GREENWOOD, Ind. — A quintet of Millsaps College football student-athletes earned high recognition after being named to the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Football Team on Tuesday. Following a successful winning season on the field, sophomores Pierce Melancon, Ben Ragas, Justin Smith, Mikey Strain, and Kyle Veal Jr. achieved notable success in their academic studies, representing the Majors with excellence both athletically and academically.

To make the team, an undergraduate student-athlete must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), which may not be rounded up.

A graduate student-athlete must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as both an undergraduate and a grad student unless they are in their first semester as a graduate student and don't have an established graduate GPA.

Football student-athletes must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games played OR must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's games. As placekickers, punters, and special teams players are not official starting positions, nominees in these three positions must play in at least 90 percent of their team's games to be eligible for Academic All-District honors.

Melancon, majoring in Business Administration, has achieved a 3.71 cumulative GPA in his academic studies entering the Fall Semester.

As a scholar-athlete, Melancon has submitted well written research papers on Waiter Geology and Art History. The Mandeville, La., native has made the Dean's List. Outside of his curriculum, Melancon works as a personal photographer and provides auto detailing services. 

During the 2025 season, the defensive lineman appeared in nine games for the Majors where he recorded 14 total tackles, one pass block, and a quarterback hurry.

Ragas was also acknowledged for achieving a 3.60 cumulative GPA as a Biology major off the field.

The Houma, La., product has been recognized on both the President's List and the Fall SAA Academic Honor Roll.

On campus, Ragas is a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After graduation he plans to continue his academic studies in Biology and Pre-Med.

As an offensive lineman, Ragas appeared in all 10 games for the Majors where he saw nine starts and contributed to the Majors accomplishing a 6-4 winning record during the 2025 season.

His skills in pass protection and blocking played a key role in the Majors ranking second in the conference with a total of 28 touchdowns and 2,460 passing yards. 
 
On Oct. 18, Ragas scored a touchdown by recovering a fumble, helping the Majors achieve a 31-21 win against conference opponents Maryville College.

Smith, a New Orleans, La., native holds 3.67 cumulative GPA as an Undeclared major, he has been honored twice on the SAA Academic Honor Roll and has appeared once on the Dean's List.

During the 2025 season, Smith played as a defensive back in all 10 games for the Majors, starting in eight of them.  
 
He led the team with five pass breakups and ranked fifth with 44 total tackles, finishing his sophomore campaign. Smith is also a member of the Millsaps men's track and field team.

Strain represented the Majors football team well by achieving a 3.79 cumulative GPA as a Pre-Med student.

Outside of football, he has completed an internship at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and has been named to the President's List.

During the 2025 season, Strain appeared in nine games with four starts for the Majors. He finished his second collegiate year on the field with a total of 20 tackles, three pass deflections, and one fumble recovery as a linebacker.

Lastly, Veal Jr. a dual-sport athlete earned recognition for maintaining a 3.54 cumulative GPA while majoring in Biomedical Engineering.

On campus, Veal Jr. is a member of the Male Empowerment Network and the Millsaps College baseball team.

He has been honored once on both the Spring Dean's List and the Spring SAA Academic Honor Roll.

After graduating, he intends to pursue graduate studies to advance his education in Biomedical Engineering.

On the baseball field, Veal Jr. will look to continue the Millsaps baseball program's winning mentality after helping earn the 2025 SAA regular-season crown.

During the 2025 regular season, Veal Jr. played in nine games and started six for the Majors as a linebacker.  

He accumulated a total of 26 tackles, made one interception, broke up two passes, hurried the quarterback three times, recovered a fumble, and caused another fumble. 


To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College football program this year follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.   
 
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.