Lampron Lands at Colorado After Chance Flight Chat With Sanders
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- Gideon Lampron introduced himself to Deion Sanders on a Dallas-to-Cleveland flight in December while the transfer portal was open, and Sanders told him to send tape and promised to make calls — a few days later, Lampron was in Boulder after leaving Bowling Green (coached by Eddie George).
- Lampron is on the preseason Butkus Award watch list alongside fellow transfer Liona Lefau (from Texas), as part of a revamped linebacker corps under new defensive coordinator Chris Marve, who replaced Robert Livingston (now with the Denver Broncos).
- Sanders called Lampron "not just a dawg; he's a bona fide leader," a sharp contrast to a Colorado defense that surrendered 30.5 points and 425.7 yards per game during last season's 3-9 finish.
- Lampron built his résumé at FCS Dayton (27½ tackles for loss over three seasons, first-team FCS All-American in 2024) before posting 119 tackles at Bowling Green, where he played for Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George.
- Lampron was among several Buffaloes invited to Sanders' mansion near Dallas for a leadership retreat last month, and he now anchors a linebacker group that bonded this summer over UFC fights and World Cup soccer.
- Lampron carries a distinctive middle name — ESPN — bestowed by his father Marty, a self-described enormous sports fan who named his son after the network.
Why it matters: Colorado is betting a borderline-recruited FCS walk-up can anchor a defense that hemorrhaged 30.5 points per game last season, and Lampron's Butkus Award watch-list nod signals the coaching staff's confidence heading into a season-opening test at Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
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