Three Football Student-Athletes Named To NFF Hampshire Honor Society

IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced last week the members of the 2017 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. Gustie seniors earning a place on this year’s team include Levi Folkert (Elgin, Minn.), Tyler Jakes (North Mankato, Minn.), and Jake Schmitz (North Branch, Minn.).

A total of 1,097 players from 300 schools qualified for membership in the society’s 11th year, both new single-year records in the history of the program. 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 who play football at the 777 colleges and universities with football programs nationwide.

The 1,097 players honored in 2017 sets a new high water mark, eclipsing the previous record of 882 honorees in 2016. The 300 schools with members breaks the previous record of 280 in both 2015 and 2016. The initiative has honored 7,731 student-athletes since its inception, and the program has experienced growth every year in either members or school participation since its launch in 2007.

Qualifications for membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society include:

• Being a starter or a significant contributor in one’s last year of eligibility (or a senior who has declared for the NFL Draft) at an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III or an NAIA college or university;
• Achieving a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study; and
• Meeting all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.

NFF Release