By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines running back Max Barnes, Chadron State College linebacker Logan O’Brien, and Colorado State University Pueblo kicker Jackson Smith are the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Week 9 Players of the Week, presented by Genesee Nutrition, announced Monday.

Barnes rushed for the Orediggers’ first touchdown as part of his 15-carry, 172-yard effort.  O’Brien scored his second pick-six of 2025 and also had three tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. Smith’s 32-yard walk-off field goal capped his six-point day.

Offensive

Max Barnes, Colorado School of Mines (Sophomore (RS), Running Back, Austin, Texas)
Barnes rushed for 172 yards on 15 carries, leading Colorado School of Mines to a 48-21 victory against New Mexico Highlands on Saturday.  He scored the Orediggers’ first touchdown – a 44-yard run – to tie the game and start a 34-0 scoring run. Averaging 11.5 yards per carry, Barnes saw six of his runs result in a first down or touchdown against the Cowboys. He also had three receptions for 13 yards, with one catch resulting in a first down.

Others Nominated: TJ Chukwurah, Black Hills State; Marcellus Honeycutt Jr., Black Hills State; Tommy Thomas, Chadron State; Cole Hansen, Colorado Mesa; KB Broadus, Fort Lewis; Gage Baker, South Dakota Mines.

Defensive

Logan O’Brien, Chadron State (Senior (RS), Linebacker, Kearney, Nebraska)
O’Brien scored his second pick-six of 2025 as Chadron State held South Dakota Mines scoreless for the final three quarters en route to a 35-10 victory on Saturday. He finished the day with three tackles (all solo), a forced fumble, the pick-six, and a pass breakup. O’Brien’s pick-six came in the fourth quarter after a Chadron State turnover on downs; he intercepted a 3rd-and-5 pass and returned it 30 yards to give Chadron State a 28-10 lead with 13:17 remaining. His pass breakup came on a 3rd-and-10 pass in the second quarter that stalled a South Dakota Mines inside Chadron State territory.

Others Nominated: Jack Gentile, Black Hills State; Bryson Torrie, CSU Pueblo; George Soppe, Colorado Mesa; Hall Edmonds, Colorado School of Mines; Jake Penney, Fort Lewis; William Lester, South Dakota Mines; Cameron Cooper, Western Colorado.

Special Teams

Jackson Smith, CSU Pueblo (Junior, Kicker, Centennial, Colorado)
Smith’s 32-yard walk off field goal lifted CSU Pueblo to a 24-21 victory at Western Colorado on Saturday. The ThunderWolves rallied from a 21-point deficit with Smith’s field goal and a 3-of-3 afternoon on PATs. He improved to 12-of-13 on field goal attempts in 2025.

Others Nominated: Braden Biller, Adams State; Ryan Ewing, Black Hills State; Brodie Eisenbraun, Chadron State; Marvin Jones, Colorado Mesa; Preston Kyle, Colorado School of Mines; Charles Parke, Fort Lewis; Sam Eccles, South Dakota Mines; Jevon Young, Western Colorado.

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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