Temple University Athletics
NFF Marks 20 Years of Academic Excellence in College Football; Six Former Owls Make NFF Hampshire Honor Society
4.8.26 | Football
IRVING, Texas - At a time of significant change across college football, the National Football Foundation (NFF) is marking 20 years of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society and recognizing academic excellence across the sport, reinforcing a consistent truth: football continues to develop disciplined, educated leaders at scale.
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Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society has recognized 23,568 student-athletes from 691 schools since 2007. The 2026 class, which includes a record 2,596 players from 365 schools, represents the largest group in the program's history and underscores the sustained academic achievement taking place across all levels of college football. Click here for the 2026 list of members.
Temple Football has six representatives on this year's honor society list: OT Diego Barajas, CB Jaylen Castleberry, DT Allen Haye, WR Kajiya Hollawayne, CB Ben Osueke, QB Evan Simon.
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"Twenty years ago, college coaches around the country came to the National Football Foundation asking us to recognize not just their top student-athlete, but the numerous student-athletes on their teams who were also excelling at the highest levels in the classroom," said NFF President & CEOÂ Steve Hatchell. "Their voices led to the creation of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and two decades later, the results speak for themselves. Year after year, we continue to see remarkable academic achievements across college football."
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Created in 2007, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society is one of the most comprehensive scholar-athlete initiatives in college athletics, recognizing football players from all divisions who have maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or higher throughout their college careers. Click here for the full criteria and history.
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"To see this program reach 20 years with a record number of honorees is really special," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "As the world of college football faces an era of transition, one thing remains the same: the game's ability to develop well-rounded student-athletes committed to excellence in the classroom as well as on the field. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society provides an important platform for us to recognize the value of the game in developing leaders while shining a light on their individual accomplishments."
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Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society has recognized 23,568 student-athletes from 691 schools since 2007. The 2026 class, which includes a record 2,596 players from 365 schools, represents the largest group in the program's history and underscores the sustained academic achievement taking place across all levels of college football. Click here for the 2026 list of members.
Temple Football has six representatives on this year's honor society list: OT Diego Barajas, CB Jaylen Castleberry, DT Allen Haye, WR Kajiya Hollawayne, CB Ben Osueke, QB Evan Simon.
Â
"Twenty years ago, college coaches around the country came to the National Football Foundation asking us to recognize not just their top student-athlete, but the numerous student-athletes on their teams who were also excelling at the highest levels in the classroom," said NFF President & CEOÂ Steve Hatchell. "Their voices led to the creation of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and two decades later, the results speak for themselves. Year after year, we continue to see remarkable academic achievements across college football."
Â
Created in 2007, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society is one of the most comprehensive scholar-athlete initiatives in college athletics, recognizing football players from all divisions who have maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or higher throughout their college careers. Click here for the full criteria and history.
Â
"To see this program reach 20 years with a record number of honorees is really special," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "As the world of college football faces an era of transition, one thing remains the same: the game's ability to develop well-rounded student-athletes committed to excellence in the classroom as well as on the field. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society provides an important platform for us to recognize the value of the game in developing leaders while shining a light on their individual accomplishments."
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Players Mentioned
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