NJCAA Alumni in the 2026 College Football Playoff
Charlotte, NC – The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is well represented in the 2026 College Football Playoff Semifinals through former student-athletes and coaches. Read more about the individuals who have brought their junior college experience with them to the four-year level.
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY | |||
| NAME | POSITION | NJCAA | |
| Louis Moore | DB | Navarro (TX) | |
| Chandler Whitmer | QB Coach / Co-Offensive Coordinator | Butler (KS) | |
The Hoosiers' Co-Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, Chandler Whitmer, played one season of NJCAA football at Butler Community College (KS). He was named an NJCAA DI All-America Honorable Mention in 2011 after leading the Grizzlies to a top five national ranking. Indiana Defensive Back Louis Moore contributed on both sides of the ball for Navarro College (TX) in 2020 and 2021. The Wide Receiver and Safety totaled 48 receptions for 713 yards and five touchdowns across two seasons.
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON | |||
| NAME | POSITION | NJCAA | |
| Malik Benson | WR | Hutchinson (KS) | |
| Alex Harkey | OL | Tyler (TX) | |
| Ross James | P | East Central (MS) | |
| Brian Michalowski | ILB Coach | Garden City (KS) | |
A record breaker from Hutchinson Community College (KS), Malik Benson, was the first two-time NJCAA DI Football All-America First Team honoree in Blue Dragon history. In 2021, Benson broke Hutchinson's single season receiving yards record (1,229 yards) that had stood since 1970. In conjunction with the 2022 campaign, Benson broke the Blue Dragon record with 2,152 receiving yards over two seasons. As a freshman at Tyler Junior College (TX), Alex Harkey played four games at Tight End before transitioning to Offensive Tackle in 2021. Harkey anchored an offensive line that averaged 490.1 yards per game and 30.9 points per game.
| UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI | |||
| NAME | POSITION | NJCAA | |
| Cedrick Beavers | CB | Jones (MS) | |
| Trey Hall | RB | Mississippi Gulf Coast | |
| Raymond Collins | LB | Jones (MS) | |
| Jalen Ballard | K | Holmes (MS) | |
| Cooper Johnson | OL | Iowa Western | |
| Percy Lewis | OL | Mississippi Gulf Coast | |
| Kortlen Wilfawn | LS | Northeast Mississippi | |
| Tavion Prather | DT | Northwest Mississippi | |
Two former Jones College (MS) defensive standouts made the move to Ole Miss together after spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons in the NJCAA. Cedrick Beavers recorded 20 solo tackles and 13 assists, 1.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, six pass breakups and a blocked kick in nine games played in 2023. He earned NJCAA DI All-America First Team and All-Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) First Team accolades for his efforts. Raymond Collins received All-MACCC First Team recognition both seasons. As a sophomore, Collins tallied a team-high 56 tackles, including 14 for a loss, and recorded six sacks and two forced fumbles.
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | |||
| NAME | POSITION | NJCAA | |
| Keionte Scott | DB | Snow (UT) | |
| Markel Bell | OL | Holmes (MS) | |
| Cody Woodiel | TE Coach | Northeast Mississippi & Itawamba (MS) | |
Keionte Scott, a former Defensive Back for Snow College (UT), made his mark in the NJCAA before continuing at the four-year level. Scott was two-time NJCAA DI All-America First Team honoree and was named 2021 NJCAA DI Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. Current Tight Ends Coach for Miami, Cody Woodiel, was a two-sport athlete at Northeast Mississippi Community College, playing baseball and football for the Tigers. Woodiel then spent three seasons as the Offensive Line Coach at Itawamba Community College (MS).
2026 College Football Playoff
Ole Miss vs. Miami – Thursday, January 8 at 7:30pm on ESPN
Indiana vs. Oregon – Friday, January 9 at 7:30pm on ESPN
Championship – Monday, January 19 at 7:30pm on ESPN
About NJCAA
Since 1938, the NJCAA has served as the premier governing body for two-year collegiate athletics, providing student-athletes with opportunities to prepare, compete, succeed, and achieve in both their academic and athletic disciplines. The NJCAA is the second-largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States, with over 500 member schools and 3,400 teams competing in 28 different sports. Each year, the NJCAA sponsors 57 national championships and invitationals.
#SameGameSameRules – visit NJCAA for more information
