Colorado found a difference-maker on defense in its 14-13 upset of Georgia Tech, and Lamont Lester Jr. looked every bit like the guy who changed the game.
The 6-2, 230-pound edge rusher from Monmouth came flying off the edge all night in the Sept. 3 opener for both teams, finishing with three sacks and repeatedly wrecking Georgia Tech’s rhythm. Colorado’s new-look defense, with Chris Marve calling plays, came out aggressive and stayed that way against a Yellow Jackets team built to run the ball.
That plan paid off in a major way. Georgia Tech was held to just 51 rushing yards, its lowest total since 2022, and Lester was at the center of the disruption from start to finish. He didn’t just get home for sacks; he consistently made life miserable for the offensive line and forced the Jackets into uncomfortable situations.
Boo Carter delivered his own big moments with a fumble recovery and a blocked kick that helped seal the win, but Lester was the steady force that kept Georgia Tech from ever settling in. His burst off the snap stressed the tackles all night, and his pressure helped keep the ACC program from getting its ground game going.
One of Lester’s best plays came when he used a euro-swipe move to cut inside and sack quarterback Alberto Mendoza. He also showed the kind of hand work and shoulder dip that let him slip past contact and force Georgia Tech backward late in the second quarter, a sequence that pushed the Jackets out of field goal range before halftime.
Lester’s impact showed up in the biggest spots too. His pressure was especially valuable on third downs, where he kept turning up the heat when Colorado needed it most.
For Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes, the transfer portal gamble looks like a strong one already. Lester arrived in Boulder with 9.5 career sacks from Monmouth, and he wasted no time proving he could carry that production into the Big 12.
He had already put that mindset on record in March 2025 on the Unscripted 2.0 podcast, saying, "My personal goal for this year is just to really go out and dominate and be the best version of myself I can be on and off the field,” Lester said in the interview
He backed that up in a big way on Labor Day weekend, delivering a breakout debut in Colorado’s win.
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Deion Just Sent Georgia Tech A Message Before This Opener
Before Georgia Tech sees Colorado on the field to open the 2026 season, Deion Sanders has already made sure the moment carries a little extra weight. Speaking in an interview ahead of the matchup, the Buffaloes coach declared, Im back, a line that lands differently after Colorados uneven last two seasons and the roster turnover that followed the departures of key players.
For Georgia Tech, it adds another layer to a game that was already going to draw attention. Sanders 9-4 breakthrough in 2024 gave way to a 3-9 follow-up in 2025, and the new season is being viewed as a pivotal one for his coaching future. How Colorado responds in this opener could say plenty about where Sanders and the program are headed next. [Read more 🡒]
Former Colorado Defender Just Added Real Emotion To The Georgia Tech Opener
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Thomas already has the kind of college experience that can matter in a game like this, including his time playing under Deion Sanders at Colorado and producing notable defensive numbers along the way. Georgia Tech brought him in to help fortify the line, and now his first chance to face his old team comes right away. For a player with a point to prove, the opener is no longer just a season starter - it is a reunion with a little more emotion attached. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Opener Got Extra Heat From An Unexpected Colorado Twist
The season opener at Bobby Dodd Stadium already had enough buzz with Colorado and Georgia Tech meeting under the lights, and then the weather added another layer of drama. Shedeur Sanders was in the building, taking in the Buffaloes game against the Yellow Jackets and spending time on the sideline supporting his former team during the delay, a sight that naturally pulled a little extra attention toward Colorados end of the field.
It also gave the night an unusual backdrop for a matchup that was supposed to be about the next chapter in Boulder. With Sanders watching, current Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis had a rough time handling the ball, turning an already tense opener into a sharper test for the Buffaloes. For Georgia Tech fans, it was just another reminder that even a nonconference game can come with plenty of unexpected drama before the final whistle ever matters. [Read more 🡒]