University of Colorado Athletics
Lampron Named To Bednarik Award Watch List
August 21, 2026 | Football
BOULDER — Colorado Buffaloes fifth-year linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron has been named to the watch list for the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Friday.
Presented annually since 1994 to the outstanding defensive player in college football, the award is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik, an All-American at Pennsylvania who went on to become the last full-time two-way player in the NFL. Lampron is one of 91 players nationally on this year's watch list.
Lampron is in his first season with the CU football program after transferring from Bowling Green, where he started all 12 games in 2025 and was elected one of four team captains. He totaled 119 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles — and was the only player in the nation to finish the regular season with more than 100 tackles and 15 tackles for loss. He earned First Team All-MAC honors and was a Phil Steele All-America honorable mention selection.
"You see me smiling when you say his name," said Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders. "That's my guy. That's my guy, for sure. He comes to practice every day. Smart, intelligent, born leader, physical, mean. Just gets upset when he don't make the play. He lives this. He loves this. He's a football player."
Lampron has quickly established himself in the Buffaloes' linebacker room since arriving in Boulder.
"Gideon has exceeded expectations," Coach Prime said. "Gideon is not just a dawg; he's a bona fide leader. He's a playmaker. He's a guy that loves practice, loves the game. He's not selfish, very unselfish, but he loves football, and I love that about him."
Prior to Bowling Green, Lampron played three seasons at Dayton, where he was named a first-team FCS All-American by the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation in 2024 after posting 99 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Lampron is the ninth different Buffalo to earn Bednarik Award recognition and the first since 2024, when Travis Hunter won the award and BJ Green also appeared on the watch list. Nate Landman was a three-time watch list selection (2019-21), and Jordon Dizon was one of 15 semifinalists in 2007.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 10, with three finalists unveiled Nov. 24. The winner will be announced Dec. 10 as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show — a fitting stage for Lampron, whose middle name is, literally, ESPN.
Lampron and the Buffaloes open the season Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech (6 p.m. MT, ESPN).
Presented annually since 1994 to the outstanding defensive player in college football, the award is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik, an All-American at Pennsylvania who went on to become the last full-time two-way player in the NFL. Lampron is one of 91 players nationally on this year's watch list.
Lampron is in his first season with the CU football program after transferring from Bowling Green, where he started all 12 games in 2025 and was elected one of four team captains. He totaled 119 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles — and was the only player in the nation to finish the regular season with more than 100 tackles and 15 tackles for loss. He earned First Team All-MAC honors and was a Phil Steele All-America honorable mention selection.
"You see me smiling when you say his name," said Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders. "That's my guy. That's my guy, for sure. He comes to practice every day. Smart, intelligent, born leader, physical, mean. Just gets upset when he don't make the play. He lives this. He loves this. He's a football player."
Lampron has quickly established himself in the Buffaloes' linebacker room since arriving in Boulder.
"Gideon has exceeded expectations," Coach Prime said. "Gideon is not just a dawg; he's a bona fide leader. He's a playmaker. He's a guy that loves practice, loves the game. He's not selfish, very unselfish, but he loves football, and I love that about him."
Prior to Bowling Green, Lampron played three seasons at Dayton, where he was named a first-team FCS All-American by the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation in 2024 after posting 99 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Lampron is the ninth different Buffalo to earn Bednarik Award recognition and the first since 2024, when Travis Hunter won the award and BJ Green also appeared on the watch list. Nate Landman was a three-time watch list selection (2019-21), and Jordon Dizon was one of 15 semifinalists in 2007.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced Nov. 10, with three finalists unveiled Nov. 24. The winner will be announced Dec. 10 as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show — a fitting stage for Lampron, whose middle name is, literally, ESPN.
Lampron and the Buffaloes open the season Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech (6 p.m. MT, ESPN).
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballThursday, August 20
Thursday, August 20
Tuesday, August 18
Tuesday, August 18