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: Patrick Stephen
College: Northern Illinois
Now: Founder & CEO, Fanscript
Watch: Patrick Stephen for ‘I Played’

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Members who recently submitted their ‘I Played’ story: 

• Ryan Jensen, Colorado State Pueblo — Partner, HGC Design Build

• Alex Ofodile, Oregon — Sales Rep, Riddell

• Troy Ory, Long Beach State — Flight Attendant, American Airlines

• Matt Wrather, John Carroll (Ohio) — District Manager, Aldi

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!

. . .

“At Ohio, one emphasis we have on the team is volunteering. A lot of the guys will go down to the local elementary school and read books with kids. We’ve had opportunities to go to hospitals and to visit local patients. Athens, Ohio is a tight-knit community and the guys are super involved.”

— Parker Navarro, 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist

From the End Zone to the Oscars

Congratulations to Ryan Coogler, who played wide receiver at Sacramento State, on winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Sinners.

New Jersey Honors Scholar-Athletes

The NFF Bill Denny–Rutgers Football Letterwinners (NJ) Chapter held its annual awards banquet March 1, honoring 35 high school scholar-athletes, two Pop Warner scholar-athletes, and one scholar-athlete from Rutgers.

Scholar-Athletes From Louisiana

The NFF S.M. McNaughton Chapter (LA) staged its 45th annual scholar-athlete awards dinner March 4 in Shreveport. The chapter awarded $1,000 scholarships to nine student-athletes while recognizing four local leaders for their contributions to the game and the community.

Giving Back To The Next Generation

Congratulations to NFF College Football Hall of Famer Dre Bly (North Carolina) on landing a new position with South Carolina as a defensive assistant.

• Derrick Clark, who played collegiately at Evangel University (MO) and professionally with the Denver Broncos, has passed away. He was 54.

• Marshall Davis, who played collegiately at Alabama, has passed away. He was 85.

• Clarence Doninger, the former Athletic Director at Indiana, has passed away. He was 90.

• Glenwood Einspahr, who played collegiately at Nebraska, has passed away. He was 92.

• Bob Hanna, who played collegiately at North Carolina and later became a Hall of Fame high school coach, has passed away. He was 77.

• Leyton Hernandez, who played collegiately at Texas State and later started coaching high school football, has passed away. He was 28.

• Bob Johnson, a former Fresno State QB and high school coaching legend, passed away at age 80. The California High School Football HOFer, won 342 games, developed USC quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Mark Sanchez, and  co-founded the Elite 11 passing camp. His sons Rob and Bret were also standout quarterbacks at USC and UCLA, respectively.

• John Lium, who played collegiately at Notre Dame and won a national championship with the Fighting Irish in 1966, has passed away. He was 80.

• Roger Murray, who played collegiately at Colorado State, has passed away. He was 86.

• Andrew Smalls Jr., one of the last of the country’s singing cowboys and a college football player at Clemson, has passed away. He was 96.

• Matt Snell, an Ohio State football great and Super Bowl champion, has passed away. He was 84.

• Cletis Wilson, who played collegiately at Kansas State, has passed away. He was 92.

• John Yusk, who played collegiately at Vanderbilt, has passed away. He was 84.

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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