CHADRON, Neb. – After racking up six sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles a season ago, redshirt senior defensive lineman William Stemler earned a mention on D2Football.com's annual Elite 100 Watch List. Stemler was named a "squad" member of the defense.

The 100-player national watch list includes 25 first-team players and 25 second-team players (11 offense, 11 defense, 3 special teams), then 50 "squad" players (25 offense, 25 defense). Squad players are equivalent to "honorable mention" selections in similar national recognition lists.

An Eagle defender appearing on the list is becoming an annual tradition, as Stemler joins previous Eagle defensive alums Hunter O'Connor (2023, 2024) and Dax Yeradi (2025) as Elite 100 Watch List honorees.

A Sierra Vista, Arizona native, Stemler is entering his third season with Chadron State after beginning his career at Lindenwood University. Appearing in all 23 possible games over the first two seasons, Stemler has racked up 10.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, 114 total tackles, 10 pass breakups and an interception across his two-year Eagle career. 

Stemler previously was one of four Chadron State players named to the Preseason All-RMAC team on July 22. He earned Second Team All-RMAC honors last season.

Other RMAC honorees include Western Colorado's Ian Loomis (Second Team LB) and Drew Johnson (Squad DL), Colorado Mesa's Gibson Leafgreen (Second Team S), Colorado School of Mines's Lucas LeSieur (Second Team P) and CSU Pueblo's Marcellus Honeycutt, Jr. (Squad WR).