STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State Football announced on Thursday it has signed three high-ranked recruits following its record 2026 National Signing Day class.
 
The Texans have signed four-star prospect and former Georgia offensive lineman Nyier Daniels, three-star prospect and former Georgia commit defensive lineman Seven Cloud, and three-star prospect and First Team All-American running back Markellus Bass.
 
These signings follow Tarleton State's record 63-man National Signing Day class, the largest NSD class in Tarleton State Football history, and likely the best. According to AthLinkd, College Football's Premier Prospect Database, Tarleton State had 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.  
 
"Following our record National Signing Day class, we landed three highly recruited prospects who we're really excited about in Nyier Daniels, Seven Cloud and Markellus Bass," Tarleton State head coach Todd Whitten said. "They've already proven to be elite talents on the field, and the fact that we're able to sign such highly sought-after recruits speaks volumes to where we're at as a program and a university."
 
Daniels (6-8, 345 pounds) played the last two years at Georgia, appearing in four total games for the SEC program. He is a four-star prospect by both ESPN and 247 Sports, ranked as high as No. 151 nationally, No. 17 nationally at offensive tackle, and the No. 2 overall prospect in New Jersey. He played at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey, and helped lead his team to three state championships and a combined 34-2 overall record his last three years. As a senior, he was named an All-American by the All-American Bowl Selection Committee, consisting of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports and NexGen founder Brent Williams. Only 100 football players receive the honor of putting on the All-American Bowl jersey each year. Daniels was also named NJ.com All-State First Team and USA Today All-New Jersey First Team.
 
Cloud (6-4, 300 pounds) spent the last two years at Butler Community College. He missed last season due to injury following First Team All-American honors in 2024, one of four defensive linemen to make the 2024 NJCAA DI Football All-America First Team. That year, he totaled 5.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three blocked kicks, a pass breakup and 48 total tackles in 10 games. His best game came at No. 1 Hutchinson on Oct. 26, 2024, where he posted 3.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and nine total tackles. Cloud decommitted from Georgia in December 2025 after committing in 2024 as a No. 9 overall JUCO prospect and the No. 3 ranked defensive lineman. Cloud is a three-star prospect by 247 Sports out of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. He took official visits to Kentucky and North Carolina while holding additional offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and others.
 
Bass (5-11, 200 pounds) also spent the last two years at Butler Community College. Last season he was named a First Team All-American, one of two running backs on the 2025 NJCAA DI Football All-America First Team. He rushed for 1,237 yards and eight touchdowns on 187 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per rush and 123.7 yards per game in 10 games. He totaled eight 100-yard performances, with a career-high 187 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries at Dodge City on Nov. 15. In 2024, Bass rushed for 531 yards and four touchdowns on 119 carries. Bass is a three-star prospect by 247 Sports and chose Tarleton State over UTEP, Prairie View A&M and a dozen other FBS and FCS programs across the nation.
 
Tarleton State Football will open its 2026 campaign in a special way, hosting a Saturday night game under the lights at Memorial Stadium. Tarleton State's home opener against Prairie View A&M on Aug. 29 will kick off at 8 p.m. CT in Stephenville and be broadcast on ESPN 2. This will be a Purple Out at Memorial Stadium, as all fans are encouraged to don Tarleton State's signature color.
 
Season tickets and mini-packs are on sale now for the 2026 Texan Football season.