STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Football posted a historic 2025 regular season, with a second round playoff game set for Memorial Stadium this upcoming Saturday. On Tuesday, the United Athletic Conference announced its postseason honors, tabbing 12 Texans as First and Second Team All-Conference.
 
Tarleton State's 12 All-Conference honors are the most in the UAC by a wide margin, with Abilene Christian and Austin Peay tied-second with seven honors, Southern Utah and West Georgia tied-fourth with six honors, Eastern Kentucky sixth with five honors, Central Arkansas and North Alabama tied-seventh with three honors, and Utah Tech ninth with two honors.
 
Tarleton State had four players make First Team All-Conference and eight make Second Team All-Conference. The Texans' 12 players to make First and Second Team All-Conference sets a program NCAA Division I record, surpassing the 10 they had honored in both 2024 and 2022. The four First Team All-Conference honors ties a program D1 record, first set in 2023.
 
Among Tarleton State's 12 All-Conference honors, seven are offensive players and five are defensive players. Two from each side of the ball made First Team. Tarleton State wide receiver Peyton Kramer and offensive lineman Hunter Smith made First Team on offense, and defensive lineman Angelo Anderson and defensive back Kasyus Kurns made First Team on defense. On Second Team from Tarleton State's offense are quarterback Victor Gabalis, running back Tre Page III, wide receiver Cody Jackson, offensive lineman Aidan Moe and offensive lineman Braden Smith. On Second Team from Tarleton State's defense are defensive lineman Brandon Tolvert, linebacker Yasir Holmes, and nickel Omar Emmons.
 
It's been a historic season for the Texans. They have won a pair of nationally televised games (42-0 at Portland State on ESPN2 during Week 0, 30-27 OT at Army on CBS Sports Network during Week 1), have set record crowds at Memorial Stadium, and were ranked as high as
No. 2 in the national polls. Offensively, the Texans were one of the best teams in the nation in the regular season, ranked No. 1 in scoring (45.2 points per game), No. 5 in total offense (475.3 yards per game), No. 10 in rushing offense (209.5 YPG), and No. 13 in passing offense (265.8 YPG). The Texans turned the ball over just seven times, the tied-fourth fewest amount of turnovers lost across the FCS. On the flip side, Tarleton State earned 36 takeaways, by far the most in the FCS with the next closest team at 25 (UTRGV). The Texans' 36 takeaways are the most by an FCS team since 2019. Tarleton State averages a turnover margin of +2.42, currently the third highest average turnover margin in FCS history. Furthermore defensively, Tarleton State has been elite, No. 8 in passing defense (164.6 YPG allowed), No. 15 in scoring defense (18.4 PPG allowed) and No. 24 in total defense (330.5 YPG allowed). The Texan defense has scored four touchdowns themselves, tied-fifth most in the nation.
 
Head coach Todd Whitten's Texans earned the 4-seed in the FCS Playoffs and have received a first round bye due to finishing the regular season 11-1 overall with a United Athletic Conference co-championship (7-1 in conference). This is Tarleton State Football's first conference championship in its D1 era. The Texans' 11 wins mark the seventh time in program history reaching double-digit wins. Whitten has been the head coach for five of those seasons.
 
Kramer made UAC First Team All-Conference as a senior, posting his best season in his third year as a Texan. In the regular season, Kramer led the Texans in receiving with 837 yards on 47 receptions, and had the tied-most receiving touchdowns (six). He had the second most receiving yards in the UAC, the tied-fourth most receiving touchdowns and the seventh most receptions. He averaged the third most receiving yards per game in the UAC at 69.8 and the fourth most yards per catch with 17.8. Kramer had his best career game on his birthday, Sept. 20 against Chattanooga, totaling three receiving touchdowns and 190 yards on seven receptions. He scored in four games and had two 100-plus yard games, the other coming Nov. 15 vs. North Alabama. Kramer had multiple receptions in every game this season, nine games with three-plus receptions, five games with four-plus receptions, four games with five-plus receptions, two with seven-plus receptions and a season-high eight receptions at ACU on Nov. 1.
 
For Hunter Smith, this marks his second career UAC All-Conference honor, his first time making First Team. He was named UAC Second Team All-Conference in 2023, and last year, earned recognition on the Phil Steele FCS 2024 UAC Second Team All-Conference team. Hunter Smith started all 12 games for the Texans on the offensive line, helping them rank No. 1 in scoring offense (45.2 points per game), No. 5 in total offense (475.3 yards per game), No. 10 in rushing offense (209.5 rush yards per game), and No. 13 in pass offense (265.8 pass yards per game). He also helped the Texans rank No. 2 in the conference in sacks allowed (1.83 allowed per game). Hunter Smith is finishing up his fifth season at Tarleton State, having played in 48 straight games with 37 straight starts.
 
Anderson made First Team All-Conference in his lone year at Tarleton State. He totaled 9.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 20 total tackles and a quarterback hurry in 10 games played throughout the regular season. Anderson is No. 2 in the FCS with his five forced fumbles, the most in a single-season by a Texan since EJ Speed had five in 2016. Anderson is No. 9 in the FCS in sacks per game at 0.95, and has the most sacks by a Texan in 13 years (Rufus Johnson with 10 in 2012). He averaged the fourth most tackles for loss in the UAC.
 
Kurns has made a UAC All-Conference team in back-to-back seasons, his first time making First Team. He's totaled five interceptions, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery, a quarterback hurry, two tackles for loss, and 26 total tackles in 10 games played. Kurns is averaging the second most interceptions per game in the FCS at 0.5 per, and is tied-second in interceptions in the nation with five. He had two interceptions and a fumble recovery to boost Tarleton State over Army in West Point, named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Kurns has the tied-eighth most interceptions in a single-season in program history, and the most since Devin Hafford had six in 2021. He was named a finalist for the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award, the national defensive player of the year award in the Division I subdivision.
 
Gabalis has made UAC Second Team All-Conference for the second straight season. He has completed 160-of-268 (.597) for 2,395 yards, 25 touchdowns and just four interceptions across 10 games played, leading the Texans to a 9-1 mark. Nationally, Gabalis ranks No. 4 in pass yards per completion (15.0), No. 8 in pass touchdowns (25), No. 8 in passing efficiency (162.5), No. 14 in pass yards per game (239.4), and No. 28 in pass yards (2,395). Conference-wide, Gabalis ranks No. 1 in pass touchdowns, No. 1 in pass yards per completion, No. 1 in passing efficiency, No. 2 in pass yards per game, and No. 4 in pass yards. Stats Perform announced Gabalis is on its list of 30 finalists for the 2025 Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. He has thrown three-plus touchdowns in half of his games played (five), including a four-touchdown game and a season-high five touchdowns against Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 6, to go with 295 pass yards. His five passing touchdowns are the most in a game by a Tarleton State QB in 10 years, since Zed Woerner had five against Oklahoma Panhandle on Oct. 24, 2015. He had three touchdowns and 311 pass yards in the regular season finale, in which he led a comeback victory at Austin Peay to win a share of the UAC championship, leading the Texans on a game-tying drive at the end of regulation, then throwing the game-winning touchdown in overtime. His 25 pass touchdowns are the fifth most in a single-season in program history. He is now No. 2 on Tarleton State's all-time career pass touchdown list with 66 in three seasons, and No. 4 on Tarleton State's all-time career pass yard list with 7,770 in three seasons. He is 29-9 (.763) as a collegiate starting quarterback, and 26-7 (.788) as Tarleton State's starting quarterback.
 
Page makes UAC Second Team All-Conference as a redshirt freshman. Despite missing four games due to injury, Page had one of the best seasons by any running back in the country, not just freshmen. For his efforts, he was named a finalist for the 2025 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the national freshman player of the year in college football's Division I FCS subdivision. Page led the Texans in rushing with 839 yards in eight games, averaging 104.9 rushing yards per game and 7.5 yards per carry. He also had seven rushing touchdowns, third most on the team. His 7.5 rush yards per carry average would have led the nation if qualified in games played (cutoff is 75 percent of team's games), along with a No. 10 rank in rush yards per game. Page was named the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week after his performance against Southern Utah on Oct. 4, in which he recorded 198 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries (10.4 YPC) in Tarleton State's 52-42 home conference win. This marked a career-high in rushing yards (198), plus tied his career-high in rushing touchdowns (two, also Aug. 23 at Portland State this season). He was named the UAC Freshman of the Week twice, for that game against Southern Utah, and the other for his game against Portland State. Page had 160 rushing yards in the first half alone, finishing with 170 for the game and his two scores on 15 carries (11.3 yards per rush). Page had the most rushing yards in a season opener in Tarleton State Football NCAA Division I history, and the most since Daniel McCants had 190 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2019. Altogether on the year, he had three 100-plus rush yard games and two multi-touchdown games.
 
Jackson, a junior, made his first All-Conference team in his third season at Tarleton State. He has the tied-most receiving touchdowns on the team with six, the second most receiving yards (755) and the most receptions (51). Across the UAC in the regular season, he had the fourth most receptions, the fourth most receiving yards and the tied-fourth most receiving touchdowns. Jackson scored four touchdowns in the final three games of the regular season, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Austin Peay to boost Tarleton State into receiving a four-seed in the FCS Playoffs. Jackson had two 100-plus yard games, including a season-high 134 yards at ACU on Nov. 1.
 
Moe earns UAC All-Conference recognition in his first year at Tarleton State. He started all 12 games for the Texans on the offensive line during the regular season, helping the Texans rank No. 1 in scoring offense, No. 5 in total offense, No. 10 in rushing offense, and No. 13 in pass offense. He also helped the Texans rank No. 2 in the conference in sacks allowed (1.83 allowed per game).
 
Braden Smith joined Moe and Hunter Smith in posting those marks during the regular season, and he has earned his first All-Conference recognition as a redshirt freshman. Braden Smith started all 12 games for the Texans on the offensive line.
 
Tolvert, in his fifth season at Tarleton State, makes it back-to-back years as a UAC All-Conference player, following his First Team honors last season. Tolvert totaled 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, five quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and 44 total tackles during the regular season. He finished second on the team in quarterback hurries, and third on the team in tackles for loss and sacks. In Tarleton State's win at Army, Tolvert had two tackles for loss and seven total.
 
Holmes shined in his lone season at Tarleton State. He totaled 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, a forced fumble, six quarterback hurries and 45 total tackles in the regular season, leading the team in TFL, tied-most hurries, second in sacks and tied-third in forced fumbles. He ranked No. 27 in the FCS in sacks per game at 0.67 and No. 39 in the FCS in tackles for loss per game at 1.08, second in the conference in tackles for loss per game and fourth in sacks per game. After Week 3, Holmes was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week, as he recorded a team-high three tackles for loss, a sack and a team-high seven total tackles in Tarleton State's 56-10 road win in its conference opener at Central Arkansas. Holmes became the first Texan with three tackles for loss in a game since Blaine Hoover had 3.0 TFL on Nov. 19, 2022, against Houston Christian.
 
Emmons makes UAC Second Team All-Conference at the defensive back position, playing at nickel for Tarleton State in his second season on the team. He totaled three interceptions, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, a blocked punt, three pass breakups, three tackles for loss and 35 total tackles during the regular season, tied-second in the UAC in forced fumbles and tied-fourth in interceptions.
 
The full list of UAC's 2025 postseason honors and awards can be found below.
 
Coach of the Year: Joel Taylor (West Georgia)*
Offensive Player of the Year: Joshua Dye (Southern Utah)*
Defensive Player of the Year: Lando Brown (Southern Utah)
Specialist of the Year: Carson Smith (Austin Peay)* & Adam Watford (North Alabama)* Freshman of the Year: Montreze Smith Jr. (Austin Peay)*
 
All-Conference | First Team Offense
Pos. Name School Cl. Hometown
QB *Chris Parson Austin Peay R-So. Brentwood, Tenn.
RB *Joshua Dye Southern Utah R-So. Gilbert, Ariz.
RB Landen Chambers Central Arkansas So. Keller, Texas
WR Malachi Henry Central Arkansas So. Van Buren, Ark.
WR Peyton Kramer Tarleton State Sr. Aledo, Texas
TE Jackson Head Austin Peay Jr. Woodstock, Ga.
OL *Joshua Sales Jr. Austin Peay R-Sr. South Bend, Ind.
OL Luke Roaten Abilene Christian R-Jr. Tomball, Texas
OL Nick Hilliard Austin Peay Gr. Darrow, La.
OL Hunter Smith Tarleton State Sr. Rockwall, Texas
C Edward Riley Southern Utah R-Sr. Bellflower, Calif.
 
All-Conference | First Team Defense
DL *Lando Brown Southern Utah R-Sr. Gardena, Calif.
DL Chris Wright Abilene Christian Sr. Aledo, Texas
DL Angelo Anderson Tarleton State Sr. New Orleans, La.
DL David Hoage West Georgia Sr. Denver, Colo.
LB Will Shaffer Abilene Christian RS-Sr. Tempe, Ariz.
LB Rayshon Myles Jr. Abilene Christian R-Jr. Brownsburg, Ind.
LB Montreze Smith, Jr. Austin Peay R-Fr. Carrollton, Ga.
DB *Kasyus Kurns Tarleton State Sr. Chicago, Ill.
DB Dorian Plumley Abilene Christian Sr. El Reno, Okla.
DB Ellis Ellis Jr. Austin Peay R-Jr. Hendersonville, Tenn.
DB Jaheim Ward EKU R-Sr. Moultrie, Ga.
 
All-Conference | First Team Specialists
K *Carson Smith Austin Peay RS-Sr. Belmont, N.C.
P Adam Watford North Alabama Jr. Dothan, Ala.
RS *Deandre Buchanon West Georgia Jr. Atlanta, Ga.
LS Nathan Curry North Alabama Jr. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 
*-Denotes unanimous selection (included on all coaches ballots)
 
All-Conference | Second Team Offense
Pos. Name School Cl. Hometown
QB *Victor Gabalis Tarleton State Sr. Duvall, Wash.
RB Tre Page III Tarleton State R-Fr. Atlanta, Ga.
RB Latrelle Murrell West Georgia So. Douglasville, Ga.
WR Shane Carr Southern Utah Jr. Bakersfield, Calif.
WR Cody Jackson Tarleton State Jr. Richmond, Texas
TE Eric Olsen Utah Tech R-Jr. St. George, Utah
OL Kandiyeli Sirri Southern Uta So. Mesa, Ariz.
OL Aidan Moe Tarleton State Jr. Parker, Colo.
OL Braden Smith Tarleton State R-Fr. Franklin, Texas
OL Brody Balliew West Georgia So. Calhoun, Ga.
C Colter Lynch Abilene Christian R-So. Lubbock, Texas
 
All-Conference | Second Team Defense
DL Kaghen Roach Abilene Christian RS-Sr. Celina, Texas
DL Jeremiah Bailey EKU R-Jr. Smyrna, Tenn.
DL Brad Gurley EKU R-Jr. Bowling Green, Ky.
DL Brandon Tolvert Tarleton State Sr. Columbus, Ga.
LB Demarcious Robinson North Alabama Sr. Warner Robins, Ga
LB Sebastian Adamski Southern Utah R-Sr. Sahuerita, Ariz.
LB Yasir Holmes Tarleton State Sr. Indian Head, Md.
DB Dillon Williams Central Arkansas Jr. Southaven, Miss.
DB Vito Tisdale EKU R-Sr. Bowling Green, Ky.
DB Omar Emmons Tarleton State Sr. Greenwood, Miss.
DB Jalen Burton West Georgia Sr. Waukegan, Ill.
 
All-Conference | Second Team Specialists
K Tommy Holden West Georgia Sr. Lithia, Fla.
P Ryan Marks Utah Tech Jr. Farmington, Utah
RS *TJ Mitchell III EKU R-Fr. Brunswick, Ga.
LS Gavin Lipkin Southern Utah Sr. Las Vegas, Nev.
 
*-Denotes unanimous selection (included on all coaches ballots)