University of Colorado Athletics
Six More Buffs Land on National Preseason Watch Lists
August 27, 2026 | Football
BOULDER — Six more Colorado football players earned spots on national preseason watch lists this week: quarterback Julian Lewis on the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award watch list, linebacker Liona Lefau and defensive lineman Vili Taufatofua on the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list, linebacker Tyler Martinez on the Hispanic College Football Player of the Year watch list, and wide receivers Quentin Gibson and Joseph Williams on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list.
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year
Lefau and Taufatofua were named to the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list Thursday, Aug. 20. The award honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies ability and integrity both on and off the field. Colorado has had six previous nominations, and quarterback Sefo Liufau won the award in 2016.
Lefau, a fourth-year linebacker from Kahuku, Hawai'i, previously played at Texas, where he appeared in 42 games across three seasons and totaled 139 tackles (68 solo), eight tackles for loss, six pass breakups, three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He entered the transfer portal as a four-star transfer prospect, rated the No. 126 overall player and No. 7 linebacker. He enters his first season with Colorado this fall.
Taufatofua, a fifth-year defensive lineman from Auckland, New Zealand, previously played at New Mexico Military Institute, Utah and San Jose State. He started all 11 games he played for San Jose State in 2025, finishing with 34 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup. He entered the transfer portal rated the No. 855 overall player and No. 97 edge rusher. He enters his first season with Colorado this fall.
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Gibson and Williams were named to the 2026 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list. The award is presented annually to the top offensive player in college football with ties to the state of Texas through high school or college. Shedeur Sanders was a finalist in 2024, and Colorado has 11 nominations since 2013.
Gibson, a second-year wide receiver from Fort Worth, Texas, came to the Buffs from North Crowley High School. He played in all 12 games last season with two starts, opening the season against Georgia Tech as the only true freshman starter in that game and the fourth true freshman to start a season opener in Colorado history. He was also named the FWAA Special Teams Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American as a kick returner.
Williams, a third-year wide receiver from Arlington, Texas, began his career at Tulsa, where he played in all 12 games as a freshman in 2024 with five starts, catching 30 passes for 588 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 19.6 yards per reception. He entered the transfer portal rated the No. 286 overall player and No. 58 wide receiver by 247Sports. In his first season at Colorado in 2025, Williams played in 10 games with six starts, finishing with 37 receptions for 489 yards and four touchdowns.
Hispanic College Football Player of the Year
Martinez is the first Colorado player nominated for the Hispanic College Football Player of the Year award, which annually recognizes top college football players of Hispanic ancestry who excel on the field and in their communities.
Martinez, a fifth-year linebacker from Albuquerque, N.M., previously played at New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State. He started the first four games of the 2025 season for New Mexico State before an injury ended his year, and he totaled 27 tackles, four pass breakups, one tackle for loss, one interception and one forced fumble across two seasons there. As a transfer, he was rated a three-star prospect, the No. 1,302 overall player and No. 100 linebacker by 247Sports. He is in his first season with Colorado.
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year
Lewis was named to the 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award watch list, the "Hot 37," an annual preseason list compiled by the Maxwell Football Club recognizing 37 of the nation's top freshman, both true and redshirt. The award honors the most outstanding freshman in college football based on talent, performance, leadership and character on and off the field.
Lewis, a second-year quarterback from Carrollton, Ga., played in four games in 2025 with two starts, making his first collegiate start at West Virginia to become the ninth true freshman to start at quarterback in CU history. He completed 52 of 94 passes for 589 yards and four touchdowns. In high school, he started every game of his three-year career at Carrollton High School, completing 736 of 1,065 passes for 11,010 yards — seventh all-time in Georgia history despite playing only three seasons — and earning Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024. ESPN rated him a five-star recruit, and he was a unanimous top-10 quarterback in the class of 2025.
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year
Lefau and Taufatofua were named to the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list Thursday, Aug. 20. The award honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies ability and integrity both on and off the field. Colorado has had six previous nominations, and quarterback Sefo Liufau won the award in 2016.
Lefau, a fourth-year linebacker from Kahuku, Hawai'i, previously played at Texas, where he appeared in 42 games across three seasons and totaled 139 tackles (68 solo), eight tackles for loss, six pass breakups, three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He entered the transfer portal as a four-star transfer prospect, rated the No. 126 overall player and No. 7 linebacker. He enters his first season with Colorado this fall.
Taufatofua, a fifth-year defensive lineman from Auckland, New Zealand, previously played at New Mexico Military Institute, Utah and San Jose State. He started all 11 games he played for San Jose State in 2025, finishing with 34 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup. He entered the transfer portal rated the No. 855 overall player and No. 97 edge rusher. He enters his first season with Colorado this fall.
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Gibson and Williams were named to the 2026 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list. The award is presented annually to the top offensive player in college football with ties to the state of Texas through high school or college. Shedeur Sanders was a finalist in 2024, and Colorado has 11 nominations since 2013.
Gibson, a second-year wide receiver from Fort Worth, Texas, came to the Buffs from North Crowley High School. He played in all 12 games last season with two starts, opening the season against Georgia Tech as the only true freshman starter in that game and the fourth true freshman to start a season opener in Colorado history. He was also named the FWAA Special Teams Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American as a kick returner.
Williams, a third-year wide receiver from Arlington, Texas, began his career at Tulsa, where he played in all 12 games as a freshman in 2024 with five starts, catching 30 passes for 588 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 19.6 yards per reception. He entered the transfer portal rated the No. 286 overall player and No. 58 wide receiver by 247Sports. In his first season at Colorado in 2025, Williams played in 10 games with six starts, finishing with 37 receptions for 489 yards and four touchdowns.
Hispanic College Football Player of the Year
Martinez is the first Colorado player nominated for the Hispanic College Football Player of the Year award, which annually recognizes top college football players of Hispanic ancestry who excel on the field and in their communities.
Martinez, a fifth-year linebacker from Albuquerque, N.M., previously played at New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State. He started the first four games of the 2025 season for New Mexico State before an injury ended his year, and he totaled 27 tackles, four pass breakups, one tackle for loss, one interception and one forced fumble across two seasons there. As a transfer, he was rated a three-star prospect, the No. 1,302 overall player and No. 100 linebacker by 247Sports. He is in his first season with Colorado.
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year
Lewis was named to the 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award watch list, the "Hot 37," an annual preseason list compiled by the Maxwell Football Club recognizing 37 of the nation's top freshman, both true and redshirt. The award honors the most outstanding freshman in college football based on talent, performance, leadership and character on and off the field.
Lewis, a second-year quarterback from Carrollton, Ga., played in four games in 2025 with two starts, making his first collegiate start at West Virginia to become the ninth true freshman to start at quarterback in CU history. He completed 52 of 94 passes for 589 yards and four touchdowns. In high school, he started every game of his three-year career at Carrollton High School, completing 736 of 1,065 passes for 11,010 yards — seventh all-time in Georgia history despite playing only three seasons — and earning Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024. ESPN rated him a five-star recruit, and he was a unanimous top-10 quarterback in the class of 2025.
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