Two Colorado linebackers named to 2026 Butkus Award watch list

Colorado football's rebuilt linebacker room received an early vote of confidence Thursday.

Transfers Gideon Lampron and Liona Lefau were named to the 2026 Butkus Award preseason watch list, presented each year to college football's top linebacker. The 51-player list covers 42 schools, and Colorado is one of eight programs with two selections.

It is noteworthy recognition for a unit that has been remade since last season. Lampron and Lefau arrived through the transfer portal along with former New Mexico State linebacker Tyler Martinez, giving new defensive coordinator Chris Marve a more experienced group in the middle of his defense.

Lampron comes to Boulder after putting together one of the most productive seasons in the country at Bowling Green. The fifth-year linebacker started all 12 games, posted 119 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, and earned first-team All-MAC honors. He was the only FBS player in the 2025 regular season to finish with more than 100 tackles and 15 tackles for loss.

Before Bowling Green, Lampron was a first-team FCS All-American at Dayton in 2024, when he recorded 23.5 tackles for loss and ranked second nationally.

Double trouble‼️

Gideon Lampron & Liona Lefau have been named to the Butkus Award Watchlist @EspnGideon x @LefauLionahttps://t.co/qDlPQ0WpzJpic.twitter.com/aEExziZnK7

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) August 13, 2026

Lefau gives Colorado a different type of resume. The fourth-year linebacker played 42 games and made 22 starts over three seasons at Texas, totaling 139 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks. He started all 12 regular-season games for the Longhorns in 2025, had 69 tackles and returned a fumble 53 yards for a touchdown against Arkansas.

"I love just being around the guys, building a bond, getting to know each other better, just hanging out with the guys 24/7," Lefau said during Colorado's fall camp trip to Colorado Springs.

Lampron echoed the value of the off-site camp setup, saying the team's time together has helped the newcomers focus on the work ahead.

"Boulder is a fun town, so there’s a lot of distractions there," Lampron said. "Leaving allows you to recenter yourself and focus on what the main thing is, which is doing everything you can to help this football team win games."

Colorado has a strong history with the Butkus Award. Alfred Williams won in 1990, Matt Russell followed in 1996, and Nate Landman was a semifinalist in 2020. Lampron and Lefau are the first Colorado pair to make the preseason watch list together since Davion Taylor and Landman in 2019.

The Buffs open Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech. Semifinalists will be announced Oct. 28, finalists on Nov. 20 and the winner during the week of Dec. 7.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Two Colorado linebackers named to 2026 Butkus Award watch list