The Colorado football team can finally exhale.

After five straight losses, Deion Sanders and the Buffs got back in the win column on Saturday. It took overtime and a wild finish but Colorado QB Isaac Wilson threw the game-winning TD to TE Charlie Williams, giving the Buffs their first Big 12 win in over a year.

Here’s a look at a few other Colorado football players who broke out in Week 9 vs. Kansas State.

RB Richard Young

Young was an afterthought in the Buffs’ RB room before Week 9. He won’t be anymore after his breakout performance. Coach Prime said earlier in the week that Young would get more opportunities and he stayed true to his word.

The Alabama transfer RB rushed for a career-high 120 yards (68 yards after contact) and two TDs on 24 attempts in the win over Kansas State, powering Colorado’s rushing attack to heights it hasn’t seen in years. Young’s 120 rushing yards are the most by a Buff since Jarek Broussard in 2021. Colorado doesn’t snap its five-game losing streak without Young’s career day.

“He’s waited patiently,” Deion Sanders said of Richard Young postgame. “I wanted him to have a chance to run the ball today and he proved that he could.”

LB Gideon ESPN Lampron

Lampron has quickly become a Colorado football fan favorite. He’s had 11-plus tackles in four straight games and on Saturday, he set a career-high with 15 total tackles (eight solo). Lampron also racked up four TFLs and two sacks while earning the Buffs’ highest run defense grade vs. Kansas State, according to Pro Football Focus.

Lampron’s 12.5 TFLs so far this season are the most by a Colorado football player since 2022 (Josh Chandler-Semedo). Lampron also leads the Big 12 in total tackles (80) and solo tackles (43) entering Week 10.

DB Makari Vickers

Vickers went from playing eight snaps a week ago to playing a season-high 61 and he took advantage of the extra opportunities. He was the Buffs’ highest-graded defender (77.1) in the win over Kansas State, according to PFF.

Vickers set a new career high with seven total tackles (six solo), five stops, two QB hurries and a forced fumble on a punt return. He’s another guy, like Young, who earned more playing time moving forward.

DE Yamil Talib

Talib played a season-high 35 snaps vs. Kansas State and had the game of his life. The Charlotte transfer and nephew of Aqib Talib racked up a career-high eight tackles to go along with two sacks. Yamil Talib has become an important piece of the Colorado football team’s EDGE rotation.

DE Manny Ezeogu

Speaking of the Buffs’ EDGE rotation, Ezeogu showed why he’s an integral part of it. The JMU transfer totaled seven tackles (four solo) and 1.5 TFLs vs. Kansas State. This group of EDGE rushers is a big reason why Colorado’s defense has been impressive.

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