Tarleton State University Athletics

Tate Maruska, one of the greatest players in Stephenville High School history, will play his collegiate football at home at Tarleton State. The All-State and First Team All-District running back is the single-season record holder for rushing yards (2,098) and rushing yards in a game (311) in Yellow Jackets program history. He played four years of varsity football at SHS, helping the team win the state championship in 2021. Across his four seasons, he totaled 4,097 yards on 614 carries (6.7 YPC) in 39 games (105.1 YPG), scoring 32 touchdowns. His best year was in 2022, his junior campaign, where he had the 2,000-yard season to go with 20 touchdown rushes in 11 games, running for 100-plus yards 10 times. His final two years, he added 548 receiving yards on 39 catches, plus six touchdown grabs.
 
“Everybody around here knows about Tate,” head coach Todd Whitten said. “A local running back, he's a fast guy with really good speed, one of the all-time great running backs in Stephenville High School history. Any time we can sign a really good local player, we like to do that, so we’re excited to have him.He also does a good job catching the ball coming out of the backfield. We think he’s just a really good running back prospect.”
 
The Stephenville native was All-State Academic too, and participated the last three years on the varsity track and field team. He will study agribusiness upon arrival at Tarleton State University.