FORT WORTH, Texas – University of Dayton running back Levi Moell has been named a finalist for the 2025 Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Coordinated by the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl staff, the Armed Forces Merit Award was created in June 2012 "to honor an individual and/or a group with a military background and/or involvement that has an impact within the realm of college football."

The 14th recipient will be announced on Veterans Day during a mid-afternoon SportsCenter on ESPN.

A redshirt junior from West Liberty, Ohio, Moell served four years in the Marines after a standout high school football career, choosing military service over college as an 18-year-old.  He joined the Flyer football program in 2022.  This season he has battled through an ankle injury to return to the travel squad and has seen action in three games.  He has eight carries for 41 yards (5.1 yards per carry).

Moell is a Health Science major who has been named  to the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll three times. 

The other finalists are:
•    The Fisher DeBerry Foundation
•    The Bronze Boot Run conducted by the ROTC programs of Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming
•    Rich Clark (38-year Air Force veteran) who is the executive director of the College Football Playoffs.  
•    Nicholas Schrage, a 2019 West Point graduate who played on three bowl-winning teams and is now an assistant coach at William & Mary 


The 2025 honoree of the Armed Forces Merit Award will be determined by a selection committee consisting of seven FWAA members and two representatives from the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.