ARLINGTON, Texas – Tarleton State football player Kasyus Kurns and track & field athlete Victoria Cameron are the 2025-26 Western Athletic Conference Joe Kearney Award winners. Named in honor of former WAC commissioner Joe Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female student-athletes in the WAC.

Kurns emerged as one of the premier defensive players in the Football Championship Subdivision during the 2025 season. He earned First Team All-America honors from the Associated Press, FCS Football Central and Walter Camp and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the national defensive player of the year in the FCS. He was also three-time Academic All-WAC selection.

The senior from Chicago tied for the FCS lead with six interceptions and ranked second nationally in interceptions per game. He added a fumble recovery, three pass breakups, 32 tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry while helping anchor one of the nation's most disruptive defenses.

Behind Kurns' leadership, Tarleton State captured a share of the United Athletic Conference championship and advanced to the FCS Playoff Quarterfinals. The Texans finished 12-2 overall, matching the program record for victories, and became the first FCS team since 1993 to reach the quarterfinals within its first two seasons of playoff eligibility. Tarleton State climbed as high as No. 2 in the national rankings and led the FCS with 39 takeaways.

"Kasyus (Kurns) is one of the best players I have ever coached," said Tarleton State Head Coach Todd Whitten. "If I had to draft my own players this past season, Kasyus would have been my No. 1 overall draft pick. He is a terrific person, he never missed anything we ever asked of him, and he is always available. He is a great family man and leads by example. Kasyus Kurns is the best representative for Tarleton State University and this conference."

Cameron becomes one of the most decorated student-athletes in Tarleton State history after another record-breaking season on the track.

The Stephenville native cemented her place among the nation's elite sprinters during the 2025-26 season, earning First Team All-America honors indoors in the 60 meters with a third-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships and Second Team All-America honors outdoors in the 100 meters. She was named the WAC Women's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year and became the first Division I track and field All-American in Tarleton State history.

Cameron rewrote the conference record book throughout the season, establishing a new all-time WAC record in the 60 meters with a time of 7.08 seconds, a mark that stands as the 10th-fastest performance in NCAA history. Outdoors, she tied her own WAC record in the 100 meters with a time of 11.01 seconds.

She was the only WAC track and field athlete to qualify for both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Cameron excelled academically as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American and a two-time Academic All-WAC selection.

"Victoria (Cameron) is exceptionally deserving of this award because of her resilience, determination and outstanding accomplishments this season," said Tarleton State Head Coach Bobby Carter. "Throughout the year, she faced and overcame significant adversity, demonstrating remarkable perseverance and an unwavering commitment to her goals. Rather than allowing challenges to define her, Victoria used them as motivation to elevate her performance and continue striving for excellence. Her hard work and dedication culminated in one of the fastest times in the NCAA this season, placing her among the nation's elite."

Kurns and Cameron are the first Tarleton State student-athletes to win these prestigious awards.

All-Time Joe Kearney Award Winners:
2026: Kasyus Kurns, Football, Tarleton State; Victoria Cameron, Track & Field, Tarleton State
2025: Gabe Remy, Track & Field, Utah Valley; Brianna Ford, Volleyball, UT Arlington
2024: Lucas Van Klaveren, Track & Field, UT Arlington; Greta Karinauskaite, Track & Field, California Baptist
2023: Xavier Gipson, Football, Stephen F. Austin; Kristin Fifield, Softball, Grand Canyon
2022: Teddy Allen, Basketball, NM State; Annina Brandenburg, Track & Field, Abilene Christian
2021: Fardaws Aimaq, Basketball, Utah Valley; Ane Olaeta, Basketball, California Baptist
2020: Nick Gonzales, Baseball, NM State; Megan Hart, Volleyball, NM State
2019: Mark Nikolaev, Swimming and Diving, Grand Canyon; Brooke Salas, Basketball, NM State
2018: Jemerrio Jones, Basketball, NM State; Kelsey Horton, Softball, NM State
2017: Paul Hoffmeister, Soccer, Utah Valley/DeWayne Russell, Basketball, Grand Canyon; Shawnte' Goff, Basketball, UTRGV
2016: Antoine Rozner, Golf, Kansas City; Gwen Murphy, Volleyball, NM State
2015: Michael McPherson, Track & Field, Utah Valley; Courtney Frerichs, Cross Country/Track & Field, Kansas City
2014: Male: Mitchell Huxhold, Swimming and Diving, CSU Bakersfield; Stephanie Verdoia, Soccer, Seattle U
2013: Kyle Barone, Basketball, Idaho; Hannah Kiser, Cross Country/Track & Field, Idaho
2012: Andrew Blaser, Track and Field, Idaho/Robert Turbin, Football, Utah State; Chelsea Hayes, Track & Field, Louisiana Tech
2011: Colin Kaepernick, Football, Nevada; Emma Friesen, Swimming and Diving, Hawai'i
2010: Kellen Moore, Football, Boise State; Amber Kaufman, Volleyball/Track and Field, Hawai'i
2009: Tom Mendonca, Baseball, Fresno State; Melanie Gloria, Tennis, Fresno State
2008: Steve Susdorf, Baseball, Fresno State; Emma Friesen, Diving, Hawai'i
2007: Colt Brennan, Football, Hawai'I; Kanoe Kamana'o, Volleyball, Hawai'i
2006: Nick Fazekas, Basketball, Nevada; Kanoe Kamana'o, Volleyball, Hawai'i
2005: Gabriel Wallin, Track and Field, Boise State; Jamie Southern, Softball, Fresno State
2004: Kirk Snyder, Basketball, Nevada; Kim Willoughby, Volleyball, Hawai'i
2003: Nick Watney, Golf, Fresno State; Kim Willoughby, Volleyball/Basketball, Hawai'i
2002: David Carr, Football, Fresno State; Stacy Prammanasudh, Golf, Tulsa
2001: LaDainian Tomlinson, Football, TCU; Florence Ezeh, Track and Field, SMU
2000: Courtney Alexander, Basketball, Fresno State; Amanda Scott, Softball, Fresno State
1999: Andre Miller, Basketball, Utah; Martina Moravcova, Swimming and Diving, SMU
1998: Lars Frolander, Swimming and Diving, SMU; Amanda Scott, Softball, Fresno State
1997: Keith Van Horn, Basketball, Utah; Martina Moravcova, Swimming and Diving, SMU
1996: Keith Van Horn, Basketball, Utah; Nina Lindenberg, Softball, Fresno State
1995: Stoney Case, Football, New Mexico; Susanne Metz, Gymnastics, Utah
1994: Marshall Faulk, Football, San Diego State; Amy Van Dyken, Swimming and Diving, Colorado State
1993: Marshall Faulk, Football, San Diego State; Mikki Kane-Barton, Volleyball, Utah
1992: Carlton McDonald, Football, Air Force; Anu Kaljurand, Track and Field, Brigham Young