LANCASTER, Pa.  Western Colorado's Ricky Freymond and Drew Nash have earned spots on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watchlist, as announced by the organization Monday morning, August 11.

Freymond, an All-American defensive end, is on the watchlist's first team defense, while All-American quarterback Nash heads the watchlist's second team offense.

D2Football.com will announce at the end of the 2025 season an official Elite 100 team. The preseason watchlist "was selected by the staff of the organization using input from numerous sitting head coaches as well as professional football scouting veteran Josh Buchanan," as stated in the official release.

Freymond was named to four first-team All-American teams – the Associated Press (AP), the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Don Hansen Small College All-American team, and the inaugural DII Walter Camp All-American squad – in the 2024 postseason, and on July 28 was named to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000 Watchlist.

Nash earned All-American honors on the 2024 AP squad.

Both players have been named to the 2025 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference team.

Western opens its 2025 schedule with a Thursday, August 28 non-conference home game against visiting West Texas A&M, under the lights at Mojo Field at Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex.