Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
School-Best Nine Chippewa Seniors Earn NFF Hampshire Honor Society Accolades
4/9/2026 10:44:00 AM | Football
Seniors Maddix Blackwell, Lawai’a Brown, Dakota Cochran, Henry Dryden, Elijah Gordon, Michael Heldman, Jordan Kwiatkowski, Luis Martinez and Ben Pratt earn academic honors from the NFF.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—A school-record nine Central Michigan Football seniors—defensive back Maddix Blackwell, linebacker Lawai'a Brown, linebacker Dakota Cochran, tight end Henry Dryden, defensive back Elijah Gordon, defensive lineman Michael Heldman, linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, offensive lineman Luis Martinez, and long snapper Ben Pratt—were named to the 2026 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, announced this week by the NFF & College Hall of Fame. Additional information can be found at this link.
Central Michigan's nine honorees surpassed the previous institution record of five set in 2010.
Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must be either a senior player, who will graduate this spring/summer, and just completed his final year of playing eligibility in 2025; or a graduated player or grad transfer who has already earned a bachelor's degree and competed in the 2025 seasons (even if the player has remaining eligibility and may return to play next season); and must have: maintained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale); and been starters or contributors throughout the 2025 season.
A total of 2,596 football players from 365 schools qualified for membership for the 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society group. The 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football.
The following is a list of CMU seniors who earned the honor:
Maddix Blackwell, DB, Bloomington, Ind.
Lawai'a Brown, LB, Honolulu, Hawaii
Dakota Cochran, LB, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Henry Dryden, TE, Boise, Idaho
Elijah Gordon, DB, Midland, Mich.
Michael Heldman, DL, Romeo, Mich.
Jordan Kwiatkowski, LB, Sterling Heights, Mich.
Luis Martinez, OL, Oceanside, Calif.
Ben Pratt, LS Normal, Ill.
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Central Michigan's nine honorees surpassed the previous institution record of five set in 2010.
Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must be either a senior player, who will graduate this spring/summer, and just completed his final year of playing eligibility in 2025; or a graduated player or grad transfer who has already earned a bachelor's degree and competed in the 2025 seasons (even if the player has remaining eligibility and may return to play next season); and must have: maintained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale); and been starters or contributors throughout the 2025 season.
A total of 2,596 football players from 365 schools qualified for membership for the 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society group. The 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football.
The following is a list of CMU seniors who earned the honor:
Maddix Blackwell, DB, Bloomington, Ind.
Lawai'a Brown, LB, Honolulu, Hawaii
Dakota Cochran, LB, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Henry Dryden, TE, Boise, Idaho
Elijah Gordon, DB, Midland, Mich.
Michael Heldman, DL, Romeo, Mich.
Jordan Kwiatkowski, LB, Sterling Heights, Mich.
Luis Martinez, OL, Oceanside, Calif.
Ben Pratt, LS Normal, Ill.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
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