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, 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 Ringler. “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 Chippewas’ defense. CMU plays Eastern Michigan in Detroit on November 4 and hosts Sacramento State on Veterans Day in a game to be televised by 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-American from Ohio State coordinates a group to aid senior veterans.
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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, and 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 across college football. The FWAA governs media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.
