STEPHENVILLE, Texas – A Tarleton State Football assistant coach earned recognition this week as one of the top young coaches in the state. Texan Offensive Assistant Braden Hucks was named to the Dave Campbell's Texas Football's 2026 40 Under 40 list.
 
The Dave Cambell's Texas Football list recognizes the top-40 coaches under 40 years old across the state covering both college and high school football. Hucks was one of 16 college coaches to earn recognition this year, one of four from an FCS program.
 
Hucks is entering his sixth season on the Tarleton State Football coaching staff after playing three seasons for the Texans from 2018-2020 (spring 2021).
 
Last season, the Texans were one of the best teams in the nation offensively, ranked No. 1 in scoring (42.4 points per game), No. 8 in total offense (457.6 YPG), No. 16 in passing offense (263.6 YPG), and No. 18 in rushing offense (193.9 YPG). Turnovers and takeaways were a major reason for Tarleton State's historic campaign. On offense, the Texans turned the ball over just nine times, the tied-fifth fewest amount of turnovers lost across the FCS.
 
The 2025 campaign was overall a historic one for the Texans. The Texans finished 12-2 and 7-1 in UAC play, advancing to the FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals in just their second year of D1 postseason eligibility. The Texans 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), set record crowds at Memorial Stadium, and were ranked as high as No. 2 in the national polls.
 
Dave Campbell's Texas Football's full 40 Under 40 list can be found here.