College football players are members of the greatest fraternity in the world. College football shapes leaders, strengthens character and opens doors to lifelong friendships, career opportunities and personal growth. Whether your journey was defined by championships or challenges, your story matters. We invite you to reflect on what football means to you, the lessons it taught you, and the opportunities it created by sharing your ‘I Played’ story.

Name: Chris Popper
College: Rowan University
Now: Homicide Detective — Egg Harbor, N.J.
Watch: Chris Popper for ‘I Played’

. . .

Members who recently submitted their ‘I Played’ story: 

• Jay Knowles, Hugh Boyd HS (BC, Canada) — Protection Services Supervisor, Vancouver Island Health Authority

• Adam LaFollette, Earlham College (IN) — Regional Sales Manager, Riddell

• James Mesidor, Austin Peay — Police Major, Florida International University Police Department

• Patrick Porter, Kentucky — Chief Human Resources Officer, Resolve Marine

There are good things happening all over the game of football. The National Football Foundation has asked individuals to share an example of something they see happening within our sport that is good for the game. Here are their answers!

. . .

“In that locker room, every day, you’re living with those guys, breathing with those guys, fighting with those guys, bleeding with those guys, it becomes a part of you. That’s something you never really lose. That’s why going from playing to coaching has continued to give me that feeling of togetherness.”

— Dennis Thurman, 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee

Columbus Chapter Celebrates Scholar-Athletes

The NFF Columbus (OH) Chapter held its 65th annual scholar-athlete banquet Feb. 9, honoring 14 high school and seven college scholar-athletes. Ta’John Royster (center, holding trophy) of Columbus East High School received the Larry Romanoff and Schneider Family Award of Excellence as the top scholar-athlete. The Ohio Gold Award, the chapter’s highest honor, presented to individuals who have made a significant impact on amateur football, was awarded to former Ohio State and NFL wide receiver Roy Hall Jr. (right).

Scholar-Athletes To Be Honored In South Florida

The NFF Miami Touchdown Club Chapter will stage its annual awards banquet March 14. Honorees include more than a dozen high school student-athletes, as well as Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mario Cristobal, who will accept the club’s Coach of the Year Award, and UM wide receiver Malachi Toney, who will be honored as the club’s College Player of the Year.

Campbell Honorees Getting Into Coaching

• 2018 NFF Campbell Trophy Finalist Trace McSorley (Penn State) is a new assistant coach for the Buffalo Bills.

• 2020 Campbell Trophy winner Brady White (Memphis, Arizona State) has been named an assistant wide receivers coach at Florida State. White played for the Tigers and Sun Devils under current Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell, reconnecting the two in Tallahassee.

Lou Holtz, a 2008 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee who coached Notre Dame to the 1988 national title and headed six programs from 1969 to 2004 while winning 249 games, passed away March 4. He was 89.

The only coach in NCAA history to lead six different programs to bowl games, Coach Lou Holtz was a fixture in the college football coaching landscape for more than three decades. He coached at William & Mary (1969-71), North Carolina State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83), Minnesota (1984-85), Notre Dame (1986-96) and South Carolina (1999-2004), amassing an overall record of 249-132-7 for a 65.1 winning percentage.

• Dick Absher, who played collegiately at Maryland and spent six seasons in the NFL, has passed away. He was 81.

• Joseph Boutros, an offensive lineman at Salve Regina University, has passed away. He was 21.

• Michael Bynum, who played and coached collegiately at Colorado, has passed away. He was 79.

• Gavan Clearman, a football player at Clarkdale High School in Mississippi, has passed away. He was 16.

• Martin Conden, who played collegiately at Wyoming and Ithaca College, has passed away.

• George Cyrus, who played collegiately at Marshall, has passed away. He was 82.

• Marshall Davis, who played collegiately at Alabama under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, has passed away. He was 85.

• Jim Farmer, who played collegiately at Arkansas, has passed away. He was 77.

• Wayne Ferguson, the first 1,000-yard running back at Nevada, has passed away.

• Roy Fuller, who played both football and basketball at Oklahoma State, has passed away. He was 85.

• Robert Palmer, who played collegiately at Ohio State and Colorado State, has passed away. He was 90.

• Steven Perry, who played collegiately at North Carolina Central, has passed away. He was 30.

• Maurice Revels, who played collegiately at Morgan State, has passed away. He was 55.

• Wayne Riley, who played collegiately at Rice, has passed away. He was 79.

• Tracy Scroggins, who played collegiately at Tulsa before a decade-long career with the Detroit Lions, has passed away. He was 56.

• Michael Sobol, who played collegiately at Western Michigan, has passed away. He was 80.

April 8 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society

June 1 — Release of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

June 16 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF High School Team of Distinction

July 23-25 — NFF Campbell Trophy® Summit at Stanford University

September 23 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists

October 21 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF Campbell Trophy® Finalists

December 8 — 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas at Bellagio Resort & Casino

December 8 — Announcement of the winner of the 37th NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®

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