STEPHENVILLE – The No. 1 nationally-ranked team in the country received more recognition, with four Tarleton State Football players being named to Phil Steel’s FCS Mid-Season All-American Team.
Quarterback Kaden Anderson (2nd Team), wide receiver Marquis Willis (3rd Team), linebacker Kaleb Brown (3rd Team) and defensive back Avian Rice (3rd Team) all represented Tarleton State on the list.
Tarleton State Football is the No. 1 ranked team in the top 25 polls for the second straight week, their first time ever being at the top of any national poll in program history. The Texans have an 8-0 record for the second straight season and are one of three undefeated teams remaining in FCS (SFA and Harvard). Since the beginning of 2025, the Texans are 19-1 in the regular season.
Earning his third consecutive United Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week award, Anderson accounted for five touchdowns in last week’s win at West Georgia. He is the first Texan since 2014 to have consecutive games with 5+ total touchdowns, the first since Colin Strahan did it on Oct. 11-18, 2014. The Wyoming transfer has 24 passing touchdowns on the year, tied-most in the FCS and most in the UAC. He also has 2,268 pass yards on the year, good for the fifth-most in the country and most in the UAC.
Willis currently leads the Texans in receiving yards (656) and receiving yards per game (82.0), ranking in the top 20 in both categories. He also co-leads the Texans in receiving touchdowns with six, good for 20th in FCS. The Atlanta native led all receivers in yards per reception with 22.39 last season. He also posted a 133-yard receiving game against North Dakota in the FCS Second Round, which included a 77-yard touchdown pass to help the Texans advance to its first-ever FCS Quarterfinal.
Brown has been a force on the Tarleton State defense, recording a sack, forced fumble, two tackles for loss to go with six tackles in last Saturday’s game. He earned UAC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 6 and currently leads the Texans in TFL (7.0), sacks (4.0) and forced fumbles (2). He currently ranks in the top 50 in FCS in sacks and is third in the conference in that category.
Rice has also been a heavy contributor on the defensive side of the ball in 2026. The Hutchinson Community College product leads the Texans in solo tackles (30.0) and is third on the team in total tackles (48.0). He had an interception to go with a career-high nine tackles and a quarterback hurry in Tarleton State’s home win against Central Arkansas. Rice earned UAC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 7 for his efforts.
Tarleton State Football returns to Memorial Stadium for Military Appreciation on Saturday at 6 p.m. against Eastern Kentucky. Tickets start at just $23 and can be purchased online here or in person at the Memorial Stadium Box Office. Students receive free admission to all home football games.
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