Date: Friday, April 3, 2026
Time: 7a.m.-9a.m.
Location: Lake Terrace Convention Center; One Convention Plaza, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Admission: Breakfast of Champions
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes will host its annual Good Friday Breakfast of Champions this Friday morning in Hattiesburg, continuing one of the Pine Belt’s most meaningful traditions at the intersection of faith and sports. Held each year at the Lake Terrace Convention Center, the event brings together coaches, student-athletes, and community leaders for a morning centered on character, leadership, and purpose.
This year’s keynote speaker is Swayze Bozeman, a former standout linebacker for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles who has continued his football journey at the professional level with the Kansas City Chiefs and now the New York Giants. Bozeman’s return to Hattiesburg offers a full-circle moment for a player whose impact on the program—and the community—extended well beyond M.M. Roberts Stadium.
A native of Flora, Mississippi, Bozeman began his career at Tri-County Academy before continuing his development at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. From there, he arrived at Southern Miss as the first player from Tri-County Academy to play Division I since 2002. Bozeman steadily built a reputation as one of the most physical and instinctive linebackers of his era. Between 2019 and 2023, he appeared in 32 games and recorded 168 total tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks,
His path to the NFL was anything but guaranteed. After going undrafted in 2024, Bozeman earned his opportunity through persistence, working his way onto the practice squad with the Kansas City Chiefs, with whom he would appear in three games that season and was on the roster when the Chiefs played just down in the road in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX, though he did not play in that game. He would later sign with the New York Giants in 2025 and appear in six games registering 9 total tackles. He’s heading into the 2026 season as a key reserve linebacker for the Giants.
Those close to his career point to faith as a constant thread throughout his journey. Publicly, he has described himself as a “Bond-servant of Christ,” and has actively supported the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, using his platform to promote the organization’s mission of impacting coaches and athletes through faith.
That foundation was built long before his NFL career. During his time in Mississippi, Bozeman was deeply involved in FCA at multiple levels, leading efforts in high school, continuing through Copiah-Lincoln, and eventually serving as a student leader at Southern Miss.
The annual event will once again honor more than 50 local student-athletes as “Champions of Character,” recognizing individuals who demonstrate leadership, integrity, and faith in their daily lives. The program will also include the presentation of the FCA Coach of the Year, highlighting the role of mentorship in shaping the next generation.
Bozeman joins a strong list of past speakers who have addressed the Pine Belt audience. Last year’s event featured Demario Davis, a Collins, Mississippi native and former New Orleans Saints standout who now plays for the New York Jets. Previous speakers have also included former New York Yankees pitcher Jason Grimsley and former Auburn Tigers quarterback Jason Campbell, Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow
As the Pine Belt gathers again on Good Friday morning, the focus will remain consistent, celebrating the impact of sports while emphasizing something deeper. Inside the Lake Terrace Convention Center, the message will not be about wins or losses, but about purpose, faith, and the kind of character that lasts long after the final whistle..
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