Deion Sanders lauds Colorado linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron - ESPN

BOULDER, Colo. — Linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron introduced himself to Deion Sanders while boarding a flight in December. Days later, he was landing in Colorado as a member of the Buffaloes. His final season is now ready for take off.

«I'm so thankful that I approached him and everything worked out,» Lampron said.

This is how the airline encounter unfolded for the fifth-year player with a distinctive middle name: Lampron boarded a plane leaving Dallas and bound for Cleveland shortly after the transfer portal opened. He was heading home and Sanders was off to see his QB son, Shedeur, who is with the NFL's Browns.

Deion Sanders was sitting up front and Lampron summoned the courage for a quick introduction before heading to his seat. He was in the market for a new school after leaving a Bowling Green program coached by Eddie George.

Nothing fancy, just announcing his desire to play for Sanders. The Colorado coach gave Lampron a fist bump and said, «Godspeed.» That was that. Or so he thought.

Lampron was putting his bag in the overhead compartment when Sanders walked back toward him. Sanders told him to send some tape and he'd make some calls.

«A few days later, I was in Boulder,» said Lampron, one of numerous transfers added to a Colorado team that went 3-9 last season. «That's insane.»

Lampron is part of a revamped linebacker corps in a system directed by new defensive coordinator Chris Marve. Lampron joins fellow transfers Liona Lefau (Texas) and Tyler Martinez (New Mexico State), who quickly have become two of his closest friends. Lampron and Lefau are on the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's top collegiate linebacker.

«Gideon has exceeded expectations,» said Sanders, whose team opens