PICKED FOURTH PLAYING FOR FIRST

Competitiveness runs deep. It shows up in how we study, how we work and how we play. For Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Hunter Hughes, it’s the lifeblood of football. It’s something he wants CMU to embrace in every snap this fall.

“If you’re a true competitor, you’re trying to get the best grade in the class. You’re trying to be the best at everything you do,” Hughes said. “When you put that into your life, you will see yourself being successful and heading towards being the best.”

That edge ties directly into the Mavericks’ mantra for the 2025 season: chasing excellence. After finishing 7-4 last year, CMU enters the season with fresh faces, new energy and a target on the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).

The preseason RMAC coaches poll slotted the Mavs fourth, behind CSU Pueblo, Western Colorado and Colorado School of Mines. But CMU has reloaded with a mix of promising recruits and experienced coaches.

One of the most significant additions is Hughes himself. With over 25 years of coaching experience, he brings both experience and toughness to Grand Junction. His résumé includes nine seasons as defensive coordinator at CSU Pueblo, highlighted by a 2014 national championship run that ended in a shutout of Minnesota State.

Now, at CMU, Hughes says the mission is simple: bring that same championship standard to the Mavericks.

“When I look at the path to get to that 2014 year, the key was recruiting good character, good quality kids, that not only could play football, but represented the university and each other the right way off the field as well,” Hughes said. “And I think that we’ve got the right type of kids here.”

Players have embraced the “chasing excellence” mindset, and few embody it more than senior defensive back Kash Bradley. A 2025 All-RMAC First Team selection as both a kick and punt returner, Bradley’s leadership and experience make him one of the veterans of this year’s roster.

“Chasing excellence to me means preparing the best you can, in practice, watching film, reading the scouting report, executing the best you can, being locked-in all game and being ready for anything,” said Bradley.

He mentioned that the secondary will feature some new faces this fall, but he’s confident in the group’s readiness. With plenty of reps in training camp and a shared understanding of expectations, he sees that the defensive backfield is ready to hold its ground.

“I think something we did good at the past couple years is helping develop and making sure that the younger guys don’t get left behind,” said Bradley. “What’s been important for us is, especially with the freshmen, is letting them know that this is the expectation, this is how we’re going to play, this is what we’re going to do and this is how we’re going to do it.”

He also pointed to the addition of former Maverick standout Ja’Cari Williams to the coaching staff as a major boost, not just for technique, but for energy and mentorship.

“I played with [Williams] for the past three years that I’ve been here now, and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be the player I am without him. He’s helped me tremendously, and so I think it’s great to have him as a coach,” Bradley said. “He knows the scheme, he knows the culture of the team and he knows the expectation that we uphold.”

Williams’ story goes well beyond the sport. After bouncing from San Diego State to junior college and eventually finding a home at CMU, he became a three-year starter in the secondary.

His skillset gave him a shot at playing at the professional level, but when the NFL didn’t pan out, he chose a different path: returning to CMU to coach.

For Williams, the decision was about more than football. It was about giving back to the program that helped him grow as both a player and a person.

“I’ve built relationships that made me come back, but that’s also something I want the young guys to prioritize while they’re here,” Williams said.

Williams’ return also highlights CMU’s larger theme this fall: continuity. Even as new coaches and players cycle in, the culture is built on those who choose to stay, invest in each other and help the next generation of players succeed.

“I think at this level, our guys play for the love of the game. It makes it more exciting to coach, being around players who want to play and learn,” Hughes said.

The Mavericks’ path through the RMAC won’t be easy. Programs like Mines, Western and CSU Pueblo have long set the standard, and this year’s preseason polls reflect that. For the Mavs, the emphasis isn’t on where others put them, but on proving where they belong.

On offense, a mix of new recruits and returning players will be tasked with matching the defense’s intensity.

For Hughes, the key isn’t perfection, but consistency.

“As far as I say, success is showing that you’re getting better every day. You want to be playing your best football toward the end of the year, but that doesn’t mean you can let things slip early on,” Hughes said. “You just want to continue to see yourself get better and better every single day and every single week and throughout every game.”

As the season kicks off, the Mavs are blending tradition with renewal — a championship-tested coach in Hughes, a locker room leader in Bradley and a homegrown success story in Williams all pushing the same narrative.

Continuity is part of the process, but so is growth. Hughes said the goal is never about a perfect game, but about chasing excellence in every rep, every meeting and every Saturday night under the lights at Stocker Stadium.

“Nobody’s going to be perfect, but if you chase excellence, you’re one step closer to perfection,” Hughes said.

And for students new to CMU, football is more than a game. It’s a gathering place, a chance to feel the energy of a community, and this year, an opportunity to watch a team determined not just to compete, but to redefine what it means to be a Maverick.