Conference USA released the list Thursday, recognizing five players from each of the conference’s 10 member institutions ahead of the 2026 football season.
Source: Conference USA, NMSU Athletics
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LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Five New Mexico State football players have been selected to the 2026 Conference USA Preseason Watch List, joining 45 other student-athletes identified by the league’s head coaches as players to watch entering the upcoming season.
Conference USA released the list Thursday, recognizing five players from each of the conference’s 10 member institutions ahead of the 2026 football season.
Representing the Aggies are wide receiver TK King, linebacker Sone Aupiu, defensive linemen Henry Davis III and Gabe Peterson, and punter Brody Richter.
The selections reflect strength on both sides of the ball for New Mexico State, with four of the five honorees coming from a defense expected to anchor the Aggies in 2026.
King enters the season as NM State’s lone offensive representative after leading all Conference USA receivers in receiving yards per game last season, averaging 73.5 yards per contest despite appearing in only eight games. His preseason recognition follows additional honors from Phil Steele, Athlon Sports and the Jet Award watch list.
Aupiu returns for his fifth season in Las Cruces after recording 68 tackles and establishing himself as one of the Aggies’ defensive leaders. Davis and Peterson also return as experienced contributors along the defensive front, while newcomer Richter represents the special teams unit after transferring to NM State with previous experience at Arizona State, Northern Arizona, UCLA and Minnesota.
Across the conference, the preseason watch list includes returning Conference USA standouts such as reigning Co-Defensive Player of the Year Baron Hopson of Kennesaw State and Freshman of the Year Rodney Tisdale Jr. of Western Kentucky. Delaware, entering its first Conference USA football season, also placed five players on the watch list.
Conference USA’s 2026 season opens Aug. 29, with New Mexico State traveling to Florida State in one of the opening weekend’s nationally televised matchups. The Aggies will host Mercyhurst in their home opener Sept. 5 at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
12 Aggies earn Athlon Sports Preseason All-CUSA honors
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