HAMPTON, Va. (August 11, 2026) … Hampton University's
Brett Starling was named to the 2026 Fred Mitchell Award Preseason Watch List. The junior is one of just 39 kickers on the preseason watch list which honors the top kicker among those of the more than 750 FCS, Division II, III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams, based on performance on the football field and in the community.
Starling is one of just three kickers from the Coastal Athletic Association to earn a spot on the prestigious list. Luke Barnes (Elon) and Samuel Tremblay (Maine) also earned spots on the list. In addition, Starling is one of four kickers from HBCU institutions. Nico Cavanillas Alti (South Carolina State), Aiden Lanier (Bethune-Cookman) and Brady Myers (Virginia Union).
Starling emerged as Hampton's placekicker and punter in 2025 after handling the punting duties in 2024. He made 11 of 12 field goals during the 2025 campaign and converted all 26 extra point attempts. He averaged 42.3 yards per punt on 65 boots a season ago and had 10 punts inside the 20-yard line and 12 punts of 50 or more yards.
The Hampton, Va. native, earned third team All-CAA honors in 2025 and was named 2026 first-team preseason All-CAA in a vote of the conference's coaches. He was named second-team All-CAA pick by highly-respected Phil Steele.
The award is named after Fred Mitchell, a placekicker for the Wittenberg Tigers, who set the record for most points scored in the NCAA College Division during his career in the 1960s. Mitchell is a member of the Wittenberg College Athletics Hall of Famer and worked as a sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
2026 Fred Mitchell Award Preseason Watch List
Seth Adams, Southern Illinois University – FCS
Fred Adler, Widener University – DIII
Nico Cavanillas Alti, South Carolina State University – FCS
Tristan Alvano, South Dakota State University – FCS
Luke Barnes, Elon University – FCS
Iden Bone, Whitworth University – DIII
Kieran Corr, Harvard University – FCS
Marciel Do Amaral, Western Connecticut State University – DIII
Connor Fournier, Minnesota State University, Mankato – DII
Brysen Gardner, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – FCS
Jacob Garbett, Augustana College – DIII
Logan Grwinski, Albion College – DIII
Elijah Guyton, University of West Alabama – DII
Alex Hanson, Reinhardt University – NAIA
Evan Harvey, Pacific Lutheran University – DIII
Ethan Hess, St. Olaf College – DIII
Levi Hilborn, Louisiana Christian University – NAIA
Christian Klobe, Benedictine College – NAIA
Preston Kyle, Colorado School of Mines – DII
Aiden Lanier, Bethune-Cookman University – FCS
Andrew Lastovka, Youngstown State University – FCS
Stephen Leinen, Dordt University – NAIA
Brandon McCary, Emporia State University – DII
Agustin Miguel, Bridgewater College – DIII
Brady Myers, Virginia Union University – DII
Jared Navidad, Pembroke – DII
Noah Piper, Yale University – FCS
Ty Quintois, Stroudsburg University – DII
Harry Radcliffe, PennWest California – DII
Bleu Renfrow, William Jewell College – DII
Ozlo Rigby, East Texas A&M University – FCS
Layne Ryals, Missouri University of Science and Technology – DII
Emiliano Salazar, University of San Diego – FCS
Myles Sansted, Montana State University – FCS
Austin Schmitt, Pittsburg State University – DII
Jackson Smith, Colorado State University Pueblo – DII
Brett Starling, Hampton University – FCS
Samuel Tremblay, University of Maine – FCS
Ian Vachon, University of North Alabama – FCC
