Colorado’s season-opening win at Georgia Tech was built on defense, and the Big 12 made sure to notice.
The conference handed out three of its first Monster Energy weekly awards of the 2026 season to the Buffaloes after their 14-13 victory in Atlanta. Defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr. was named co-Defensive Player of the Week, defensive back Boo Carter earned co-Special Teams Player of the Week, and Colorado was selected as the Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week.
The awards fit the game. Deion Sanders’ team needed a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute and then survived on a blocked field goal as time expired, but the defense carried the night from start to finish.
Lester was especially disruptive in his Colorado debut. The Monmouth transfer piled up three sacks for 22 yards in losses even though he played only 12 passing snaps. Each sack ended a Georgia Tech drive with a punt, and he also shared a tackle for loss on a third-down stop in the fourth quarter.
That performance put Lester alongside Iowa State defensive end Isaac Terrell, who also had three sacks in his debut, as co-winners of the weekly defensive honor.
Colorado’s front as a whole looked like the kind of unit that can take over games. The Buffaloes limited Georgia Tech to 51 rushing yards on 30 carries after the Yellow Jackets had averaged 197.5 rushing yards per game last season. Colorado also produced 11 quarterback pressures and three sacks, and Georgia Tech’s only touchdown came on a kickoff return.
That kind of control is what earned Colorado the Defensive Line of the Week award.
Carter provided the finishing touch, and then some. After Colorado grabbed a 14-13 lead with 42 seconds left, Georgia Tech drove into range for what could have been the winning field goal. Carter broke through the protection and blocked the kick as time expired to seal the win.
“We practiced on it,” Carter said. “My coach gave me a little method on how to perfect jump it.”
He said he had nearly gotten to an earlier kick but had not fully extended.
“I just had to dive for this one,” Carter said. “Perfect time.”
Carter’s impact came well before the final snap, too. He recovered a fumble deep in Georgia Tech territory in the first quarter and made two key tackles on the Yellow Jackets’ opening possession.
He shared the special teams award with BYU defensive back Cannon DeVries, who returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and added 73 yards on two punt returns against Utah Tech.
For Colorado, the weekly honors were a clean snapshot of what won the game: Lester ending drives, Carter changing momentum twice, and the defensive front shutting down one of the ACC’s most productive rushing attacks.
In Other News...
Colorado Just Got Early Proof Two Newcomers Can Change Everything
Colorado got an immediate return on two of its most intriguing newcomers in the season opener at Georgia Tech, and the Big 12 took notice. Lamont Lester Jr. was named co-winner of Defensive Player of the Week after piling up three sacks in his Colorado debut, while Boo Carter shared Special Teams Player of the Week honors after making two of the games defining plays in the 14-13 win.
The early hardware is a reminder that Colorados roster makeover is not just about headlines, it is about impact. The defensive lines recognition as the leagues unit of the week only deepens that view, with the Buffaloes already seeing fresh pieces tilt a tight road game their way and hint at how quickly this defense can become a problem for opponents. [Read more 🡒]
Toby Anene Could Change What Colorado's Pass Rush Becomes
Toby Anene is settling into Colorados rotation at defensive end at a time when the Buffaloes are still sorting out what their pass rush can become. The fifth-year defender has already been through Folsom Field once before, when he played there for North Dakota State in 2024, but this time the setting carries a different kind of weight as he works to carve out a bigger role in Boulder. His growth has been less about raw athleticism than about sharpening the details, especially play recognition and a better grasp of offensive schemes.
That development showed up in Colorados recent win over Georgia Tech, where Anene made a notable contribution and gave a glimpse of why he fits into this edge group. He has also benefited from the competition around him, crediting the depth at defensive end for pushing him forward. For a defense looking to define itself, Anene is one of the players who could help determine how disruptive the Buffaloes become off the edge. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado May Finally Unleash A Backfield Option Fans Want More Of
Colorado is expected to have a little more of Richard Young in the mix when it faces Weber State, a development that should catch the attention of Buffs fans who were left wanting more after his limited work last week. The Alabama transfer flashed enough in brief action to hint at what he can bring, and the staff has been careful about easing him in after a summer injury cut into his practice time.
The gradual approach makes sense for a backfield that is still sorting out roles, but Youngs early promise has created real curiosity about how quickly Colorado will expand his workload. Saturday offers another chance to see whether the Buffs are ready to turn him loose a bit more, or whether theyll keep building him up one step at a time. [Read more 🡒]