COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Chadron State football took home its first two RMAC Player of the Week awards of the season, with linebacker Jarred Marquez winning RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors while punter Triston Hite took home the Special Teams Player of the Week award, as announced Monday by the conference office.
Marquez set a new career high with 11 tackles in Chadron State's 24-21 win over Nebraska-Kearney last Thursday. Among Marquez's 11 stops were seven solo tackles, which matches the junior's total from the entire 2025 season. Marquez also forced two fumbles, broke up a pass and registered a quarterback hurry during his busy Thursday night performance.
A Yuma, Arizona, native, Marquez is taking on a bigger role in 2026 after the graduation of linebacker Logan O'Brien, who won four RMAC Defensive Player of the Week awards last season en route to RMAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Safety Aiden Kuester also won a defensive weekly award last season against Western Colorado, CSC's opponent this upcoming weekend, giving the Eagles five defensive winners during the 2025 season.
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Hite, a Grant, Nebraska, native, is also replacing a CSC standout as the fifth-year player is taking over punting duties from RMAC Special Teams Player of the Year and First Team All-American Brodie Eisenbraun. The Eagles didn't miss a beat last week, with Hite placing 4 of 6 punts inside the UNK 20-yard line despite averaging 45.3 yards per kick.
Hite punted back to the UNK 9-yard line twice, including a 70-yard punt where the Lopers only managed a 2-yard return, and also placed one at the UNK 10. In his only fourth-quarter punt, Hite kicked a 33-yarder that was downed at the Kearney 5-yard line, helping Chadron State's defense force a three-and-out with the Eagles holding a three-point lead.
Through two games this season, Hite leads the RMAC with nine punts inside the 20-yard line, more than double any other RMAC punter, and has done so against zero touchbacks so far in 2026.
Chadron State (1-1) will open RMAC play on the road this Saturday night against Western Colorado.
