Gideon Lampron, a native of LaGrange, Ohio, took an intriguing journey to reach the big stage of college football. Starting at Dayton, Lampron often found himself yearning for more.
“I’d wake up wishing I was somewhere else,” he recalls. Now, as a senior linebacker for the Colorado Buffaloes, he’s ready to make his mark.
Lampron’s story isn’t about disliking Dayton; he actually loved it there. But like many aspiring athletes, his dreams were set on playing at the highest level. “I always had greater ambitions,” he admits.
This season, Lampron is one of 27 transfers joining the Buffaloes from non-Power Four schools, including FCS and junior colleges, all eager to prove themselves. “We brought in dogs,” says Kam Perry, a receiver who started at Indiana before finding success at Miami-Ohio. “These guys want to be here, and they show it every day.”
The Buffs have seen a mix of results with transfers from lower levels. Notably, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter made waves after moving from Jackson State, following Coach Deion Sanders to Boulder. While some transfers struggled, others like Zach Atkins and Xavier Weaver have shone brightly.
Lampron, an FCS All-American at Dayton, continued his rise at Bowling Green, earning first-team All-MAC honors with an impressive 119 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss. Another standout newcomer is receiver Danny Scudero, who led the nation in receiving yards at San Jose State after starting at Sacramento State.
“It’s a cool story,” Scudero shares about his journey. “But you have to earn everything in this sport. It’s all about hard work.”
Joining them are players like Ezra Christensen, Naten Mitchell, and Tyler Martinez, who excelled at New Mexico State. “We hit the portal together and thought, ‘Colorado’s interested; let’s make it happen,’” Martinez says.
The Buffs’ new lineup also features talents like offensive lineman Sean Kinney (Lafayette) and defensive lineman Santana Hopper (Tulane), among others, all of whom earned all-conference honors last season.
“When you have guys with similar stories, they strive for greatness,” Lampron notes. “They come with a chip on their shoulder, ready to compete every day.”
Lampron’s dream of playing Power Four football is now a reality. “I’m just thankful to be here,” he reflects. “Starting with no offers out of high school was tough, but that chip on my shoulder keeps me driven.”