By: Paxton Ritchie
CSC Sports Information Director
CHADRON, Neb. – The Chadron State College football program welcomed 35 new freshman signees and three additional transfers as part of the Eagles' 2025 National Signing Day class.
Of the 35 freshman signees, 13 hail from Colorado while nine apiece are from Nebraska and Wyoming. There are also two signees from Arizona, one from California and one from South Dakota.
"I want to express my thanks to our assistant coaches and their families for their hard work in recruiting this class," Head Coach Jay Long said. "I'm incredibly proud to work alongside them and their passion for Chadron State is felt by the recruits and their families. I also want to thank our administration for their commitment to our program by providing resources to get Chadron State back to being a top team in the RMAC."
In addition to the freshmen, three transfers have joined the program in addition to the seven that were previously announced. They include two players with Division I pedigree in Wyoming transfer Kayden LaFramboise and Northern Arizona linebacker Jarred Marquez, as well as Division III standout receiver Isaiah McNaught-Thornton. All three transfers are with the CSC program for spring ball.
"While player development has always been a cornerstone of our program, this class was built with a focus on bringing in student-athletes who can make an immediate impact and help us win next season," Long said.
Several of this year's recruits have ties to the college or current roster. Holyoke, Colorado wide receiver Reid Sprague is the younger brother of quarterback Wyatt Sprague and Stanton, Nebraska safety Becker Pohlman is the younger brother of just-graduated Sutton Pohlman, a starting safety for the Eagles last year.
Several 2025 Eagles are second or even third-generation CSC football players. Wide receivers Gage Brooks (son of Cory Brooks) and Peyton Turman (son of Ryan Turman) come to Chadron State after their parents were previously All-RMAC selections (with Ryan Turman also winning All-American honors).
Jeron Sutton is a third-generation Eagle, with both his father Jason and grandfather Jerry suiting up for Chadron State.
Among the new class of CSC football players are 23 walk-ons, who will be given the chance to earn a role on the team.
"As the landscape of college recruiting continues to change, it remains important for our program to provide opportunities for student athletes," Long said. "I was a walk-on myself, and all I wanted was a chance. Once given that opportunity, it was up to me to make the most of it."
While the Signing Day class provides the bulk of the 2025 additions to the Chadron State roster, Coach Long said recruiting is not over for the coaching staff. With the new NCAA D1 roster limits of 105 in place for this season, additional transfers may be signed after spring ball.
Join members of the Chadron State athletic department and football program at the team's official Signing Day social, which will be held at The Ridge in Chadron on Thursday, February 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Below are the members of Chadron State's 2025 Signing Day Class:
Cash Altschwager – WR | 5'8 | 145
Wellington, Colo. | Wellington HS
Three-time First Team All-Conference (2A Northern League)
First Team All-State (CO)
State qualifier in track
Hayden Atkins – LB
Alda, Neb. | Grand Island Northwest HS
Lincoln Journal-Star Honorable Mention All-State (NE)
Tate Berry – LB | 6'4 | 185
Cheyenne, Wyo. | Cheyenne Central HS
Two-time All-Conference, All-State (WY)
Great-grandfather played football at CSC
Marty Brewer – DB | 6'1 | 190
Mesa, Ariz. | Desert Ridge HS
First Team 6A All-Region (CO)
Returned punts in addition to playing defensive back
Mother Marie played softball at Creighton
Gage Brooks – WR | 6'2 | 160
Casper, Wyo. | Natrona County HS
First Team All-Conference KR/WR, Second Team All-State KR/WR, Second Team All-Conference DB
Is a dual-sport athlete, also signing with CSC for track and field
Father Cory also played football and ran track at CSC
William Cacy – LB
Arapahoe, Neb. | Arapahoe HS
Omaha World Herald/Lincoln Journal Star Class D-1 All-State
400-meter track state champion
Kyle Cox – S | 5'9 | 170
Purdum, Neb. | Sandhills HS
Two-time Nebraska D-2 Player of the Year
Holds Nebraska records for rushing yards in a state championship, rushing yards in the playoffs
State champion
Evan Crum – S | 6'0 | 180
Laramie, Wyo. | Laramie HS
Father Gary Crum (Miami Dolphins) and brother Frank Crum (Denver Broncos) play/played in the NFL
Two-time All-Conference selection
Joey DeLay – CB | 6'0 | 165
Brighton, Colo. | Brighton HS
Second Team 5A Front Range North All-Conference
Brother Ryan is a CSU Pueblo football alum
Ty Douglas – LS | 6'0 | 215
Greenwood Village, Colo. | Cherry Creek HS
Special Teams MVP and Team Captain as a long snapper
Delmonico Dukes – CB | 5'11 | 160
Thermopolis, Wyo. | Hot Springs County HS
Three-time All-Conference, One-time All-State
Led Wyoming in interceptions/tackles for loss among CBs
2024 2A Defensive Player of the Year runner-up
Jeffrey Goins – LS | 6'0 | 240
Queen Creek, Ariz. | Queen Creek HS
All-District (6A) First Team, All-Region honorable mention
Anthony Henson – OL | 6'3 | 220
Douglas, Wyo. | Douglas HS
First-Team All-Conference
Team earned third place at state
Siler Hess – QB | 6'4 | 205
Dubois, Wyo. | Dubois HS
Two-Time All-Conference
All-State selection
Mason Kiewiet – QB | 6'0 | 220
Westminster, Colo. | Westminster HS
Two-Time 5A Metro North Offensive Player of the Year
Two-Time 5A Honorable Mention All-State (CO)
Holds school single-game, single-season, career passing TD records
Colton Lancaster – LB | 6'2 | 210
Commerce City, Colo. | Riverdale Ridge HS
Honorable Mention All-State (CO)
Two-Time Academic All-State selection
Sister Molly plays soccer at Adams State
Keagyn Linden – DL | 6'3 | 240
York, Neb. | York HS
Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal-Star Class B First Team All-State
Is a dual-sport athlete, also signing with CSC for wrestling
Lennon Louis – RB | 5'10 | 200
Colorado Springs, Colo. | Vista Ridge HS
Three-time all-league pick
Brother Christion Louis is a former CSC football player
School's all-time weightlifting record leader in squat and deadlift
Kaden Maikowski – WR | 6'3 | 190
Sterling, Colo. | Sterling HS
Three-time All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-State as a senior
Two-time Academic All-State
Talan Mock – OL | 6'3 | 300
Lyons, Neb. | Lyons Decatur Northeast HS
Lincoln Journal-Star All-State Honorable Mention
Selected to Nebraska eight-man All-Star Game
Tristen Osborne – OL | 6'2 | 245
Lander, Wyo. | Lander Valley HS
All-Conference selection at both OL and DL
Fremont County All-Lineman team
Becker Pohlman – S| 5'11 | 205
Stanton, Neb. | Stanton HS
All-State selection by Omaha World-Herald at running back and Lincoln Journal-Star on defense
Four-Time Academic All-State
5,000 rushing yards in high school career
Kartell Purvis – QB | 6'3 | 195
San Diego, Calif. | Mater Dei Catholic HS
First-Team All-Conference
Metro Mesa Offensive Player of the Year
Cash Rhodes – OL | 6'3 | 290
Erie, Colo. | Erie HS
Two-time Academic All-State
Also wrestled in high school
Ben Rios – OL | 6'4 | 280
Fort Collins, Colo. | Fort Collins HS
State placer in wrestling
Marcelo Rossi – RB | 5'10 | 190
Hudson, Colo. | Weld Central Senior HS
Three-time First-Team All-Conference
Patriot League (CO) Offensive Player of the Year
All-State Honorable Mention
Curtis Salazar – OL | 6'3 | 265
Rapid City, S.D. | Stevens HS
Preseason Second Team All-State
Lane Schock – LB | 6'2 | 190
Fort Morgan, Colo. | Prairie Junior-Senior HS
Two-time All-State selection
One First Team, one honorable mention
Can dunk a basketball
TC Shaw – CB | 6'0 | 185
Fountain, Colo. | Fountain-Fort Carson HS
Honorable Mention All-League (CO, 5A)
Noah Shoemaker – QB | 6'3 | 195
Cozad, Neb. | Cozad HS
Omaha World Herald/Lincoln Journal Star Class C-1 All-State QB
Over 4,400 passing yards in high school career
Nebraska C-1 state record holder with 8 TD passes in one game
Landon Solaas – K | 6'1 | 170
Mountain View, Wyo. | Mountain View HS
School records for longest field goal/punt, field goal percentage, touchbacks
Also was an All-State defensive end
Reid Sprague – WR | 6'2 | 170
Holyoke, Colo. | Holyoke HS
Four-year All-Conference selection
Father Aaron played football at Colorado State, brother Miles currently plays linebacker at CSU Pueblo, brother Wyatt started one game at QB for Chadron State last season
Jeron Sutton | 5'10 | 140
Buffalo, Wyo. | Buffalo HS
Third-generation CSC football player, father Jason and grandfather Jerry previously played for the Eagles
Peyton Turman – WR | 6'2 | 190
Elkhorn, Neb. | Elkhorn HS
Omaha World-Herald All-State punter in Class B
School record holder for most receptions in a game
Father Ryan was All-American defensive back for CSC
Camden Walker – WR | 6'2 | 210
Grand Island, Neb. | Grand Island Northwest HS
Lincoln Journal Star Honorable Mention All-State Class B
Two-time All-District selection
Father Bryson played baseball at Nebraska-Kearney
Transfers
Kayden LaFramboise – WR | 6'4 | 210
Gillette, Wyo. | University of Wyoming (FBS)
In high school, was unanimous First Team Class 4A (WY) All-State
Over 1,150 receiving yards as high school senior
Jarred Marquez – LB | 6'2 | 210
Yuma, Ariz. | Northern Arizona University (FCS)
Saw field in four games at NAU
High school: First Team All-State, First Team All-Region
Will have four full years of eligibility remaining
Isaiah McNaught-Thornton – WR | 6'1 | 170
Medford, Ore. | University of La Verne (D3)
At La Verne: 17 catches, 400+ receiving yards, 3 TDs in 2024