Colorado standouts earn national honors after Georgia Tech win

The fallout from Colorado's Week 1 win over Georgia Tech continued Thursday with more recognition for some standout Buffs.

Lamont Lester Jr received the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, another honor after being named Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Week. Chauncey Gooden was named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week thanks to his performance on both the offensive and defensive lines.

The Walter Camp weekly award is the longest-running Player of the Week award, with the Walter Camp Foundation honoring one offensive player and one defensive player each week.

Lester picked up the honor thanks to a standout performance against the Yellow Jackets, where he recorded five tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. The three sacks were the most by a Colorado player in his debut game since 2003.

It is the fourth time since 2004 (and the first since Sept. 2, 2023 – Shedeur Sanders) that a Colorado player has earned Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors.

How about them trenches.

Chauncey Gooden is your Outland Trophy National Player of the Week. 💪@ChaunceyGooden x #GoBuffspic.twitter.com/OUUNxiSsnO

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) September 9, 2026

Gooden, who started at guard for Colorado, also played defensive tackle late in the Buffs' win against Georgia Tech. His two-way efforts propelled him to the honor given out by the Football Writers Association of America.

This is the fourth season that the FWAA will select an Outland Trophy National Player of the Week, and each weekly recipient is added to the preseason Outland Trophy watch list, which is given out to the best interior lineman, offensive or defensive.

Gooden stood out in the run game along an offensive line that graded 91.5 in pass protection and 84.5 in run blocking per Pro Football Focus.

Both awards will be announced in December, and if the Colorado offensive line continues to perform well as a unit, the Buffaloes could be a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line in college football.

Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado standouts earn national honors after Georgia Tech win