DALLAS – On Thursday morning, the Conference USA office announced that four Aggies have garnered 2025 CUSA Football Postseason Awards following a vote of the league's 12 head coaches. Following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, it was announced that both Gavin Harris and Ezra Christensen received First Team All-CUSA honors, while Donovan Faupel and Naeten Mitchell each picked up Second Team All-CUSA laurels.
 
With a total of four award recipients, NM State has now tallied 26 All-CUSA selections since joining the league ahead of the 2023 season. Additionally, first-team distinctions for Harris and Christensen give the Aggies' five first team CUSA accolades.
 
Gavin Harris was the line tight end on the All-CUSA First Team Offense after submitting the best year of any tight end in the league. Harris concluded the year ranked 10^th in the nation and first in the conference in receiving yards per game (44.3) and total receiving yards (531) among tight ends. The native of San Antonio also paced all CUSA tight ends in receptions (37), while finishing 16^th among all pass-catchers in the league in receiving yards per game and catches.
 
This season, Harris hauled in at least three catches in nine games, including tallying a season-high six catches for 97 yards against rival New Mexico. In his debut season with the Aggies, Harris also caught one touchdown, bringing in the game-winning score against Tulsa.
 
Defensive lineman Ezra Christensen was also recognized as one of the league's best, serving as one of two interior defensive linemen to be named to All-CUSA First Team Defense. After coming over from Fresno State in the summer, Christensen finished the year with six sacks in 11 games to rank second among CUSA defenders in both total sacks and sacks per game (0.55). In league games alone, the redshirt senior from San Diego paced all Conference USA defenders in sacks per game (0.57), while ranking tied for fifth in total sacks with four.
 
On the year, Christensen also submitted 11 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and two pass breakups, while concluding the season with 42 total tackles to rank second among NM State defensive linemen.
 
The list of Aggie award winners also includes standout wide receiver Donovan Faupel, who finished his junior campaign with a team-best in catches (61), receiving yards (661) and touchdowns (7). Faupel proved to be an explosive option for the Aggie offense all year long and ended the season ranked tied for second among CUSA receivers in total receptions and catches per game (5.1). His six receiving touchdowns also ranked sixth in the conference and he was one of just three receivers in the league to have multiple games with two receiving touchdowns this season after catching a pair of touchdowns against both Kennesaw State and UTEP.
 
On the year, Faupel averaged 55.1 receiving yards per game to rank eighth among CUSA receivers. Against Missouri State, the native of Riverside, Calif., brought in 10 catches to mark one of just three 10-catch games by any receiver in the conference this year. Faupel also showed his versatility in the Aggie offense by throwing a touchdown pass to TJ Pride against rival New Mexico.
 
Lastly, safety Naeten Mitchell garnered second team honors after a breakout season on the back end of the defense. In his third year with the program, the redshirt sophomore paced the Aggies and ranked seventh in the conference in total tackles with 93. This included 58 solo tackles – a mark that ranks third-most among CUSA defenders. In the season finale, Mitchell also forced a fumble to finish the year with four on the year, ranking him first in the league and tied for fifth in the nation in this category.
 
The Temple, Texas, native also ranked tied for sixth among CUSA defenders in passes defended with nine total (6 PBUs and 3 INTs). His three interceptions were also tied for sixth-most in the conference, while he was one of just five CUSA players to return an interception for a touchdown this season. He was also one of just seven CUSA defenders to record two interceptions in a single game this season and one of just six to do so in league play.
 
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