Every week, the National Football Foundation highlights the people, stories and moments that demonstrate football's impact beyond the field.
The ‘I Played’ initiative celebrates how the lessons learned through football continue to shape leaders long after their playing days are over.
Name: Jaxson Dart
Colleges: USC, Ole Miss
Accomplishments: 2024 NFF William V. Campbell Trophy finalist
Now: Quarterback — New York Giants
College football players are members of the greatest fraternity in the world. Check out the National Football Foundation’s ‘I Played’ roster and submit your story to join today!
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 is one example of what makes the sport so meaningful!
. . .
“Football brings everyone together no matter the background and the diversity we have at our universities.”
— Sonja Stills, Commissioner, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The NFF’s Good in the Game Podcast is part of the NFF’s ongoing conversation with leaders shaping the future of college football.
On the latest episode, host LaVar Arrington welcomes Kentucky Wildcat great and 2015 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee Art Still to talk about grit, humility, dominance and purpose. This is one you won’t want to miss!
Here are stories the NFF is reading this week as we gear up for another memorable college football season.
EA Sports College Football 27 Launches Worldwide, Bringing New Era of College Football to Life
Business Wire
Yahoo Sports launches college football fantasy football leagues featuring Power Four players and Notre Dame
Associated Press
Why is a tiny West Texas college spending $1M on women’s flag football?
Chron
Pac-12 adds seven schools for 2026 football season
Yahoo! Sports
Blake Benham, who played collegiately at New Mexico and held a rushing record for the Lobos, passed away June 30. He was 84.
Bill Burnett, who played collegiately at Arkansas and rushed for more than 2,000 yards for the Razorbacks, passed away July 4. He was 78.
Al Calder Jr., who played both baseball and football collegiately at East Carolina before joining the Marine Corps and later coaching high school football, passed away July 10. He was 81.
Bradlee Clarke Jr., who played collegiately at Syracuse and returned a fumble for a touchdown for the Orange in the 1965 Sugar Bowl, passed away June 26. He was 84.
Paul Duchin, who played collegiately at Pittsburgh and later spent his career as a social worker, passed away May 9. He was 79.
Ivan Garza, who played collegiately at Sacramento State, passed away July 8. He was 25.
Greg Hawthorne, who played collegiately at Baylor before becoming a first-round pick in the 1979 NFL Draft to Pittsburgh and winning a Super Bowl the following year with the Steelers, passed away July 9. He was 69.
Al Holland, who played football collegiately at North Carolina A&T before a 10-year career in MLB, passed away July 4. He was 73.
George Francis “Snoozy” Jones, the first-ever line coach at University of Alabama at Birmingham and an Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame member, passed away July 6. He was 91.
Jamil Merrell, who played collegiately at Rutgers and captained the Scarlet Knights during his senior season in 2013, has passed away. He was 36.
Peter Middlemist, who played collegiately at Colorado before serving in the United States Army, passed away June 29. He was 92.
Bob Ptacke, who quarterbacked and played defense at Michigan and earned MVP honors for the Wolverines as a senior in 1958, passed away June 29. He was 89.
John Yuda Jr., who played collegiately at Western Kentucky and later coached high school football, passed away July 7. He was 76.
Join the Celebration of College Football’s Greatest Legends — December 8, 2026
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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