Five Redbird Football Standouts Named To NFF Hampshire Honor Society

IRVING, Texas – A total of five Illinois State football senior standouts were named to the 2020 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society on Wednesday, as announced by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF).

The Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 grade-point average (GPA) or better throughout their college careers. An impressive 1,454 players from 366 schools qualified for membership in the Society's 14th year. The Hampshire Honor Society represents an important component in the organization's rich history as an innovator in promoting the scholar-athlete ideal, which began in 1959 with the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. 

In addition to the GPA requirement 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
•    Met all NCAA or NAIA mandated progress toward degree requirements
•    Been starters or significant contributors throughout the 2019 season.

"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."

This year's Illinois State honorees include:
•    Ty DeForest, LB, 3.38 GPA, Master's of Business Administration        
•    Sam Fenlason, K, 3.45 GPA, Master of Science in TEC Project Management        
•    Aaron Mends, 3.70 GPA, Master's of Science in Recreation Administration        
•    Jared Rients, 3.50 GPA,    Horticulture Land Management
•    Adam Solomon,    3.75 GPA, Master's of Business Administration    

Jon F. Hanson, the chairman and founder of The Hampshire Companies, provided the endowment to launch the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2007. He made the contribution as part of his legacy to the organization after serving as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006. He currently serves the organization as chairman emeritus. Each player awarded with membership in this year's Honor Society will receive a certificate commemorating their achievement.
 
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