Deion Sanders can’t help but smile when he hears Gideon Lampron’s name.

The Colorado football defense gave up the most rushing yards in the Big 12 last season (222 per game) which is why Lampron, who’s real middle name is “ESPN,” was the perfect addition.

“You see me smiling when you said his name,” Coach Prime said of Gideon Lampron. “He’s smart, intelligent, born leader, physical, mean. He gets upset when he doesn’t make the play. He lives this and he loves this.

“He’s one of the best dudes on the team. He gets along with everybody and I’m over pleased with that whole linebacker room.”

Gideon Lampron was the only player in college football last season with 100-plus tackles and 15-plus TFLs. The Bowling Green transfer LB earned first-team All-MAC honors in 2025, but it wasn’t necessarily his play that put him on Deion Sanders’ radar.

Coach Prime and Gideon Lampron ended up on the same flight soon after the portal opened this offseason. Lampron introduced himself to the Colorado head coach, explained that he was in the portal and expressed interest in the Buffs.

When Deion Sanders called his director of player personnel from the plane, Darrius Darden-Box, the first thing he said was Lampron is “straight balling.”

That wasn’t an exaggeration. Gideon Lampron racked up 119 tackles and 17.5 TFLs last season.

“Nothing happens by chance,” Deion Sanders said of meeting Gideon Lampron the way they did. “That was a blessing for us and I thank God for it because he’s a game-changer. He’s a program changer. He truly is.”

That’s high praise for Gideon Lampron but it’s warranted. He quickly established himself as a team leader and one of the most consistent players on the roster.

The only question is if he can replicate his impact and production at the Power 4 level. That’s part of the reason why he’s a Buff.

“The goal is always to play versus the best competition that you can get to and coming to Colorado gave me that opportunity,” Gideon Lampron said. “The Big 12 is great football.

“Coming to camp, it’s still just football with different colors but the stakes are a little higher for all us here, especially coming to turn around what happened last year. I could speak for probably every transfer, it does feel slightly different coming in under these circumstances.”

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