A school-record eight Youngstown State football student-athletes have been to the 2019 National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society, the organization announced on Wednesday.
The 2019 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers. An all-time high of 1,643 players from a record 424 schools qualified for membership in the Society's 13th year.
YSU student-athletes selected to the 2019 squad were Armand Dellovade, Vitas Hrynkiewicz, Avery Larkin, Will Latham, Tommy McCraw, Curtis Parks, Mark Schuler and Montgomery VanGorder.
"We are pleased to see another record number of athletes honored by the Hampshire Honor Society this year," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "For more than a decade, it has become a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives."
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's National Scholar-Athlete program by greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The program further strengthens the organization's leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes at the 778 colleges and universities with football programs nationwide.
The 1,643 players honored in 2019 sets a new high water mark, eclipsing the previous record of 1,274 honorees in 2018. The 424 schools represented breaks the previous mark of 308 set in 2018.
Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must have:
Completed their final year of playing eligibility in 2018;
Graduated players, who have remaining eligibility but will not return to collegiate play (e.g. declared for NFL Draft or retired from football), may also be nominated.
Achieved a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study;
Met all NCAA- or NAIA-mandated progress toward degree requirements; and
Been starters or significant contributors throughout the 2018 season.
