By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – New Mexico Highlands quarterback Collin Stucki, Colorado State University Pueblo linebacker Carter Daniels, and Colorado Mesa University wide receiver Noah Greer are the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Football Players of the Week following Week 9’s action and announced Monday.
Stucki’s 566 total offensive yards in a loss at Colorado Mesa was the best offensive total in Division II this season and included the division’s second-best passing performance (507 yards). Daniels opened the ThunderWolves’ outing against Black Hills State with a strip-sack and recovery, setting the tone in a key victory with two weeks remaining in the regular season. Greer became the sixth different RMAC kick returner to return a kick for a touchdown this season, powering the Mavericks’ win in a 59-46 shootout against New Mexico Highlands.
Offensive
Collin Stucki, New Mexico Highlands (Sophomore, Quarterback, Cicola, Texas)
Stucki’s 507-yard passing day in a loss at Colorado Mesa was only the third 500-yard effort in Division II this season. He completed 36-of-62 passes for five touchdowns; his 62 attempts ranked third in Division II, his 36 completions ranked 10th, and he is the third RMAC quarterback with five touchdown throws in a game this season. Stucki also ran for a touchdown on a 16-carry, team-high 59-yard outing, and his 566 total offensive yards lead Division II this season. Wide receivers Owen Smith and Brian Spotwood II finished with 126 and 113 yards, respectively, each with a touchdown, and Maurice Collier Jr. caught a pair of touchdowns.
Others Nominated: James Coby, Adams State; Kade Weber, Black Hills State; Marcellus Honeycutt Jr., CSU Pueblo; Garet Schlabs, Chadron State; Bryson Brown, Colorado Mesa; Max Barnes, Colorado School of Mines; Solomon Latimer, Fort Lewis; Gage Baker, South Dakota Mines; Josiah Roy, Western Colorado.
Defensive
Carter Daniels, CSU Pueblo (Sophomore, Linebacker, Centennial, Colorado)
Daniels had a full day with nine tackles (four solo), 2.5 for loss, two sacks, including a strip-sack, in CSU Pueblo’s 38-31 win against Black Hills State. He set the tone on the game’s opening possession, registering a strip-sack and recovery on the first play from scrimmage to set up the ThunderWolves offense at the Yellow Jackets’ 11-yard line. Daniels' second solo sack came early in the fourth quarter, leaving BHSU facing a 3rd-and-9 deep in its own territory and ultimately leading to a punt, which CSUP turned into a touchdown to take a 38-24 lead.
Others Nominated: Roscoe Taylor, Adams State; Jack Gentile, Black Hills State; Liam Blaser, Chadron State; La’Markus Reed, Colorado Mesa; Joseph Gonzales, Colorado School of Mines; Michael Delap, Fort Lewis; Charlie Johnson, South Dakota Mines, Kade Musser, Western Colorado.
Special Teams
Noah Greer, Colorado Mesa (Senior, Wide Receiver, Aurora, Colorado)
Greer’s 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown fueled Colorado Mesa’s 28-point second-quarter explosion en route to a 59-46 victory over New Mexico Highlands. Moments after a New Mexico Highlands field goal narrowed the deficit to 21-13, Greer returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown that extended the lead back to two possessions, and the Cowboys would get no closer the rest of the way. Greer finished with 131 combined kick return yards: three kick returns for 121 yards and a punt return for 10 yards. It is the seventh kickoff return for a touchdown in the RMAC this season.
Others Nominated: Landon Bobo, Adams State; Mason Crosby, Black Hills State; Jackson Smith, CSU Pueblo; Reid Sprague, Chadron State; Preston Kyle, Colorado School of Mines; Lucas Schmitten, Fort Lewis; Sam Eccles, 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 71 national championships. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
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