IRVING, Texas – Redshirt senior punter Ryan Barrick (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora), graduate student defensive lineman Matt Bednarski (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg), senior offensive lineman Curtis Jefferson (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson),  redshirt senior tight end Jack Rosnage (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown), and graduate student running back Grant Swinehart (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby/VMI) of the Shepherd University football team have been named to the 2025 National Football Foundations (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society, which is comprised of football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA, and sprint football who have maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.

A record 2,514 players from 339 schools qualified for membership in 2025, marking the largest class in the program's 19-year history. Since its inception, the initiative has honored 20,928 student-athletes. This year's members represented six divisions: 689 from the FBS, 531 from the FCS, 212 from Division II, 978 from Division III, 58 from the NAIA, and 46 sprint football players. They hailed from schools in every state and the District of Columbia—except Alaska, which does not sponsor an eligible college football program. The FBS cohort came from 120 schools, reflecting a 90 percent participation rate. 
 
"In today's era of NIL and the transfer portal, we firmly believe that education remains the key to long-term success," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "These results reaffirm that academics are still top of mind for today's student-athletes. We salute the schools, coaches, and administrators who continue to champion education as a core part of the student-athlete experience. We'll keep doing everything we can to promote those academic ideals and ensure education stays central to the holistic development of every student-athlete."
 
Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be a senior player graduating this spring/summer who completed his final year of playing eligibility in 2024; or
• Be a graduated player or grad transfer who has already earned a bachelor's degree and competed in the 2024 season (even if the player has remaining eligibility and may return to play next season).

And must have:

• Attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale); and
• Been starters or contributors throughout the 2024 season.