WACO, Texas - Hendrix College football senior Ryan Maxwell was named an American Football Coaches Association All-American First Team selection on Wednesday, December 10.

This is Maxwell's first All-American selection after earning All-SCAC First Team honors for the 2025 season. The Fayetteville, Ark. native also earned three votes for SCAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Maxwell rewrote the record book en route to one of the greatest defensive seasons in program history. The senior ended the year with 6 interceptions and 13 pass-break ups, which both established new single-season records. His 6 interceptions rank tied for second in all of NCAA Division III, while the 13 pass break-ups rank tied for fourth. After missing his freshman season due to injury, Maxwell recorded 9 career interceptions over his next three seasons, which puts him tied atop the program leaderboard for career interceptions with Chad McGonigal.

In 2025, he recorded 19 total passes defended, which ranks tied for fourth in the SCAC single-season record book. He appeared in all ten games this season, leading the Warriors to a 6-4 record, their highest single-season win total since 2019. Maxwell recorded multi-interception games against Millsaps and Austin College, picking both the Majors and the 'Roos off twice.

Maxwell is the first Warrior to earn an AFCA First Team All-American selection since Dayton Winn, who was a two-time AFCA First Team All-American.

For the full release from the AFCA, click here.