Colorado has two of the seven Big 12 players with three or more sacks heading into its bye week, with Lamont Lester Jr. and Toby Anene combining for seven sacks through the Buffaloes' first five games.
Lester has four sacks in four appearances, tying Arizona's Chase Kennedy for the conference lead. Anene has three in five games, placing both Colorado defenders among the top Big 12 pass rushers to reach three sacks. Together, they account for 70% of Colorado's 10 sacks this season.
Lamont Lester Jr.
The Monmouth transfer made an immediate impact with three sacks in Colorado's 14-13 season-opening win at Georgia Tech. Each sack came on third down and ended a Yellow Jackets possession with a punt, making his debut a key factor in the Buffaloes' victory.
Lester earned
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week recognition and the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week award for that performance. He has since increased his season totals to four sacks and six tackles for loss.
He missed Saturday's Texas Tech game with an injury, making his availability a must-have as Colorado prepares to face Utah on Oct. 17.
Toby Anene
Anene added his third sack during the second quarter against Texas Tech, helping force a long field-goal attempt that the Red Raiders missed. He has recorded a sack in three of Colorado's past four games.
The fifth-year North Dakota State transfer has also added 5.5 tackles for loss in five appearances, giving defensive coordinator Chris Marve another experienced defender who can disrupt possessions at the line of scrimmage.
Anene arrived after a seven-sack season at North Dakota State in 2025, and his early Colorado production has carried that backfield presence into Big 12 competition.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football two pass rushers among Big 12 sack leaders
