Sammamish, Wash.
High School: Eastlake

Johnson enters the linebacker room as a three-star prospect with two-way experience and track speed. At Eastlake High School, he played three varsity seasons. Earned All-League honors as a junior and senior.

He played on both sides of the ball. Johnson also competed in track and field, posting personal bests of 10.87 in the 100 meters and 22.81 in the 200 meters. He was active in community service through the National League of Young Men

Johnson brings range and athleticism as he begins his collegiate development.

Gideon ESPN Lampron

Year: Senior
Hometown: LaGrange, Ohio
High School: Keystone
Previous School: Dayton/Bowling Green

Lampron's path to Colorado began with an unexpected airport encounter.

While in the transfer portal, he found himself boarding the same flight as head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders.

"I had a crazy run-in with the head coach, Mr. Prime," Lampron said in an interview with Well Off Media.

"I'm standing by my gate and see a golf cart pull up and realize Coach Prime just got on the same plane as me."

Initially hesitant, Lampron said his agent encouraged him to introduce himself.

"As I'm walking on the plane, I said, 'Hey Coach Prime, I'd love to play for you. I'm in the portal. I'd do anything to be on this team,'" Lampron recalled. "He asked my name, fist-bumped me and said, 'Godspeed.'"

Lampron believed the brief exchange had ended there. Instead, Sanders later walked to the back of the aircraft after researching him and expressed interest in bringing him to Boulder.

The encounter ultimately became the start of Lampron's move to Colorado.

In 2025 at Bowling Green, he started all 12 games and served as a team captain. He recorded 119 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, adding two forced fumbles. He was the only player in the nation to finish the regular season with at least 100 tackles and 15 tackles for loss. He earned First Team All-MAC honors and Phil Steele All-America honorable mention recognition.

He finished among national leaders in tackles for loss and sacks and was named first-team All-Pioneer Football League. Across his Dayton career, he appeared in 24 games and recorded 150 tackles and 27.5 tackles for loss.

At Keystone High School in Ohio, Lampron was a three-time all-state selection and a finalist for Ohio Mr. Football. He played both linebacker and running back

His middle name is ESPN. Lampron brings proven production, leadership experience and versatility to Colorado's linebacker room.

Liona Lefau

Year: Senior
Hometown: Laie, Hawaii
High School: Kahuku
Previous School: Texas

Lefau enters the season with extensive Power Four experience, having appeared in 42 career games with 21 starts.

"I prayed on it and felt like Colorado was the right opportunity," Lefau explained why he chose the Buffs.

"There is a hunger here. The coaches push us, the players compete and everyone is working to build something special."

In 2025, he started all 12 games and posted multiple career highs, including an 11-tackle performance late in the season. He also recorded a fumble recovery, returned 52 yards for a touchdown and consistently contributed in both run support and pass coverage.

As a sophomore in 2024, he appeared in all 16 games with 10 starts. He recorded at least one tackle in every game and added sacks, an interception and a forced fumble during the season. He also contributed during Texas' College Football Playoff run.

At Kahuku High School in Hawaii, he was named Hawaii All-State Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead the program to a state championship. He earned national recruiting recognition and participated in the Polynesian Bowl.
Lefau brings starting experience, postseason exposure and three years of high-level competition to Colorado's linebacker room.

Tyler Martinez

Year: Senior
Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M.
High School: Volcano Vista
Previous School: New Mexico Military Institute / New Mexico State

Martinez enters the season with multiyear production and conference recognition at the FBS level.

The recruiting process felt like speed dating," Martinez said. "I talked with Coach Box and things moved fast, but it just felt like the right place.

Through four games in 2025, he totaled 27 tackles, including 15 solo stops, with one tackle for loss and one forced fumble, in an injured shortened season.

"Getting hurt was the toughest time of my life," Martinez said. "It teaches you not to take anything for granted. Every day you get to step on the field and play football is a blessing."

In 2024, he started all 12 games and led his team with 96 total tackles, including 47 solo stops. He added 2.5 tackles for loss and earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors, along with College Football Network honorable mention recognition. He recorded double digit tackles in three games, including a career high 12 tackles on two occasions.

In 2023, he appeared in 13 games and totaled 22 tackles while contributing to a double digit win season.

Martinez began his collegiate career at New Mexico Military Institute in 2022, where he led the team with 83 tackles in 11 games. He added 3.5 tackles for loss and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

At Volcano Vista High School, he recorded 145 tackles and 29.5 tackles for loss as a senior, helping lead the program to a state playoff appearance.

Martinez brings starting experience, durability and consistent tackling production to Colorado's linebacker room.

Bo Simmons-Lapenna

Year: Senior
Hometown: Commerce City, Colo.
High School: Adams City

Simmons-Lapenna returns as a special teams contributor with limited defensive experience.

In 2025, he played in nine games, primarily on special teams. He logged 79 snaps across kickoff, kickoff return and field goal block units and recorded five knockdown blocks and one assisted tackle. He also saw four defensive snaps across two games.

In 2024, he appeared in three games and made his first collegiate defensive appearance in a win against Arizona, recording his first career tackle. He also contributed 15 special teams snaps.

As a true freshman in 2023, he appeared in three games.

At Adams City High School, LaPenna was a four-year varsity player. As a senior, he rushed for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns while also recording 88 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

LaPenna adds in-state depth and special teams experience to Colorado's linebacker room.

This room has experience. It has production. Now it is about performance.

The linebackers sit at the center of everything defensively, communication, alignment and physicality.

The expectation is clear: run to the football, finish plays and set the standard for effort.

The talent is in place. The leadership is established.

Now it is about execution.

Up Next: The inside look at the wide receiver room.

The 2026 Colorado wide receiver room enters spring camp reshaped and reloaded under new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and his "go-go" offense.

Five returners and seven newcomers add depth and competition across the formation.

The transfer additions headline the overhaul. Danny Scudero arrives from San Jose State, Kam Perry from Miami (Ohio), DeAndre Moore Jr. from Texas and speedster Ernest Campbell from Sacramento State.

With a mix of experience and new additions, the wide receiver unit will be one of the most competitive position groups on the roster this spring.

Fans wanting to get a first glimpse of the 2026 Colorado Buffaloes football team can claim tickets now for the annual AT&T Black & Gold Day on April 11.
Tickets are free to claim for the football team's open practice beginning at 1 p.m. but fans must have tickets to enter. Folsom Field gates will open at 11 a.m.

Colorado University Athletics

Colorado Linebackers Blend Experience and Competition Entering Spring

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Players Mentioned

Ernest Campbell

Rodney Colton Jr.

Carson Crawford

Gage Goldberg

Colby Johnson

Liona Lefau

Tyler Martinez

DeAndre Moore Jr.

Kam Perry

Danny Scudero

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