By Tim Simmons
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - Darrell Bryant Jr., a U.S. Army veteran and defensive back at Central
Michigan University, has been selected as the 15th recipient of the Lockheed Martin Armed
Forces Merit Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Coordinated by the staff at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, the FWAA-presented
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Merit Award was created in June 2012 to honor an individual and/or
group with a military background or involvement who has impacted college football.
Brant Ringler, Executive Director of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, and Shehan
Jeyarajah, 2026 President of the Football Writers Association of America, announced Bryant as the 2026
recipient of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Merit Award, presented by the FWAA.
"When we evaluated the nomination list for the award, one candidate stood out immediately: Darrell Bryant Jr.,
defensive back at Central Michigan University," said Brant Ringler, LMAFB Executive Director. “His journey to this
season has been filled with grit and determination to fulfill his dreams of playing college football.”
Jeyarajah added: "We are honored to unanimously present Darrell Bryant Jr. as the winner of the Lockheed Martin
Armed Forces Merit Award. From his journey as a walk-on to his growth as an infantryman in the Army, Darrell blew
us away with his leadership and perseverance. The FWAA thanks him for his service and commends him for a
tremendous college football career.”
After an initial stint trying to find his footing in college athletics, Bryant recognized the need for
greater structure and discipline. He enlisted in the United States Army and served three years as
an infantryman (11 Bravo). His military service instilled exceptional time management, a relentless
work ethic, professional accountability, and leadership qualities that he carries onto the gridiron
today.
Determined to return to competitive football, Bryant stayed sharp by playing semi-professional
football (37U) while completing his military service, then earned a walk-on opportunity. After stops
including Northern Colorado, where he earned a scholarship within two months and became a two-
year starter, he transferred to Central Michigan via the transfer portal for his senior season.
Now in his third season of college competition, Bryant ranks as Central Michigan’s No. 4 tackler and serves as an
emotional and physical anchor for the Chippewa's defense. CMU plays host to Sacramento State on Veterans Day in a game on ESPNU.
“Having Darrell here at Central Michigan, it’s like having a second coach in the room,” said
assistant coach Wes Fleming in a letter supporting Bryant’s nomination. “I don’t know how Darrell
does it at his age. He takes care of his body and knows how to be a pro. He’s been a blessing to
coach.”
Fleming, who has coached at Army West Point, added, “Every day I can see how his four years
of experience in the Army can translate into football. He leads our room every day. He takes the
young guys under his wing. They all look up to him as an experienced voice in the safeties room.
He is a perfect example of a player who gives back. He is humble and smart, offers advice, and
always sets the example as the hardest worker in the room.”
Other recipients of the Armed Forces Merit Award are Nate Boyer of the University of Texas (2012), Brandon
McCoy of the University of North Texas (2013), Daniel Rodriguez from Clemson University (2014), Bret
Robertson of Westminster College (Fulton, Mo., 2015), Steven Rhodes from Middle Tennessee State University
(2016), Dr. Chris Howard from Robert Morris University (2018), Army West Point assistant coach Mike Viti (2019),
Collin O'Donnell of Bluefield College of Virginia, (2020), Damien Jackson of the University of Nebraska (2021)
and Tyler Huff of Furman University (2023), Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr., the Chancellor of Troy University (2024) and
Levi Moell of the University of Dayton (2025).
Kansas State and its football team were honored in 2017 as the sixth recipient of the Armed Forces Merit Award
presented by the FWAA for the university’s partnership with the United States Army, which created a bond
between the school’s athletic department and the Iron Rangers at Fort Riley. The Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation
won the award in 2022 as the consensus All-America from Ohio State coordinates a group to aid senior veterans.
About ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting
events nationwide. In the 2026-27 academic year, the 35-event schedule includes
four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, nine college
basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premier regular-season college
softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National
Championship. Collectively, these events accounted for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms,
reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events
features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite
offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and
local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) comprises
1,300 journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers, and key executives from all
areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday
operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.
Tim Simmons, Armed Forces Merit Award Coordinator, 720/244-6580, bfishinc@aol.com
Steve Richardson, Football Writers Association of America, 214/870-6516, tiger@fwaa.com
Drew Harris, Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, 254/716-8573, drew@firstpitchpr.com
Greg Hotchkiss, Central Michigan University, 412/491-5296, hotch1ga@cmich.edu
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