CHADRON, Neb. – Redshirt senior Dax Yeradi, senior Preston Pearson and head coach Jay Long will be in attendance for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's annual football media day on Thursday, July 31 in Denver. 

The event will be broadcast on the RMAC Network free of charge beginning at 10:30 a.m. with all 10 RMAC football teams participating in interviews. Chadron State's time on the broadcast stream is set for 11:00-11:15 a.m. (MT).

WATCH: RMAC Football Media Day (7/31)

As part of the day's festivities, the league will release its 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll and Preseason All-RMAC teams on July 31 at noon, along with an interview with interim RMAC commissioner Lexie Vernon.

The in-person event is open to media members but not to the public. Aside from the livestreamed interview portion, coaches and players will participate in one-on-one media availability as well as promotional photoshoots, video and social media content. 

Any media members interested in attending the event can contact RMAC Associate Commissioner Cody Bush (cbush@rmacsports.org) or Chadron State Sports Information Director Paxton Ritchey (pritchey@csc.edu). 

Chadron State went 3-8 during the 2024 season, but the Eagles suffered four losses by four points or less and had two one-score losses to nationally ranked opponents. The Eagles rode a strong defense which kept them in games, as defensive coordinator Clint Sasse's unit finished with the second-best total defense (allowing 288 yards per game) and third-best scoring defense (allowing 19.3 points per game) in the RMAC. Despite the 3-8 record, Chadron State outscored its opponents overall in 2024, averaging 22.6 points per game offensively.

Head Coach Jay Long will begin his 14th season at the helm of Chadron State football in 2025. During Long's coaching tenure, the Chadron State program has seen 10 All-America selections, 13 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (including two last season in punter Brodie Eisenbraun and defensive end Hunter O'Connor), numerous All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and All-Region awards, one Harlon Hill Trophy Finalist, and the first NFL draft pick that CSC has produced since 1989. 

Dax Yeradi had a breakout campaign in 2024, earning First Team All-RMAC and Second Team D2CCA All-Region selections as a safety. The Wright, Wyoming native finished the season tied for the RMAC lead with four interceptions, including a 51-yard pick six against Fort Lewis, and also finished with 51 tackles and four pass breakups. He was the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week for the week of September 23 last season.

Preston Pearson emerged as a Swiss army knife for the Eagles throughout 2024, taking snaps at receiver and tight end and playing key roles on special teams before starting the final two games of 2024 at quarterback when injuries hurt CSC at that position. Pearson carried 43 times for 113 yards, completed 24 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 59 yards. 

Chadron State's 2025 football season will kick off on Saturday, August 30 against the University of Northern Colorado. CSC's home opener will be a rivalry clash with Black Hills State on Saturday, September 13, with other home dates on September 27 (Homecoming), October 11 and November 8.