Eastern Michigan Athletics
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Mowchan Recognized on the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List
9/10/2026 8:52:00 PM | Football
Senior linebacker recognized for leadership, community service and success on the field
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University football senior linebacker Zach Mowchan (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) has been named to the 2026 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List, the Witten Foundation announced today, Sept. 10.
Mowchan is one of 89 student-athletes from across the country named to the prestigious watch list, which recognizes college football players who demonstrate exceptional leadership, courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
The recognition adds to an impressive list of academic, athletic, and leadership accomplishments for Mowchan, who was named one of EMU's five team captains ahead of the 2026 season. He was also tabbed the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week following EMU's 28-17 season and conference-opening victory over Sacramento State, Aug. 29.
Mowchan led a revamped Eagles' defensive unit against the Hornets, posting a game-high 14 tackles, including seven solo stops, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss. His 14 tackles were one shy of matching his career best of 15, which he recorded at Jacksonville State, Sept. 14, 2024.
Mowchan helped guide a defense that held Sacramento State to just 34 total yards in the first half, including -21 rushing yards. The Eagles limited the Hornets to 271 total yards of offense, well below their 416.5-yard average from a season ago, and forced two takeaways. Sacramento State scored just 10 offensive points, including a 40-yard field goal and a touchdown following a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took more than five minutes off the clock.
Mowchan's strong start to the 2026 campaign follows a 2025 season in which he appeared in nine games with five starts and recorded a career-high 43 tackles, including 14 solo stops and 29 assisted tackles. He added 1.5 tackles for loss totaling six yards and broke up one pass against Long Island, Sept. 6.
Mowchan's 2024 campaign was cut short by injury after three starts, but not before he delivered one of the top performances of his career. He recorded a career-high 15 tackles in EMU's win over Jacksonville State, Sept. 14, before suffering a season-ending injury while making a game-saving stop in overtime.
In 2023, Mowchan started at Minnesota, where he recorded five tackles and forced a fumble. He played in 10 games as a sophomore in 2022, recording three tackles while earning Academic All-MAC honors and being named EMU's Scout Team Player of the Year on defense. As a freshman in 2021, he appeared in one game against Ball State.
Mowchan's accomplishments extend beyond the field, as he earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2022 and 2025 before being named to the 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.
Off the field, Mowchan has embraced his role as a leader and mentor throughout the Ypsilanti community. He serves as a group leader for Athletes in Action and is actively involved in community service efforts with Foundation PreSchool, Ford Early Learning Center, Ypsilanti International Elementary School, and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department's annual Shop with a Cop event.
Mowchan also serves as a group organizer and leader for EMU Football's annual Youth Day Kid's Camp and the program's annual Victory Day event, which provides an opportunity for children with special needs to participate in a day of activities with EMU student-athletes and coaches.
The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. The award is presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb.
"These student-athletes have all demonstrated exceptional leadership, often in the face of adversity, and are perfect examples of what the sport of college football is all about," said Jason Witten.
Twenty semifinalists will be selected by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee and announced Tuesday, Oct. 13. Three finalists will then be named Monday, Dec. 14, with the winner announced at the award ceremony in spring 2027.
The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund from Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle.
Mowchan is one of 89 student-athletes from across the country named to the prestigious watch list, which recognizes college football players who demonstrate exceptional leadership, courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
The recognition adds to an impressive list of academic, athletic, and leadership accomplishments for Mowchan, who was named one of EMU's five team captains ahead of the 2026 season. He was also tabbed the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week following EMU's 28-17 season and conference-opening victory over Sacramento State, Aug. 29.
Mowchan led a revamped Eagles' defensive unit against the Hornets, posting a game-high 14 tackles, including seven solo stops, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss. His 14 tackles were one shy of matching his career best of 15, which he recorded at Jacksonville State, Sept. 14, 2024.
Mowchan helped guide a defense that held Sacramento State to just 34 total yards in the first half, including -21 rushing yards. The Eagles limited the Hornets to 271 total yards of offense, well below their 416.5-yard average from a season ago, and forced two takeaways. Sacramento State scored just 10 offensive points, including a 40-yard field goal and a touchdown following a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took more than five minutes off the clock.
Mowchan's strong start to the 2026 campaign follows a 2025 season in which he appeared in nine games with five starts and recorded a career-high 43 tackles, including 14 solo stops and 29 assisted tackles. He added 1.5 tackles for loss totaling six yards and broke up one pass against Long Island, Sept. 6.
Mowchan's 2024 campaign was cut short by injury after three starts, but not before he delivered one of the top performances of his career. He recorded a career-high 15 tackles in EMU's win over Jacksonville State, Sept. 14, before suffering a season-ending injury while making a game-saving stop in overtime.
In 2023, Mowchan started at Minnesota, where he recorded five tackles and forced a fumble. He played in 10 games as a sophomore in 2022, recording three tackles while earning Academic All-MAC honors and being named EMU's Scout Team Player of the Year on defense. As a freshman in 2021, he appeared in one game against Ball State.
Mowchan's accomplishments extend beyond the field, as he earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2022 and 2025 before being named to the 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.
Off the field, Mowchan has embraced his role as a leader and mentor throughout the Ypsilanti community. He serves as a group leader for Athletes in Action and is actively involved in community service efforts with Foundation PreSchool, Ford Early Learning Center, Ypsilanti International Elementary School, and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department's annual Shop with a Cop event.
Mowchan also serves as a group organizer and leader for EMU Football's annual Youth Day Kid's Camp and the program's annual Victory Day event, which provides an opportunity for children with special needs to participate in a day of activities with EMU student-athletes and coaches.
The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. The award is presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb.
"These student-athletes have all demonstrated exceptional leadership, often in the face of adversity, and are perfect examples of what the sport of college football is all about," said Jason Witten.
Twenty semifinalists will be selected by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee and announced Tuesday, Oct. 13. Three finalists will then be named Monday, Dec. 14, with the winner announced at the award ceremony in spring 2027.
The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund from Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle.
Players Mentioned
LB
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Monday, September 14
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Thursday, September 10