The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today the members of the 2020 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 impressive 1,432 players from 364 schools qualified for membership in the Society's 14th year.
The Youngstown State football team had seven student-athletes named to the 2020 National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society. Former Penguins TB Joe Alessi, WR Ryan Emans, OL Brandon Finamore, S Kyle Hegedus, C Matt Jones, QB Nathan Mays and OT James Wilson were the Penguins to be named to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society team.
"We are pleased to honor another impressive group of athletes as part of this year's Hampshire Honor Society," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "For more than a decade, the Hampshire Honor Society has served as 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 775 colleges and universities with football programs nationwide. The initiative has now honored 12,127 student-athletes since its inception.
Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must have:
Completed their final year of playing eligibility in 2019;
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;
Been starters or significant contributors throughout the 2019 season.
