STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Football posted a historic season in 2025, and if its 2026 National Signing Day class is any indication, the Texans are in good shape to run it back next year.
 
The Texans announced on Wednesday their record 63-man National Signing Day class. This is the largest NSD class in Tarleton State Football history, and likely the best. According to AthLinkd, College Football's Premier Prospect Database, Tarleton State has the No. 1 class across all of the FCS. Earlier in the portal window, 247Sports had the Texans as the No. 1 ranked portal class in the FCS.  
 
There are 63 new players coming to Tarleton State, 37 on defense, 23 on offense, and three specifically for special teams. Of the 63, 54 are transfers and nine are high school signings. Of the transfers, 17 are joining Tarleton State from the FBS level, 10 are staying in the FCS, nine are from NCAA Division II and 16 are from the JUCO ranks. The largest class by position is the defensive line with 14, followed by 13 in the secondary, 10 linebackers, seven offensive linemen, six wide receivers, four quarterbacks, four running backs, two tight ends, a long snapper, a kicker and a punter. Statewise, 32 players are from Texas, five are from Florida and five from Georgia, with several others in the mix.
 
And finally, there are 24 players who earned stars as a prospect in high school, with three four-star prospects, 20 three-star prospects and one two-star prospect.
 
"We needed to replenish a large class – just about every starter on the defensive side were seniors, which is good – our plan is to be old every year and have a veteran team," head coach Todd Whitten said. "So, a big class graduated and we have a big class coming in. Our recent success has really helped us attract the best of the best here, not to mention our elite facilities, investment and culture.
 
"I think it's a really good group coming in, I think we did really well," Whitten continued. "You know, you are never for sure until you line up for spring ball, but I've been looking at these guys for 39 years, and it looks like a good group to me, so we're confident. We're excited about this class. Credit to our coaching staff who worked around the clock over the last couple of months to make this happen."
 
The full list of Tarleton State's 2026 National Signing Day class, in alphabetical order, is below:
 
Fred Adams (5-10, 170, DB, Junior, Previous: Fullerton College)
Adams joins the Texans from Fullerton College, where he played the last two seasons. Last year he had four interceptions and three pass breakups across 10 games, with 34 combined tackles. As a true freshman in 2024, he logged two interceptions in eight games, adding three pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and 14 combined tackles. Last year, Adams had a season-best night at East Los Angeles on Sept. 20, recording a pair of interceptions and a pass breakup, along with three tackles. He also had a multi-interception game in 2024 against San Diego Mesa on Oct. 17, adding a forced fumble and four tackles.
 
At the prep level, Adams played four varsity years at Wiregrass Ranch High School. He also played baseball, spending time in the outfield and second base.
 
Adams, a Dade City, Florida, native, is undecided on his major as he joins Tarleton State University.
 
Fredd Adams (5-9, 170, DB, Senior, Previous: Coastal Carolina)
Adams joins the Texans from Coastal Carolina, where he played last season. He appeared in 12 of 13 games on the year, recording a fumble recovery, three pass breakups and 13 total tackles. He closed the year with a fumble recovery against Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl.

Adams spent his first two collegiate years at Northwest Mississippi Community College. In 2024, he earned First-Team NJCAA Division I All-American accolades, finishing the season with eight interceptions, including four in an early-season victory against East Mississippi and one in the NJCAA Semifinals at Iowa Western. He also led the team with 13 pass breakups and finished with 178 interception yards, the third-most in a single season and the most by any Northwest player since 1995. As a true freshman in 2023, Adams played in nine games, totaling 16 tackles, six pass breakups, one forced fumble and an interception. He also spent a significant time on special teams, returning 20 punts for 182 yards. Off the field, he was named to the Fall 2023 President's List and the Spring 2024 Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
 
Adams played at the prep level at Tupelo High School. He helped the Golden Wave to a 13-1 record, the Region 2-6A championship and the Class 6A semifinals in 2022. He collected 46 tackles, 22 passes defended, six interceptions, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble that season, including a season-high nine tackles in a playoff win against Madison Central. He earned All-State and All-Region accolades that year.
 
Adams, a Tupelo, Mississippi, native, will major in general studies at Tarleton State University.
 
Martin Alisandro (6-3, 190, DB, Sophomore, Previous: Snow College)
Alisandro played his true freshman campaign at Snow College last season. As a true freshman, he had the tied-most interceptions on the team with three, adding 15 total tackles. He earned an INT in his first collegiate game against the Utah Islanders on Aug. 23, adding interceptions against Tyler JC on Sept. 4 and against Iowa Central CC in the season finale on Dec. 7.
 
Alisandro played at the prep level at Proctor Academy in Andover, New Hampshire. He played four varsity years there, posting First Team All-State accolades as a senior.
 
Alisandro, a Manchester, New Hampshire, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University.
 
Kaden Anderson (6-4, 230, QB, Junior, Previous: Wyoming)
Anderson arrives at Tarleton State after three years at Wyoming, including starting all 12 games at quarterback for the Cowboys last season. Last year he completed 189-of-336 (.563) passes for 1,971 yards and 12 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions. He had four multi-touchdown games (against Northern Iowa on Sept. 6, at Colorado on Sept. 20, vs. San Jose State on Oct. 11 and vs. Colorado State on Oct. 25). He threw for a season-high 304 yards against San Jose State to go with the two touchdown passes.
 
Altogether at Wyoming, Anderson played in a combined 21 games, completing 259-of-456 (.568) for 2,926 yards, 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He played in nine games and made three starts in 2024, throwing six touchdowns with three interceptions. He also had two rushing touchdowns that season. He was named the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week and MW Freshman of the Week after leading the Pokes to a win against New Mexico. In his first career start, a 49-45 win over New Mexico, Anderson threw for a career-high 342 yards, the most passing yards by a Cowboy since 2015. It was also the most by a true freshman or redshirt freshman in the Mountain West era of Cowboy Football.
 
Anderson played his prep football at Southlake Carroll High School. He was a three-star recruit by both 247Sports and Rivals, plus was ranked by The Dallas Morning News as the No. 71 player on its Top 100 list of Texas recruits for 2023. Anderson succeeded former Southlake Carroll High five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers, now of the Miami Dolphins. After taking over as the starting quarterback as a junior in 2021, Anderson led Southlake Carroll to a 14-1 record, the Texas 6A D-1 state semifinals and he was named a Texas District 4-6A First Team All-District honoree.  Anderson completed 204-of-338 passes (.604) for 3,036 yards, 34 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions in 2021. He added 140 rushing yards and seven rushing TD's for 3,176 yards of total offense. His senior season of 2022, he helped guide Southlake Carroll to a 13-1 record and the state quarterfinals. He completed 76-of-98 passes (.776) for 1,113 yards, 14 touchdowns and no interceptions in the six games he played.
 
Anderson, a Southlake, Texas, native, will major in general studies at Tarleton State University.  
 
Jerbari Booth (6-4, 270, DL, Junior, Previous: Jones College)
Booth played the last two years at the JUCO level, last season at Jones College and his freshman campaign at Hinds CC. At Jones College, he was second on the team in sacks with 2.5 across eight games played, with 3.5 tackles for loss, nine total tackles and a quarterback hurry. He earned at least a half-sack in three of his first five games played.
 
At Hinds CC, he played in nine games as a true freshman, finishing with 14 tackles, 5.5 TFL and a fumble recovery. He had a career-high five tackles, including 2.5 for loss, at Southwest on Oct. 19, 2024.
 
Booth played his prep football at Seminary High School, where he played four varsity years. He helped the Bulldogs to a third round playoff appearance his senior year, and he was named MHSAA 3A Second Team All-State.
 
Booth, a Taylorsville, Mississippi, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University. 
 
Nate Boudy (6-3, 280, OL, Freshman, Previous: Judson HS)
Boudy played the last four years of varsity football at Judson High School in Converse, Texas. He was twice Second Team All-District, starting all 21 games between his junior and senior seasons. He had 40 pancakes this past season alone.
 
Boudy, a Converse, Texas, native, will major in business management at Tarleton State University. 
 
Miequle Brock (5-9, 200, RB, Junior, Previous: Nicholls State)
Brock joins the Texans after playing two seasons at Nicholls State. Last season he made All-Southland Second Team after rushing for 555 yards on 125 carries (4.4 YPC), with two touchdowns in 12 games, plus he led the team in receiving with 340 yards on 41 receptions and a pair of scores. He had a season-best performance rushing against McNeese on Oct. 25, going for 104 yards on 17 carries. Brock had a catch in each game last year, with three games posting five or more receptions. In 2024, Brock was the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, plus was named to the Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-America Second Team (All-Purpose). He played in nine games, ranked second in the SLC with 113.0 all-purpose yards per game. He rushed for 479 yards and three touchdowns and had 213 yards receiving and two scores. Brock had the second-highest yard-per-carry average in the SLC at 6.4 YPC. In his first collegiate game, he exploded for 132 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just eight carries against Mississippi Valley State, also scoring on an 80-yard catch-and-run. Brock had 15 kick returns for 325 yards, averaging 21.7 yards per return, with a 47-yard return vs. SFA.
 
Brock played his prep football at Pine Forest High School, where he was a three-year varsity starter. He rushed for over 4,000 yards in his career while scoring 57 touchdowns, including his senior season, where he had over 2,000 all-purpose yards as a running back, receiver and return specialist while scoring 30 touchdowns. Brock was the MVP of the Pensacola East-West All Star game in December of 2023. He participated in the Georgia-Florida All-Star Game in Orlando, Florida, and was also named first team Escambia County for his performance during his senior year.
 
Brock, a Pensacola, Florida, native, will major in general studies at Tarleton State University. 
 
Desmond Brown (6-3, 255, LB, Junior, Previous: Findlay)
Brown arrives at Tarleton State after two seasons at Findlay. He played in a combined 18 games, recording two sacks, five tackles for loss and 22 total tackles. He also recorded a safety vs. Tiffin on Nov. 5 this past season.
 
Brown played his prep football at John Marshall High School. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Conference honors twice, plus an All-District nod his senior year.
 
Brown, a Cleveland native, will major in marketing at Tarleton State University.   
 
Kaleb Brown (6-2, 235, LB, Senior, Previous: Mount Union)
Brown played the last four years at Mount Union, an NCAA Division III school, part of the Ohio Athletic Conference. Brown was an All-American by four affiliations last season, including the AP and AFCA. He led the team and the conference in both sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (17.5), totaling double-digit sacks for the second year in a row. He led a defense that was sixth in NCAA Division III in scoring defense, allowing only 12.2 points per game. Brown was named the OAC Defensive Lineman of the Year while earning All-OAC First Team for the second straight year. Brown was named on the 2025 AP First Team and Second Team on both the AFCA and D3football.com teams, plus the 2025 Walter Camp Division III All-America Team.
 
Altogether at Mount Union. Brown played in 41 games, recording 32 sacks and 49 tackles for loss, to go with nine forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, an interception, eight pass breakups, and 151 total tackles. He had 12.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 2024, plus had nine sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, to go with four fumble recoveries, in 2023. He made All-OAC First Team, D3football.com All-Region 4 First Team and D3football.com All-America Third Team in 2024, plus was All-OAC Second Team in 2023.
 
Brown was a three-sport athlete at La Plata High School in Maryland, participating in football, basketball and track and field. He played one varsity season of football and dominated that year, recording 13 sacks and All-District accolades, plus played in the SMAC Football All-Star game.
 
Brown, a La Plata, Maryland, native, will major in sports management at Tarleton State University.   
 
DeAndre Buchannon (5-10, 175, WR, Senior, Previous: West Georgia)
Buchannon is an in-conference transfer, arriving at Tarleton State from fellow UAC member West Georgia. Buchannon was the Wolves' second leading receiver last year, totaling 347 receiving yards on 30 receptions, to go with two touchdowns in nine games. His best game came against Abilene Christian, where he had 137 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. He was also a kick returner and punt returner for the Wolves, taking a kickoff 92 yards to the house in the season opener against Samford on Aug. 28, rattling off four 30-plus yard kick returns throughout the season and a 33-yard punt return against Nicholls State. He ranked sixth in the country in kickoff returns, averaging nearly 30 yards per return. He was First Team All-UAC Return Specialist.

Before West Georgia, Buchannon played two seasons at Georgia Southern from 2023-24. He played in 25 combined games, serving mainly as a return specialist. In 2024, he averaged 22.4 yards on 25 kickoffs with a 61-yard season-long return, earning All-Sun Belt Second Team honors by Phil Steele. In 2023, he was a First Team Freshman All-American as a kick returner by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and College Football Network, and also named honorable mention All-Conference as a return man by CFN. He had 23 kickoff returns for 604 yards and a touchdown, an average of 26.3 yards per return.
 
Buchannon played his prep football at Carver Atlanta High. There he was First Team All-State as a senior by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, plus was named to the 2022 AJC All-Metro Team for Atlanta/South Fulton. He caught 70 passes for 866 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. He was a First Team All-Region selection as a kick returner. As a junior, Buchannon recorded over 1,000 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns, as both a receiver and returner. He was rated as the No. 195 receiver in the country and the No. 131 player in the state of Georgia by ESPN Recruiting. He was ranked the No. 225 receiver in the country and the No. 138 player in the state of Georgia by 247Sports. He was listed as the No. 333 receiver in the country and the No. 202 player in the state of Georgia by On3. Buchannon was also a two-time regional champion in track.
 
Buchannon, an Atlanta native, will major in sports management at Tarleton State University.
 
Jolon Cabello (6-0, 165, P, Sophomore, Previous: UTPB)
Cabello joins Tarleton State after his true freshman season at UTPB. He played in all 14 games and handled every punt for the Falcons. He punted 44 times for 1,827 yards, good for an average of 41.52 yards per punt. He had eight punts of at least 50 yards and had a long punt of 68 yards. He pinned the opponent inside the 20-yard line seven times, doing so at least twice in three separate games. He also kicked off four times for 238 yards vs. Sul Ross State on Nov. 15. He was 1-for-1 passing on the season for 23 yards, and was 1-for-2 passing on two-point conversion attempts. In his collegiate debut vs. No. 5 Central Oklahoma on Aug. 30, Cabello punted six times for 231 yards, a season-high in both categories. His longest punt rolled down for 64 yards and was one of three punts that pinned the Bronchos inside their own 20-yard line. He had two 50-plus yard punts (52 yards, 53 yards) in the same game for the first time in his career to help UTPB earn its first playoff win in program history over Colorado State Pueblo on Nov. 22.
 
Cabello played his prep football at Moe and Gene Johnson High School, where he was a two-time All-District (one First Team, one Second Team) punter. He was also selected First Team Preseason Central Texas, posting a 40.2 yard punting average. Cabello also played soccer in high school.
 
Cabello, a Buda, Texas, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University.   
 
Evan Carney (6-5, 305, OL, Senior, Previous: Western Carolina)
Carney joins the Texans from Western Carolina, where he played the last four years. Last year he played in 11 of the team's 12 games with 10 starts along the offensive line, helping the offense finish with a school-record 5,920 total yards, including 4,268 passing yards and 1,652 yards on the ground. He was selected All-SoCon Third Team by Phil Steele.
 
Altogether at Western Carolina, Carney played in 18 games.
 
He played his prep football at Christ Presbyterian Academy, where he was a two-time First Team All-State and All-Region selection. He helped his high school to two state championships as a freshman and junior, and twice a state runner-up finish. Carney only allowed one sack as a sophomore and did not allow a sack as a junior. He also played baseball, where he was the closer, and participated in track and field.
 
Carney, a Nashville native, will major in marketing at Tarleton State University.   
 
Lance Carson (6-3, 240, DL, Senior, Previous: Allen University)
Carson played the last three seasons at the NCAA Division II and JUCO level, playing last year at Allen University and his first two seasons at Holmes CC. Carson had the second most sacks on the team last season with 4.5, finishing with 6.0 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hurries and 34 total tackles. At Holmes CC in 2024, Carson had 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFL, one forced fumble, and 45 total tackles.
 
Carson played his prep football at Frisco High School. He played four varsity years there, twice named All-State and a First Team All-District recognition.
 
Carson, a Dallas native, will major in business administration at Tarleton State University.
 
Gerard Culotta (6-0, 220, LB, Sophomore, Previous: Henderson State)
Culotta joins the Texans after two seasons with Henderson State. He played a collective 13 games between 2024-25, totaling 100 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup. After redshirting as a true freshman with just two games played in 2024, Culotta had 4.5 sacks last season, nine tackles for loss, 94 total tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup last year. He logged four games with double-digit tackles last year, with two multi-sack outings, including a two-sack, 12-tackle game with a forced fumble and a pass breakup in the season finale at Ouachita on Nov. 15. He was named All-GAC Third Team last year.
 
Culotta played his prep football at Lake Creek High School, where he was named All-District 5A-2 Defensive MVP his senior season, plus was Second Team All-State. He recorded a Lake Creek single-season record 141 tackles and six forced fumbles, along with two fumble recoveries, 11 sacks, 14 TFL and four blocked kicks in 2023. He holds the Lake Creek football career record with 231 tackles and seven forced fumbles. He helped Lake Creek win a pair of district championships.
 
Culotta, a Montgomery, Texas, native, will major in general business at Tarleton State University.   
 
Alejandro De La Poza Cohrs (6-2, 195, K, Sophomore, Previous: Hutchinson CC)
De La Poza Cohrs played his true freshman campaign at Hutchinson CC last season. He was the team's kicker for all but one extra point all year, making 15-of-20 field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder, and 53-of-56 extra point attempts. His 98 points made him the top point scorer at the JUCO level this past year, and his 52-yarder was the longest FG in school history. He made that in the season finale against Iowa Western CC.
 
De La Poza Cohrs played his prep football at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. He played three varsity years there, his first years ever playing football, named All-State all three years at kicker and even All-State at linebacker. His kickoffs resulted in a touchback 96 percent of the time, a school record.
 
De La Poza Cohrs, a Palma, Spain, native, will major in sports management with a business minor at Tarleton State University.
 
Kolton Dearth (6-2, 315, DL, Freshman, Previous: Stephenville HS)
Dearth stays in Stephenville to join Tarleton State from Stephenville High School. He played four varsity years, spending two years as a captain, helping the Yellow Jackets to a state championship this past year and unblemished 16-0 season. He was the District and Team MVP, plus First Team All-State. Dearth logged 81 tackles, 26 TFL's, two sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, two pass deflections, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also competes in track and field, throwing the shot put.

Dearth's father, James Dearth, is a Tarleton State Athletics Hall of Famer and current Tarleton State Assistant Track and Field Coach. Dearth's brother, Kendall Dearth, played five seasons at Tarleton State on the offensive line from 2018-22, a First Team All-Conference player.
 
Dearth, a Stephenville, Texas, native, will major in kinesiology at Tarleton State University.
 
Kareem Edmon (6-3, 285, DL, Junior, Previous: Kilgore College)
Edmon joins Tarleton State from Kilgore College, where he played the last two seasons. Last season he was second on the team with nine tackles for loss, totaling two sacks, a forced fumble, two pass breakups, and 46 total tackles in nine games. As a true freshman he had seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 60 total tackles in 10 games in 2024.
 
Edmon played his prep football at Shoemaker High School in Kileen, Texas. There he played there varsity seasons, earning First Team and Second Team All-District honors. He also competed in two years of varsity track and field, and two years of powerlifting.
 
Edmon, a Killeen, Texas, native, will major in kinesiology at Tarleton State University.
 
BJ Fleming (6-0, 185, WR, Senior, Previous: North Dakota)
Fleming joins the Texans after playing last year at North Dakota and three years at Northern Arizona. Fleming was the Fighting Hawks' leading receiver last year, recording 817 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 48 receptions in 13 games. He had three games with 100-plus yards, topping out at 138 with a touchdown on five catches against No. 5 Montana. He also had 134 yards and a touchdown on five receptions against Northern Iowa on Oct. 4, and 123 yards and a score in the regular season finale against No. 22 South Dakota State. In that game, he had the longest scoring reception in school history with an 89-yard touchdown. He had two touchdowns, 84 receiving yards and five receptions against Youngstown State on Oct. 11. Fleming played at Tarleton State in the second round of the FCS Playoffs with North Dakota, posting three catches for 47 yards. Fleming was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team, plus Second Team All-MVFC at WR.
 
Fleming played 20 games in three years at NAU, totaling 510 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 29 receptions. His best year in Flagstaff, Arizona, came in 2023, where he posted 333 yards on 16 catches and a touchdown in nine games. He had one 100-yard receiving game with 111 at Eastern Washington.
 
Fleming played his prep football at Aledo High School, serving three years on varsity.
 
Fleming, a Mansfield, Texas, native, will major in general studies with a minor in criminal justice at Tarleton State University.
 
Caleb Flores (6-4, 290, OL, Senior, Previous: UIW)
Flores joins the Texans from UIW, where he played the last four years. Last season, he started at right tackle all 12 games, helping the Cardinals rush for 2,171 yards. Altogether at UIW, he appeared in 25 games.
 
Flores played his prep football at Rockwall Heath High School, where he was a three-year varsity member and team captain as a senior. He was First Team All-District as a senior and Second Team All-District as a junior, not allowing a single sack across his high school career.
 
Flores, a Heath, Texas, native, will major in cyber security at Tarleton State University.
 
Camdon Frier (6-1, 190, WR, Sophomore, Previous: Florida State)
Frier played the last two years at Florida State, appearing in four games this past season at wide receiver. He played against East Texas A&M, Kent State, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest, making his debut Sept. 6.
 
Frier finished his prep football at Columbia High School, where he was a four-star prospect and consensus top-100 receiver nationally. He ranked as Florida's No. 36 prospect in Class of 2024 and 37th among receivers nationally by ESPN, plus was No. 273 on ESPN300. He was rated as the nation's No. 67 receiver prospect and No. 57 overall prospect from Florida on 247Sports Composite. As a senior, he grabbed 33 receptions for 456 yards and five touchdowns as Columbia won a district title. He caught 27 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns as junior to help Tigers reach the semifinals of the 3S state playoffs. He played his first two seasons at Suwannee, where he had 600 yards and four touchdowns during his sophomore season. Frier was also a highly-recruited baseball prospect, batting .340 with 19 RBI, 27 runs scored and 19 stolen bases his sophomore year to help Suwannee reach a 4A state semifinal game. He committed to Florida State as a sophomore in high school to play football and baseball. He also had offers from Alabama, Texas A&M and Mississippi State.
 
Frier, a Lake City, Florida, native, will major in communications at Tarleton State University.     
 
Maasai Gibson (6-5, 285, DL, Junior, Previous: Sierra College)
Gibson played the last two seasons at Sierra College, where he appeared in 16 career games. He played in seven games last season, recording 1.5 sacks, 2.0 TFL and 10 total tackles. In 2024 as a true freshman, Gibson recorded 1.5 sacks, 2.0 TFL and 24 tackles in nine games.
 
Gibson played his prep football at Hyde Park High School in Chicago, where he earned All-Conference in his lone varsity season.
 
Gibson, a Chicago native, will major in general studies at Tarleton State University.   
 
Jackson Gilkey (6-3, 215, QB, Junior, Previous: Weber State)
Gilkey arrives in Stephenville after spending last season at Weber State and two seasons at UTSA (2023-24). Last year, he started the first five games at quarterback before suffering a season-ending injury. Gilkey threw for 693 yards and four touchdowns, rushing for 227 yards and one more touchdown. He threw for 218 yards and a touchdown in Weber State's win at McNeese, and followed that up with 185 yards passing and two touchdowns in the win over Butler. He also had 114 rush yards at McNeese, including a 50-yard touchdown run.
 
Gilkey did not appear in a game at UTSA, although he was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in 2023. At the prep level, Gilkey was a two-time district MVP as the starting quarterback at Ennis High School. He finished his prep career with 5,725 yards and 51 touchdowns on 387-of-605 passing (.640), finishing second in the program's passing record book behind Graham Harrell. He also rushed for 884 yards and 12 touchdowns on 155 attempts during his career. He was named the District 5-5A Division II Offensive MVP as a senior, throwing for 2,995 yards and 25 touchdowns on 214-of-349 passing, rushing for 602 yards and six scores in 2022 to lead the Lions to a bi-district title. He was named the 2021 District 8-5A MVP and First Team All-District. He threw for 2,490 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior to help lead Ennis to an 11-1 record, a district title (7-0) and the area round of the Class 5A Division II playoffs. Gilkey was a three-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals and was a Texas Top 300 recruit and rated as the No. 10 QB in the class of 2023 by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
 
Gilkey, an Ennis, Texas, native, will major in business administration at Tarleton State University.
 
Jake Gillespie (5-10, 190, DB, Junior, Previous: Stephen F. Austin)
Gillespie played the last two years at Stephen F. Austin, appearing in five games each season. He totaled seven tackles and a quarterback hurry across the 10 performances, including a pair of tackles against Northwestern State on Oct. 5, 2024, as a true freshman.
 
Gillespie played his prep football at Aledo High School, where he twice earned First Team All-State honors at safety (2022-23). He was also a two-time state champion with Aledo winning back-to-back 5A Division 1 titles in 2022-23, helping lead Aledo to a 14-2 mark in 2022 and an undefeated 16-0 campaign in 2023.
 
Gillespie, an Aledo, Texas, native, will major in kinesiology at Tarleton State University.
 
Ja'Mareion Gipson (5-10, 180, DB, Senior, Previous: Nebraska-Kearney)
Gipson has played the last three seasons at the NCAA Division II and JUCO levels, spending a year at Nebraska-Kearney and two years at Trinity Valley CC. Gipson had a tied-team-high four interceptions last season, adding four pass breakups, 2.0 TFL and 55 total tackles in 10 games. On Oct. 11 against Missouri Western State, Gipson had two interceptions, including a 34-yard pick-six, to go with two pass breakups, six total tackles and a half-TFL.
 
At Trinity Valley CC, he had 32 career tackles over 19 games, adding three pass breakups, a forced fumble and one tackle for loss. He started his collegiate career at Midwestern State, where he redshirted in 2022.
 
Gipson played his prep football at Langham Creek High School in Houston, where he was Second Team All-District 16-6A at CB as a senior. He had 31 tackles (3.0 TFL), four pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a blocked punt that season. He was a four-year letterwinner, a first-year starter in 2019, plus part of a 2018 team that advanced to the bi-round of the UIL Texas Class 6A playoffs. He was also a three-year varsity track letterwinner, with a PR of 11.36 in the 100m, and a PR of 23.93 in the 200.
 
Gipson, a Houston native, will major in sports management at Tarleton State University. 
 
Bryce Green (5-9, 180, RB, Freshman, Previous: Brookwood HS)
Green joins the Texans from Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia, where he played two varsity seasons. Last year, he was No. 1 in Georgia' 6A division in punt return yards, and No. 3 in total return yards, totaling 1,347 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns. He was with All-Region Player of the Year last season, along with Gwinnett County Player of the Year honors and team MVP. In 2024, he was First Team All-Region and a Gwinnett County scholar athlete. He has also competed in two years of varsity track and field.
 
Green, a Lilburn, Georgia, native, will major in finance at Tarleton State University.   
 
Ajai Harrell (6-0, 195, WR, Junior, Previous: Alabama State)
Harrell played the last three seasons at Alabama State, appearing in 25 total games. He recorded 664 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 44 receptions across his tenure there. Last season was his best year, going for 492 yards and five touchdowns on 26 catches in 12 games. He was the second leading receiver on the Hornets who finished 10-2 overall, 7-1 in conference play. He started the year with a receiving touchdown in each of his first three games, then posted a season-high 107 yards against Jackson State on Oct. 11. Harrell was also a kick returner and punt returner over the past two seasons, averaging 16.1 yards per kick return last year and 28.5 yards per punt return in 2024.
 
Harrell played prep football at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was All-State and the Florida Player of the Year his senior year, plus the Tri-County Player of the Year. He set the school record with five touchdown receptions in a game, finishing with 31 touchdowns and 2,083 receiving yards during his high school career.
 
Harrell, a Daytona Beach, Florida, native, will major in biomedical sciences at Tarleton State University. 
 
Hudson Hays (6-5, 250, TE, Freshman, Previous: Royse City HS)
Hays joins the Texans from Royse City High School in Royse City, Texas. He played three varsity years there, a First Team All-District at tight end. His senior year, he scored six touchdowns, with 214 yards on 11 receptions. He also plays for the basketball and baseball teams.
 
Hays, a Royse City, Texas, native, will major in construction management at Tarleton State University.
 
MarQuice Hill (6-3, 250, DL, Junior, Previous: UIW)
Hill joined UIW as a true freshman in 2023, then played the last two seasons at Kilgore College. At Kilgore this past season, he had two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, a pass breakup and 35 total tackles across nine games. The year prior, he had a fumble recovery, three sacks, a pass breakup and 21 tackles in 10 games. He played in one game with the Cardinals in 2023, making his collegiate debut against North American on Sept. 23.
 
Hill played his prep football at Billy Ryan High School in Denton, Texas. He played three varsity seasons, twice First Time All-District and once Second Tem All-District. He was a three-star prospect. Hill helped his team win the 5A D1 state championship in 2021, finishing 16-0 on the year. He also competed three years in track and field, helping them be district champs three times (2021-23).
 
Hill, a Long Beach, California, native, is undecided on his major at this point as he arrives at Tarleton State University.   
 
Bleu Hubbard (6-2, 220, LB, Freshman, Previous: Grandview HS)
Hubbard joins the Texans after playing four varsity years at Grandview High School. Last season playing both running back and linebacker, Hubbard had 135 tackles, six sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and a pass breakup. On offense, he had 1,005 yards and 16 touchdowns on 132 carries (7.6 YPC), also catching 54 passes for 885 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named the All-State 3A D1 Offensive MVP and First Team All-State 3A D1 at linebacker, plus the All-Johnson County MVP RB/LB. As a junior, Hubbard was the District MVP, All-State Second Team at linebacker and All-Johnson County First Team. He was also First Team All-District as a sophomore in 2023. Hubbard has also participated four varsity years of track and field, a regional qualifier in the 4x400 in both 2023-24, and a regional final qualifier in the 4x400 in 2024. Last year, he was a regional qualifier in the 200m dash and a regional final qualifier in the 4x100 and 4x200.
 
Hubbard, a Grandview, Texas, native, is undecided on his major at this point as he arrives at Tarleton State University.   
 
Josiah Jeffery (6-2, 225, LB, Junior, Previous: Syracuse)
Jeffery spent a year at Syracuse in 2023, where he redshirted. He then spent two seasons (2024-25) at Anderson University, an NCAA Division II program in the South Atlantic Conference. He played in 22 combined games, recording 157 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, two sacks and three pass breakups. Last season he was the team's second leading tackler with 75 total after leading the team in tackles in 2024 with 82. He also had the most fumble recoveries on the team in 2024 with two. He posted seven double-digit tackle games, three last year and four in 2024. He was Second Team All-Conference last year, and a 2024 All-Mountain Defense Honoree.
 
Jeffery played his prep football at Greenwood High School in Greenwood, South Carolina. He was the Region Defensive Player of the Year, All-South Carolina, and twice an All-Lakelands Team selection. As a senior in 2022, he made 71 tackles, had nine tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown. He also played three games on offense and scored seven rushing touchdowns in those games, totaling 347 yards, adding one receiving touchdown as well. 
 
Jeffery, a Hodges, South Carolina, native, will major in sports management at Tarleton State University.   
 
Broderick Johnson (6-3, 250, DL, Junior, Previous: Stephen F. Austin)
Johnson spent two seasons at Stephen F. Austin from 2023-24. He played in two games as a true freshman in 2023, posting a tackle.
 
Johnson played his prep football at Katy High School, where he was twice First Team All-District. He played three varsity years at Katy HS, helping the team win the 2020 6A D2 championship.
 
Johnson, a Katy, Texas, native, will major in psychology at Tarleton State University.
 
Isaiah Johnson (6-4, 255, DL, Sophomore, Previous: Houston Christian)
Johnson spent the past two seasons at Houston Christian, playing in a combined eight games. Last year he recorded 11 tackles and one tackle for loss in four games. In 2024, Johnson played in four games as a true freshman, logging 3.5 tackles for loss, 11 tackles, one quarterback hurry and a pass breakup. His best collegiate game came against Louisiana Christian on Sept. 14, 2024, where he had eight tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. He also had two tackles in the season opener that year at SMU.
 
Johnson was a three-star recruit out of Clear Springs High School. His senior year he had 33 tackles, three sacks and nine tackles for loss, earning First Team All-District honors. He was chosen to play in the U.S. Army Bowl.
 
Johnson, a Webster, Texas, native, will major in sports management at Tarleton State University.   
 
Derek Joiner (6-2, 305, OL, Sophomore, Previous: Houston)
Joiner played the last two seasons at Houston, appearing in 13 total games, including 11 of 13 for the Cougars this past season. He made his collegiate debut against Rice in 2024.
 
Playing for Grandview High School, Joiner was a three-star prospect by 247Sports, the Kansas City Star Scholar-Athlete High School Award Winner, the nation's No. 72 interior offensive lineman (247Sports) and Missouri's No. 20 overall player (247Sports). He was a four-time All-Conference offensive lineman, a three-time All-District offensive lineman, and a two-time First Team All-State offensive lineman. He played both sides of the line of scrimmage as junior. He participated in three sports in high school (football, wrestling and track and field), a three-year All-Conference honoree in track and field, a two-time shotput state champion (2023-24), and 2024 wrestling heavyweight state champion.
 
Joiner, a Kansas City, Missouri, native, will major in kinesiology at Tarleton State University. He is the brother of Tarleton State tight end Danny Joiner.
 
Kauna'oa Kamakawiwoole (6-1, 210, QB, Junior, Previous: Golden West)
Kamakawiwoole played last season at Golden West at the JUCO level. He completed 162-of-244 (.664) passes for 2,286 yards and 25 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. He had seven games with multiple touchdown passes, including five games with three pass touchdowns, three with four and a season-high five against Ventura on Nov. 29. He ended the year with a season-high 320 pass yards against San Mateo on Dec. 13.
 
He started his collegiate career in 2024 at Lewis & Clark, an NCAA Division III program in the Northwest Conference. There he was the Northwest Conference Rookie of the Year and a Northwest Conference honorable mention at QB. He threw for 2,376 yards and 19 touchdowns, adding two rushing touchdowns. He earned the starting job and made an immediate impact in his first season as a Pioneer, where he set the single-season record for completion percentage (.697) and finished fifth in passing yards and tied for fifth in passing touchdowns. He threw for over 300 yards four times, including a pair of 400-plus yard games. He finished the year third in the NWC in passing yards, second in passing touchdowns and led the entire conference in completion percentage. Kamakawiwoole earned his first collegiate start against nationally-ranked Montana Western and went 29-of-42 for a season-high 425 yards and five touchdown passes.
 
Kamakawiwoole played his prep football at Saint Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. He accepted an invite to play in the 2023 Dream All-American Bowl in Dallas.
 
Kamakawiwoole, a Kaimuki, Hawaii, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University.
 
Kenyan Kelly (6-2, 180, DB, Sophomore, Previous: UTSA)
Kelly played the last two seasons at UTSA, playing in a combined 14 games. He made seven tackles, including six across 13 games this past season. He debuted last year at No. 19 Texas A&M with a season-high three tackles. In 2024, he saw action in the 44-15 victory over Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl and recorded one tackle.
 
Kelly starred at Denison High School, where he was a First-Team All-District 7-5A Division II selection at safety as a senior. He posted 82 total tackles, four tackles for loss, an interception and two fumble recoveries in 2023. He was a four-star prospect by 247Sports and a three-star prospect by Rivals and Dave Campbell's Texas Football, which ranked him as the No. 16 safety in the state. His junior year, he registered 92 total tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Kelly also competed for the track and field team, with personal bests of 22.91 in the 200m and 42-11 in the triple jump.
 
Kelly, a Denison, Texas, native, will major in sociology at Tarleton State University.   
 
Marius Landsfeld (6-4, 280, DL, Junior, Previous: Mercer)
Landsfeld spent the last two seasons at Mercer, playing in seven games this past year, where he recorded six tackles.
 
He played one season for Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia, in 2022.
 
Landsfeld, a Brühl, Germany, native, will major in international business at Tarleton State University.
 
Jackson Lang (6-3, 280, DL, Freshman, Previous: Bowie HS)
Lang joins Tarleton State from Bowie High School in Austin, Texas. He played three varsity seasons there, twice a team captain. This past season he was First Team All-District, Second Team All-District in 2024 and an honorable mention in 2023. He logged 6.5 sacks his junior year and has multiple field goal blocks to his name. Lang also played baseball at Bowie his first two prep years.
 
Lang, an Austin, Texas, native, will major in sports management at Tarleton State University.  
 
Jaxson Lavender (5-10, 170, WR, Junior, Previous: SMU)
Lavender joins Tarleton State after spending the last three seasons at SMU. He played in a combined eight games, totaling a catch for 20 yards and 18 rushing yards. He played in three games in 2023, two games in 2024, and three games last season. Lavender made his collegiate debut against Prairie View A&M on Sept. 16, 2023.
 
Lavender was a three-star prospect by 247 Sports and Rivals coming out of Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas. He ranked as the 104th overall prospect in the state by ESPN. He was a First Team All-District selection as a junior after an 1,100-yard season, and was District 7-5A-II Special Teams MVP as a sophomore. Lavender rushed 30 times for 193 yards and a touchdown in 2022, catching 46 passes for 795 yards and 10 touchdowns. He originally chose SMU over TCU, Kansas, Texas Tech and Tulsa among others. He played four varsity years, and participated in three years of varsity track and field.
 
Lavender, a Lucas, Texas, native, will major in sports management at Tarleton State University.
 
Emmanuel Lawton (6-1, 320, DL, Junior, Previous: Tyler JC)
Lawton played last season at Tyler JC after two seasons spent with UTPB. Last year he logged 2.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and 16 total tackles in 12 games played. He was First Team SWJCFC All-Conference for his efforts. He started the year with 2.5 TFL against Dodge City CC on Aug. 23, then had two tackles for loss against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on Sept. 27. He posted a season-high six tackles at Trinity Valley CC on Sept. 13. He did not appear in a game at UTPB.
 
Lawton played three varsity years at Obra D. Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas. He also participated two years in track and field, plus spent a season wrestling.
 
Lawton, a Houston native, will major in general business at Tarleton State University.   
 
Kamar Lhomme (6-0, 180, DB, Junior, Previous: Independence CC)
Lhomme played the last two years at Independence CC, finishing top-four in the nation in JUCO in interceptions with five on the season last year. He was All-America Third Team at the JUCO level last season, adding three tackles for loss and 26 total tackles as a defensive back. Altogether at Independence CC, he played in 18 games, finishing with five INT's, 3.5 TFL and 35 tackles.
 
Lhomme played prep football at Miramar High School in Miramar, Florida. In two varsity seasons, he logged 40 tackles and had an interception in his team's third round playoff game.  He made the Broward All Star Team and played in the Broward All Star Game.
 
Lhomme, a Miami Gardens, Florida, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University. 
 
Braedyn Locke (6-1, 205, QB, Senior, Previous: Arizona)
Locke arrives at Tarleton State after spending the last four seasons in the Power Four conference, last season at Arizona, two seasons at Wisconsin (2023-24) and one season at Mississippi State (2022). Locke played in four games as the Wildcats backup at quarterback last year, facing Hawaii, Weber State, Oklahoma State, and Colorado. His best game came against the Cowboys in which he completed 3-of-5 passes for 57 yards.
 
At Wisconsin, he played in a combined 16 games, starting 12 games at quarterback, including the final nine in 2024. Across his tenure, he completed 240-of-448 passes for 18 touchdowns and 2,713 yards, averaging 169.6 passing yards per game. In 2024, he totaled 1,936 pass yards and 13 pass touchdowns, his best game coming against Purdue, where he threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns on Oct. 5. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he played in five games, making three starts at quarterback. He became the first Badger freshman QB to post two 240-plus yard passing performances. He made his collegiate debut against Georgia Southern on Sept. 16 and made his first start at Illinois on Oct. 21, leading the Badgers to a fourth quarter comeback victory to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. He threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner, against Illinois on Oct. 21, leading the Badgers back from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit. He totaled 243 passing yards, the fourth-most for a Badger freshman ever, and two touchdowns on 21-for-41 passing against Indiana on Nov. 4.
 
Locke didn't appear in a game as a true freshman at Mississippi State in 2022. He played his prep football at Rockwall High School, where he was rated as the No. 22 quarterback. He set the Class 6A Texas state record with 129 career passing touchdowns. He was ranked second in career passing yards at the Class 6A level with 11,159 yards. He holds the Rockwall High School career and season records for passing attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns. Locke threw for 3,657 yards and 36 scores as a senior while completing 215-of-341 attempts. He earned Class 6A District 10 Offensive MVP honors as a senior. He totaled 3,236 yards through the air and 41 touchdowns as a junior. Locke was named the District 10 Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore, throwing for 4,231 yards and 52 touchdowns.
 
Lock, a Rockwall, Texas, native, will major in business administration at Tarleton State University.    
 
O'Shea Miller (6-4, 295, DL, Senior, Previous: Southern Oregon)
Miller played the last four years at Southern Oregon, an NAIA program. He appeared in 20 career games, recording 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and 50 total tackles. His best season came in 2024, where he had career-bests in sacks (three), tackles for loss (five) and total tackles (25) in 10 games played. That year, he became a starter at defensive tackle as a sophomore, holding the job for all 11 games. He was an All-Frontier Conference honorable mention.
 
Miller played his prep football at North Medford High School in Medford, Oregon. He was First Team All-Southwest Conference in his lone year playing football at the high school level. He also was an All-Conference honorable mention in basketball.
 
Miller, a Medford, Oregon, native, will major in general studies at Tarleton State University.
 
Nigel Mills (5-11, 180, DB, Junior, Previous: Golden West)
Mills played the last two seasons at Golden West, appearing in 17 games. He recorded four interceptions and four forced fumbles during that span, adding three pass breakups, 1.5 TFL and 45 total tackles. He led the team last season in forced fumbles (three) and had the tied-third most interceptions (three) in 10 games played. He picked a pass off in each of his first two games played on the year. He earned a Southern California Football Association (SCFA) All-National Central League honor.
 
Mills played his prep football at Paramount High School in Paramount, California. He spent three years on varsity, recording 140 total tackles, three interceptions and three forced fumbles, earning two First Team All-League and two First Team All-Conference honors.
 
Mills, a Long Beach, California, native, will major in psychology at Tarleton State University.    
 
Nicc Oliver (5-9, 170, DB, Senior, Previous: Missouri Western State)
Oliver played the last three years at Missouri Western State, totaling five pass breakups, two blocked kicks, a sack, three tackles for loss and 92 total tackles across 29 career games. He had his best season last year, with three pass breakups, both his blocked kicks, a sack, two tackles for loss and 34 tackles in 11 games.
 
Oliver attended North Crowley High School in Fort Worth. There he was a two-time First Team All-District selection for the Panthers, collecting 28 tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions. He also participated in three varsity years of track and field.
 
Oliver, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, will major in business management at Tarleton State University.     
 
Kenyon Partridge (6-3, 250, LB, Junior, Previous: Western Carolina)
Partridge played the last three seasons at Western Carolina, appearing in 26 total games. His best season came last year, where he totaled 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery and 24 total tackles, plus he was credited with 14 quarterback hurries. He had seven hurries in one game, vs. Samford on Sept. 20, plus had three hurries against Elon on Sept. 13. He was named Second Team All-SoCon by Phil Steele. He had a career-high two sacks and a forced fumble across 12 games in 2024.
 
He played at Columbia High School, at both outside linebacker and tight end as a prep. He was named the Region 5-2A Defensive Player of the Year, and over his final two seasons, recorded 53 receiving yards with a pair of scores as a tight end. Defensively, he amassed 111 total tackles including 79 solo stops with 38 tackles for loss with 22.5 sacks. He was a three-time Player of the Game, earning two honors in 2021 and one as a senior in 2022.
 
Partridge, a Decatur, Georgia, native, will major in sports management at Tarleton State University.   
 
Donald Passmore III (6-0, 180, DB, Junior, Previous: East Mississippi CC)
Passmore played the last two seasons at East Mississippi CC, earning First Team All-Conference honors this past year. Appearing in nine games, Passmore had eight pass breakups, one interception, two blocked kicks, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and 58 total tackles. He led the team in pass breakups, was tied-first in forced fumbles, second in total tackles and tied-second in interceptions. As a freshman in 2024, Passmore played in seven games, totaling nine tackles.
 
Passmore played his prep football at Terry High School in Terry, Mississippi. He played two varsity seasons, named Second Team All-State and MVP of the 3-6A Region his senior year. He also participated in two varsity years of track and field.
 
Passmore, a Jackson, Mississippi, native, will major in business management at Tarleton State University.     
 
Darrion Perry (5-11, 195, DB, Junior, Previous: Anderson)
Perry played the last two seasons at Anderson University, an NCAA Division II program. Across 22 games, he recorded 14 pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble, four tackles for loss and 79 total tackles. In 2024 he led the team in pass breakups with eight.
 
Perry played his prep football at May River High School in Bluffton, South Carolina. He carried for over 500 yards and six touchdowns, while also earning over 100 tackles, six tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a sack. He was an All-State, All-Region, and All Start North South selection. Perry also participated in four years of varsity track and field, helping his team to second place in state in the 400m Hurdles.
 
Perry, a Charleston, South Carolina, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University.
 
Xavier Potts (6-0, 270, DL, Senior, Previous: Stephen F. Austin)
Potts arrives at Tarleton State after three seasons spent in Nacogdoches, Texas, with Stephen F. Austin. He played in a combined 32 games for the 'Jacks, earning his best season last year for the Southland Conference champs. He posted 3.5 sacks, 6.5 TFL, a fumble recovery and 31 total tackles across 12 games. He was fifth on the team in sacks, adding three quarterback hurries. In 2024, Potts had 2.5 sacks, 4.5. TFL and 28 tackles in 10 games.
 
Potts played his prep football at Manvel High School, where he was 2021-22 District 10-5A Defensive MVP, the first such award in Manvel history. He was also a Houston Area Touchdown Club Defensive MVP Finalist, plus was twice First Team All-District. He played four varsity years.
 
Potts, a Manvel, Texas, native, will major in sports administration at Tarleton State University.     
 
Aiden Ramos (5-11, 205, RB, Junior, Previous: Cal Poly)
Ramos has played three collegiate years, debuting two seasons at Cal Poly before spending last year at Mt. San Antonio College. Last season, he rushed for 847 yards and 19 touchdowns on 150 carries, averaging 84.7 yards per game and 5.6 yards per rush. He scored a touchdown in nine of 10 games played, including six multi-TD performances and four three-touchdown games. He debuted at Cerritos on Aug. 30 with a pair of touchdowns, then exploded for 123 rush yards and three TD's against San Diego Mesa the next week. He rushed for a season-high 149 yards, to go with two touchdowns, on 18 carries against Long Beach on Oct. 23. Ramos was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the National Northern Conference.
 
At Cal Poly, Ramos played in 15 career games, including 11 in 2024. He rushed for 397 yards and a pair of touchdowns that year on 111 carries, adding 145 receiving yards on 19 receptions. His best game came at Northern Colorado on Sept. 28, 2024, where he rushed for a season-high 120 yards on 23 carries. He scored touchdowns against Western Oregon and at Weber State in the season finale, to go with 73 yards on 10 carries. As a true freshman in 2023, Ramos rushed 41 times in four games for 160 yards and a touchdown, posting his TD and a season-high 93 yards against Portland State.
 
Ramos played his prep football at Bishop Amat. He rushed 33 times for 303 yards and a school-record seven touchdowns against Murrieta Valley in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 playoffs, finishing his senior year with 971 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground and 10 catches for 70 yards. Ramos, who earned Second Team All-Mission League and First Team All-Area honors, also recorded 16 tackles on defense. In nine games as a junior, Ramos rushed for 1,009 yards and 19 touchdowns, caught 21 passes for 401 yards and eight scores and made six tackles on defense en route to First Team All-Mission League and All-Area honors. His prep career totals for 22 games include 1,980 yards and 42 touchdowns on 344 carries (5.8 average) and 31 receptions, eight for scores. Ramos produced six 100-yard games on the ground in his career at Bishop Amat, including 177 yards against Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and 147 yards versus Alemany, scoring four touchdowns in each game. Ramos was recruited by Nevada, Louisville, Army, Central Michigan and Bowling Green, choosing Cal Poly.
 
Ramos, a Covina, California, native, will major in criminal justice at Tarleton State University.
 
Braylon Reado (6-7, 240, OL, Freshman, Previous: Royal HS)
Reado joins the Texans from Royal High School in Houston. He was a First Team All-District offensive lineman each of the past two seasons, plus a First Team All-District center as a junior. He helped his high school win the district championship in 2024. Reado also plays varsity basketball and competes in throwing for track and field.
 
Reado, a Houston native, will major in business at Tarleton State University.  
 
Kenyon Rivera (6-2, 225, LB, Redshirt Freshman, Previous: Memphis)
Rivera spent his true freshman season at Memphis, redshirting without appearing in a game last year.
 
He played his prep football at Buford High School in Buford, Georgia, where he was ranked as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports and the No. 129 player in Georgia. He originally committed to Kansas before flipping his commitment to Memphis, with other interest by Tennessee, Texas, and others. Rivera was twice First Team All-Conference, helping Buford to the state championship in 2021 with a 14-1 overall record. He played all four years on varsity, with Buford winning a regional championship each season. He also played three years of varsity basketball and two years of varsity track and field.
 
Rivera, a Buford, Georgia, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University.    
 
Chris Robinson (6-1, 220, LB, Junior, Previous: Oklahoma State)
Robinson made three collegiate stops before arriving at Tarleton State, highlighted by a 2024 campaign in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State.
 
Last season he played at Hutch CC, logging eight tackles for loss, two sacks, a pass breakup and 23 total tackles across 10 games. He had three games with multiple tackles for loss, including in the season finale against Iowa Western CC on Dec. 17. Robinson redshirted at Oklahoma State in 2024, and played the 2023 campaign at Kilgore College. There he finished with 38 total tackles, two sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, helping the team to a 9-1 record and a SWJCFC championship.
 
Robinson played his prep football at Harker Heights High School. As a senior, he had 106 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and an interception. He was the Defensive Lineman of the Year In all of Central Texas, plus First Team All-District.
 
Robinson, a Beaufort, South Carolina, native, will major in general studies at Tarleton State University.     
 
Samuel Robles (6-2, 255, DL, Senior, Previous: Eastern Illinois)
Robles played last season at Eastern Illinois after two years spent at Tyler JC. Last season, he was an All OVC-Big South honorable mention, starting all 12 games. He led the team with four sacks, plus had 6.5 TFL, a forced fumble and 31 total tackles. He had a season-high five tackles in the season-opening win over Dayton with 1.5 TFL.
 
At Tyler JC, he appeared in 11 games in 2024, making 16 tackles with five tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble. He played in nine games during the 2023 season, making two tackles with one tackle for loss.
 
Robles played his prep football at Alief Taylor High School, spending three years on varsity, named Second Team All-District.
 
Robles, an Alief, Texas, native, will major in sports management at Tarleton State University.     
 
Terrance Saunders II (6-4, 305, OL, Junior, Previous: Eastern Michigan)
Saunders played the last two seasons at Eastern Michigan, appearing in eight games combined, with six game appearances and four starts in 2025.
 
He played his prep football at Blue Valley West High School, where he was a four-time letterwinner. He earned First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference accolades as a senior. He also was a multi-time letterwinner for the Blue Valley West track and field program.
 
Saunders, an Olathe, Kansas, native, will major in finance at Tarleton State University.     
 
Amir Scarver (6-1, 220, LB, Junior, Previous: Itawamba CC)
Scarver played last year at Itawamba CC, where he led the team in tackles for loss (9.5), was second in total tackles (45), tied-second in forced fumbles (one), tied-second in fumble recoveries (one) and third in sacks (three) in nine games. He posted multiple tackles in every game played, posting a season-high nine tackles, with 1.5 TFL, against Northeast Mississippi CC on Oct. 23. He had three games with multiple tackles for loss.
 
Scarver played his prep football at South Paulding High School in Douglasville, Georgia. There he was First Team All-Region in 2021, First Team All-Region in 2022, plus an All-State honorable mention in 2022. He also participated a year in varsity track and field.
 
Scarver, a Douglasville, Georgia, native, will major in cybersecurity at Tarleton State University.    
 
Tanner Schmidt (5-11, 185, WR, Sophomore, Previous: Golden West)
Schmidt played last year at Golden West after a true freshman campaign at Minnesota Duluth in 2024. Last season, he was the Southern California Football Association Offensive Player of the Year, plus was First Team All-Conference. He was the team's leading receiver, posting 1,183 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on 61 receptions, averaging just under 100 yards per game (98.6). He closed the season with five 100-plus yard performances over his final six outings, posting a season-high 177 yards on nine receptions, with two touchdowns, against Cerritos on Oct. 25. He scored in nine games on the year, catching four touchdowns in a game against Ventura on Nov. 29, totaling 147 yards on 10 receptions. He ended the year with eight touchdowns over his final three games. Schmidt played in four games at Minnesota Duluth as a true freshman, making his collegiate debut on Sept. 21, 2024, at Mary, where he caught a 30-yard touchdown.
 
At Stillwater High School in Minnesota, Schmidt was a two-time All-Conference WR. He was the Metro East Offensive MVP his senior year. He set the school career receiving yards record and career receiving touchdowns record.
 
Schmidt, a Stillwater, Minnesota, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University.
 
Cade Searcy (5-9, 190, RB, Junior, Previous: East Central)
Searcy played the last two seasons at East Central. Last season, he was the team's leading rusher, going for 595 yards and four touchdowns on 108 carries (5.5 YPC). He added 123 yards on 24 receptions. He began his sophomore campaign with 174 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries against Ouachita Baptist on Sept. 4. He followed it with back-to-back 100-yard games, rushing for 101 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries against Arkansas-Monticello on Sept. 13. In 2024 as a true freshman, Searcy rushed for 379 yards and three touchdowns on 67 carries, plus had a receiving touchdown and 122 yards on 16 receptions in eight games played. Searcy was named All-GAC Second Team last season and All-GAC Third Team in 2024.
 
Searcy played his prep football at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Texas. He played three varsity seasons for his dad, Neil Searcy, earning First Team All-Conference three times and a Utility Player of the Year Award.
 
Searcy, a Killeen, Texas, native, will major in kinesiology at Tarleton State University.
 
Tanner Smith (6-0, 175, LS, Sophomore, Previous: Cisco College)
Smith played his true freshman campaign at Cisco College last season, appearing in nine games.
 
He is a Stephenville High School 2025 graduate, playing three varsity seasons for the Yellow Jackets. He was named First Team All-District as a senior.
 
Smith, a Stephenville, Texas, native, will major in construction science at Tarleton State University.
 
CJ Spellmeier (6-2, 195, LB, Freshman, Previous: Stephenville HS)
Spellmeier stays home in Stephenville to play at Tarleton State after three varsity seasons playing with the Yellow Jackets. He helped SHS win the state championship this past season, named First Team All-State, finishing the season with 11 sacks. He also participates in varsity track and field, and soccer.
 
Spellmeier, a Stephenville, Texas, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University.
 
Jaylon Sterling (6-1, 205, DB, Freshman, Previous: Guyer HS)
Sterling arrives at Tarleton State from Guyer High School in Denton, Texas. He played four varsity years there, named 6A All-Area, Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-District.
 
Sterling, a Tyler, Texas, native, will major in kinesiology at Tarleton State University.
 
Kyle Thompson (6-3, 255, TE, Junior, Previous: Arkansas)
Thompson arrives at Tarleton State after four years spent playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks (2022-25). He played in a combined three games between 2023-24, making his collegiate debut in Arkansas' season-opening win over Western Carolina (Sept. 2), where he recorded two tackles.
 
Thompson played defensive end at Aledo High School, leading the Bearcats to a 12-1 mark and the third round of the state playoffs as a senior. He made 49 tackles with three sacks, 20 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries in his final year. He won three state championships while at Aledo (2019-21), helping them go a combined 40-3. He was First Team All-District his final three years, playing four varsity seasons in total.
 
Thompson, an Aledo, Texas, native, will pursue his master's degree in marketing at Tarleton State University.
 
Malekai Wheeler (6-4, 300, OL, Junior, Previous: New Mexico State)
Wheeler arrives at Tarleton State after spending three seasons at New Mexico State. He played in 10 total games, making his collegiate debut against SEMO on Aug. 31, 2024.
 
Wheeler played his prep football at Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah, where he was a three-year varsity starter and captain as a senior. He was Second Team All-State his senior year.
 
Wheeler, a Farmington, Utah, native, will major in business at Tarleton State University.
 
Alon Woodberry (5-11, 185, DB, Senior, Previous: East Central)
Woodberry played last season at East Central, totaling three tackles for loss, an interception, three pass breakups and 33 total tackles in 12 games. He was named to the All-GAC Third Team for his efforts.
 
Woodberry has also played at Missouri Valley College (2024) and Oklahoma Panhandle State (2022-23). At MVC, he had a sack, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, seven pass breakups and 18 total tackles in nine games. In 2023, he logged three interceptions, three pass breakups, a forced fumble, a tackle for loss and 28 tackles. As a true freshman in 2022, Woodberry played in four games, totaling five tackles.
 
He played his prep football at Midwest City High School, playing just his senior year, which was his first year ever playing the sport. He was All-District and All-Conference that season.
 
Woodberry, an Oklahoma City native, will major in kinesiology at Tarleton State University.