By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado State University Pueblo Roman Fuller, South Dakota Mines defensive back William Lester, and Chadron State College kick returner Chase Nelson claimed the final Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Players of the Week honors for 2025, presented by Genesee Nutrition, announced Monday.
Fuller finished the season with a 40-of-66, 442 passing performance against Chadron State to set the Division II season bests in pass completions and attempts. Lester provided an insurance touchdown with his 51-yard fumble return in the Hardrockers win against Adams State. Nelson gave Chadron State an early lead with his 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at CSU Pueblo.
Offensive
Roman Fuller, CSU Pueblo (Senior, Quarterback, Decatur, Texas)
Fuller set CSU Pueblo records and Division II season bests for pass completions and attempts, and threw touchdown passes in both overtime periods as CSU Pueblo outlasted Chadron State, 30-27, in double overtime to clinch its second straight RMAC Football Championship. He finished the day completing 40-of-66 passes for 442 yards and three touchdowns. Fuller’s first touchdown pass came late in the first half on a 10-yard pass to Reggie Retzlaff, providing the ThunderWolves their first touchdown and trimming their deficit to 14-10 at the break. In the first overtime, he found Retzlaff again for a one-yard score to put CSU Pueblo ahead 24-17. In the second overtime, facing a 3rd-and-9 on the 19-yard line, he found Marcellus Honeycutt Jr. in the end zone for the walk-off touchdown.
Others Nominated: Cameron Goods, Black Hills State; Jake Marschall, Chadron State; Trek Keyworth, Colorado Mesa; Josh Snyder, Colorado School of Mines; Mason Galbreath, South Dakota Mines; Drew Nash, Western Colorado.
Defensive
William Lester, South Dakota Mines (Senior, Defensive Back, Arvada, Colorado)
Lester’s 51-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown helped South Dakota Mines secure a 45-21 victory against Adams State. Along with the fumble recovery, he had a game-high 11 tackles (six solo) that included a sack. That sack came on a 3rd-and-6 opportunity in Adams State territory and helped force a punt to start at the end of the second quarter. Then, with four minutes left in the third quarter and the Grizzlies at midfield, he recovered a fumble forced by Evan Hatton and scampered 51 yards for a touchdown that put the Hardrockers ahead 38-21.
Others Nominated: Cooper Brown, Black Hills State; Peyton Shaw, CSU Pueblo; Cooper Walton, Chadron State; Kash Bradley, Colorado Mesa; Hall Edmonds, Colorado School of Mines; Jake Penney, Fort Lewis; Ian Loomis, Western Colorado.
Special Teams
Chase Nelson, Chadron State (Sophomore (RS), Kick Returner, Castle Rock, Colorado)
Nelson’s 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown helped Chadron State take a 7-3 lead in the first quarter before the Eagles fell in double overtime at CSU Pueblo. On the ensuing kickoff following a CSU Pueblo field goal, Nelson broke off a 92-yard kick return to turn the momentum around in the first half. It was the first kick return for a touchdown since 2018 by a Chadron State athlete. Nelson also had two punt returns totaling 23 yards in the contest.
Others Nominated: Bryce Coulson, Black Hills State; Keith Mckaney Jr., CSU Pueblo; Sullivan Moon, Colorado Mesa; Preston Kyle, Colorado School of Mines; Jacoby Ogbonna, South Dakota Mines.
About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
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