TAHLEQUAH -- Jeremy Atwell will take over as the primary signal caller for the Northeastern State defense in 2026, head football coach Darrin Chiaverini announced Saturday.

Atwell, who will be entering his third season on the NSU sideline, assumed co-defensive coordinator duties following the fifth game of the 2025 campaign. Over the remainder of the season, the RiverHawks defense allowed just over 11 points per game while forcing 15 turnovers and recording 11 sacks. In addition to his defensive responsibilities, Atwell also worked with NSU's special teams and safeties.

"Excited to announce that Jeremy Atwell has been elevated to our Defensive Coordinator," Chiaverini said. "Coach Atwell did a great job as our Co-DC last year, improving our defense into one of the top units in the country. We're looking forward to seeing him take our defense to another level in 2026 as we pursue a championship at NSU."

NSU concluded the 2025 season with a 9-3 overall record while setting school records for total points (483), touchdowns (65), and points per game (40.3). The RiverHawks outscored opponents by 282 points on the season and closed the year on a dominant seven-game winning streak, winning those contests by a combined 255 points. NSU capped the historic campaign with a 56-21 victory over East Central University in the inaugural First Americans Bowl.