CLEVELAND – The Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) has selected the association's 25th Annual Scholar-Athletes of the Year - Brandon Maina, defensive line from Wofford College and Ryan Osborne, tight end from Harvard, were selected to receive the $5,000 postgraduate scholarships. 

"On behalf of the FCS ADA, I would like to congratulate this year's recipients for their outstanding commitment to excellence in the classroom, on the field, and within their communities," said FCS ADA President Kurt McGuffin, Director of Athletics at the University of Tennessee at Martin. "Selecting this year's honorees was a rewarding process, as each candidate exemplifies the very best of FCS football. We are proud to support their continued academic and professional pursuits beyond athletics. Congratulations to each of these deserving individuals, as well as to their coaches, teammates, administrators, faculty, and families whose support has played a vital role in their success."

A senior, Maina plans to pursue medical school following graduation, with the goal of becoming a physician who serves communities in need. After retaking the MCAT this spring, he is considering medical school or pursuing an MBA with a focus on healthcare management to expand his ability to make an impact. Long term, Maina hopes to continue developing a home health agency in Hiram, using his education and experiences to provide accessible care and improve the health and well-being of his community.

On the year, Maina earned the following accolades for his efforts on the field and in the classroom:

• National Honors
  • College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team
• Wofford College and Southern Conference Honors
  • 2025 All-Southern Conference First Team
  • Team Captain
  • Southern Conference Fall All-Academic Team and Academic Honor Roll Honoree
  • Wofford College Dean's List Honoree
• 2025 Season Highlights
  • Recorded 15 tackles for loss and 11 sacks (ranks 5th in school history)
  • Ranked fourth nationally in sacks (1.10 per game) and sixth in tackles for loss (1.50 per game)
  • Finished career with 19.5 sacks, fifth-most in program history

"Receiving this award is deeply meaningful, not just for me, but for everyone who's been part of my journey through Wofford and beyond. It reflects years of support, sacrifice, and belief from my coaches, my family, and the community that helped shape who I've become," stated Maina. "My mother laid the foundation early, pushing me to value education, while my father taught me the discipline and consistency that guided me every day. At Wofford, I was surrounded by people who challenged me to grow, not just as an athlete, but as a man. Because of the way my parents and my community invested in me, I've always carried a sense of responsibility to pour back into others. That's what inspired me to step into home health and continue pursuing a career as a physician. I want to be able to make a real difference, especially in communities that often go underserved because I've seen firsthand the gaps that exist and the impact that meaningful care can have."

Osborne, a senior, is completing his bachelor's degree in integrative biology and plans to attend the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School beginning in July 2026 in pursuit of a career as an orthopedic surgeon.

For his efforts on the field and in the classroom, Osborne has earned the following awards:

• Harvard University and Ivy League Honors
  • Academic All-Ivy League
  • John Harvard Scholar (top five percent of class)
  • Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
  • NFF William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
• 2025 Season Highlights
  • Played in ten games for the three-time Ivy League champions and NCAA FCS Playoff qualifier
  • Recorded 10 receptions for 229 yards and three touchdowns at tight end
• Community and Academic Impact
  • Conducted medical research in neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts, Crisis Text Line, and Be the Match Registry
  • Served with the Aletheia Church Service Team and supported the Ben Abercrombie Foundation

"This scholarship from the FCS ADA truly means the world to me and my family. I count it as a tremendous blessing that this organization sees value in supporting their student-athletes as they finish college and continue forward in their career journeys," stated Osborne. "As I begin medical school this summer, I will be able to benefit from a lessened financial burden as well as take comfort in the fact that this organization truly believes in my future. I learned life-changing lessons while playing FCS football for four years, and the game that I am leaving behind has played a large role in shaping me into the man I am today. I feel extremely honored to be the recipient of this award from such a great organization and I will always be grateful for this generous contribution towards my career!"

CLICK HERE for the complete listing of the 2025 Academic All-Star team.

About the FCS ADA: Now in its 30th year, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance Football Championship Subdivision football. For more information on the FCS ADA, please visit www.fcsada.com. The FCS ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 61^st year. For more information on NACDA and the 19 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.