ODESSA, Texas (December 24, 2025) – Junior linebacker Tristan Exline was named a First-Team Associated Press All-American after an outstanding 2025 junior season in which he finished with 143 tackles, the second-most in one season in program history, and broke the UTPB single-season record with 19.5 tackles for loss. The China Spring, Texas, native finished his three-year Falcon career with 272 tackles, the third-most in program history. Exline becomes the third Falcon recognized as an AP All-American and is just the second First-Team selection in program history (Chris Hoad, 2019, First-Team; Hayden Kelly, 2023, Second-Team).

Exline led the UTPB defense with 143 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss that include 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles while adding one interception. In all of NCAA Division II, he ranked 10th in solo tackles per game (5.71), 13th in total tackles per game (10.2) and 21st in tackles for loss per game (1.39).

Exline began his junior campaign with a dominating performance in UTPB's season-opening win over No. 5 Central Oklahoma, finishing with nine tackles, a sack, an interception and two quarterback hurries against the Bronchos. After UTPB took a two-touchdown lead in the third quarter, the next UCO possession ended with an interception by Exline in Falcon territory, who returned it 15 yards to help set up a field goal and make it a three-score game going into the fourth quarter. In the end, Exline led a UTPB defense that limited a Central Oklahoma team that led the nation in yards per game last season and was the defending MIAA champions to just 14 points. Exline was named both the LSC Defensive Player of the Week and the D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week for his effort against UCO.

Later on in the season, Exline had 20 tackles – eight solo and six for a loss of 38 yards – two forced fumbles and one sack to lead the Falcons to a win against the triple-option attack of Eastern New Mexico. His six tackles for loss were the most in the LSC this season. Exline had 11 tackles in the first quarter alone, and his second forced fumble came late in the second quarter and led to a touchdown to make it 40-7 at halftime. His total of 20 tackles in a game was the top mark in a single game in the LSC this season. Following the win, Exline was named both the LSC Defensive Player of the Week and the D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Entering the postseason, Exline proceeded to lead all players with 11 total tackles and eight solo tackles as No. 10-ranked UTPB earned its first playoff win in program history with a 37-24 victory at No. 4-ranked and No. 3-seeded Colorado State Pueblo. Exline then tied for the team lead with eight tackles and added a sack as No. 10 UTPB defeated No. 15 Western Colorado 21-15 in the second round of the playoffs. Last but not least, Exline finished with 20 total tackles for the second time on the season as No. 10 UTPB's historic season came to an end in the 2025 NCAA Division II Football Championship Super Region 4 Final with a 34-28 loss at No. 2 Harding.

With his latest tackle for loss in the Falcons' second-round playoff win at Western Colorado, Exline broke the UTPB record for tackles for loss in a single season (19.5). He also broke the Falcons' single-season record for solo tackles (80) and finished the year second in the UTPB record books in total tackles (143) and was third in assisted tackles (63). For his career, Exline ranks third in UTPB history in total tackles (272), assisted tackles (116) and forced fumbles (4), and is fourth in solo tackles (156), tackles for loss (39.0) and sacks (12.0). Exline also became just the fifth player in program history to have 200 career tackles.

This was Exline's fourth All-American honor of the season and second First-Team All-American recognition. He was also named a Second-Team Don Hansen All-American, a First-Team Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-American, and a Second-Team American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) All-American.

Exline joins Chris Hoad (2019) as the only Falcons to be named an Associated Press All-American, a Don Hansen All-American, a D2CCA All-American and an AFCA All-American all in the same season.

Also this season, Exline was named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year (J.V. Sikes Award), was the LSC Linebacker of the Year for the second year in a row, was a two-time LSC Defensive Player of the Week and a two-time D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week, and was the third Falcon in program history to be named First-Team D2CCA All-Super Region Four Team. He is the first LSC Defensive Player of the Year in program history and was just the second Falcon to be named a two-time LSC Linebacker of the Year (Chris Hoad, 2018-2019).

Following the conclusion of the regular season, Exline was named as one of 36 initial nominees for the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy (Division II College Football Player of the Year), becoming the fourth Falcon (Chris Hoad, 2019; MJ Link, 2022, Kenny Hrncir, 2023) to be nominated for the award. He was later announced as an official "Harlon Hill Candidate" after finishing in the top-six in regional voting from Super Region Four. The only previous official "Harlon Hill Candidate" from UTPB was Hrncir (quarterback) in 2023.