CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Eight members of Harvard Football have been named to the 2026 Phil Steele FCS Midseason All-America Teams. Offensive lineman Spencer Doan and defensive back Xaden Benson earned first-team honors. Offensive lineman Thomas O'Brien was named to the second team, while tight end Teigan Pelletier, all-purpose player Nate Bailey, defensive lineman Josh Fedd, defensive back Damien Henderson and long snapper Jack Baade were selected to the fourth team. The eight nominees is tied for the most in the nation and represent half of all Ivy League student-athletes represented on the list. 
 
Benson leads the FCS with six interceptions through four games, recording at least one in each of Harvard's first four contests. He recorded three interceptions against Brown, tying Harvard's single-game record, and added picks against New Hampshire, Colgate and Cornell to build his national lead. The safety has two more interceptions than any other player in the FCS and also ranks second nationally with 2.0 passes defended per contest.  The Atlanta, Georgia, native earned Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week, Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week and NEFWA Gold Helmet honors for his performance against the Bears.
 
A key piece of Harvard's offense from the left tackle position, Doan earned first-team recognition after an All-Ivy League first-team season in 2025. The senior allowed no sacks, one quarterback hit and four hurries last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He was also named a Phil Steele Preseason FCS All-American and has been selected to the Shriners Children's 1000 Watch List.
 
O'Brien earned second-team honors after anchoring the Crimson's offensive line through the first four games from the left guard position. The senior has helped the Harvard offense flourish in 2026 in both the pass and run games. The recognition comes after a strong junior campaign in which he was named a first-team All-Ivy League selection. According to Pro Football Focus, he did not allow a sack in 2025, giving up just one quarterback hit and two hurries.
 
Pelletier has caught 10 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns in three appearances, scoring in each of his last three games. His three scores are tied for seventh among tight ends in the FCS. The sophomore played a hand in the viral game-winning Hail Mary against No. 20/22 Colgate, receiving the initial pass before lateralling the ball to Bailey for the game-winning score as time expired.
 
One of the most explosive all-purpose players in the nation, Bailey has amassed 347 receiving yards on 34 catches, along with two receiving touchdowns and one rushing score. Against Colgate, he set career highs with 16 receptions and 187 receiving yards, then scored the winning touchdown on a lateral from Pelletier as time expired. His 16 catches were the most in an FCS game this season and the second most in Harvard single-game history. Bailey also previously tied Harvard's first-year record with nine receptions against Brown before breaking the record against the Raiders.
 
Henderson has made 12 tackles and five pass breakups through four games, while adding an interception against Cornell. The senior entered the season as a Stats Perform Preseason Second-Team All-American, a FCS Football Central Preseason First-Team All-American and a member of the Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List. A 2023 Freshman All-American, Henderson is a two-time All-Ivy selection.
 
Fedd has recorded 15 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and one quarterback hurry through four games. He turned in a standout performance in the season opener at New Hampshire, posting four tackles, including 2.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss. The senior defensive lineman recorded career highs of 26 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks during the 2025 campaign.
 
Baade has continued in the long-snapping role after earning national recognition as a first-year. He played in all 11 games in 2025 and was named a Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-American, a Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American and a Phil Steele All-Ivy League Fourth-Team selection. The sophomore is a key piece of Harvard's special teams, anchoring a unit that has been among the best in the Ivy League for the past three seasons.
 
Harvard is 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Ivy League play, and one of four remaining undefeated teams in the FCS. The Crimson returns to action Saturday, Oct. 17, when it hosts Holy Cross at 1 p.m. at Harvard Stadium. The game will air on ESPN+.