Ten Mountaineers Named to Hampshire Honor Society
April 08, 2026 11:09 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University Football program had 10 players named to the Hampshire Honor Society by The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, as announced by the organization.
"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 & CEO 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."
The Mountaineer players who earned membership in the Hampshire Honor Society in 2026 are Jaden Bray (WR), Reid Carrico (LB), Kade Hensley (K), Carson Lee (OL), Oliver Straw (P), Kekoura Tarnue (S), Edward Vesterinen (DL), Jordan Walker (S), Chase Wilson (LB) and Walter Young Bear (OL).
This marks the program's 20th anniversary and the largest group of honorees in its history. The milestone reflects the scale and consistency of academic achievement across the sport. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is a key part of the NFF's mission to promote academic excellence, leadership and personal development through football. Created in 2007 with support from Jon F. Hanson, the program expanded the NFF's ability to recognize student-athletes beyond its National Scholar-Athlete program. 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
West Virginia is one of 23 colleges and universities, including one of only seven at the Power Four level, who have had at least one player in all 20 years of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society (2007-26), joining BYU, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Penn State and SMU.
Other schools who have had at least one society member for the past 20 years are Brown, Bucknell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Dayton, Johns Hopkins (Maryland), Lafayette, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Redlands (California), Saint John's (Minnesota), South Dakota State, Wayne State (Michigan), Wingate (North Carolina), Yale and Youngstown State.
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.
The Hampshire Honor Society 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. Each player has been nominated by their respective institutions and must be nominated by their respective schools; be a senior in his final year of eligibility or a graduated player who has already earned a bachelor's degree; earn a minimum 3.2 GPA; and have been a starter or contributor to the football team.
With this year's additions to the group, the number of Mountaineers named to the Honor Society since its formation in 2007 is now up to 69.
A record group of 2,596 players from 365 schools qualified for membership in 2026, setting a new record for the number of members in a single year during the program's 20-year history.
"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 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."
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.
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is a key part of the NFF's mission to promote academic excellence, leadership and personal development through football. Created in 2007 with support from Jon F. Hanson, the program expanded the NFF's ability to recognize student-athletes beyond its National Scholar-Athlete program. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is one of the most comprehensive scholar-athlete initiatives in college athletics.
"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 & CEO 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."
The Mountaineer players who earned membership in the Hampshire Honor Society in 2026 are Jaden Bray (WR), Reid Carrico (LB), Kade Hensley (K), Carson Lee (OL), Oliver Straw (P), Kekoura Tarnue (S), Edward Vesterinen (DL), Jordan Walker (S), Chase Wilson (LB) and Walter Young Bear (OL).
This marks the program's 20th anniversary and the largest group of honorees in its history. The milestone reflects the scale and consistency of academic achievement across the sport. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is a key part of the NFF's mission to promote academic excellence, leadership and personal development through football. Created in 2007 with support from Jon F. Hanson, the program expanded the NFF's ability to recognize student-athletes beyond its National Scholar-Athlete program. 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
West Virginia is one of 23 colleges and universities, including one of only seven at the Power Four level, who have had at least one player in all 20 years of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society (2007-26), joining BYU, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Penn State and SMU.
Other schools who have had at least one society member for the past 20 years are Brown, Bucknell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Dayton, Johns Hopkins (Maryland), Lafayette, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Redlands (California), Saint John's (Minnesota), South Dakota State, Wayne State (Michigan), Wingate (North Carolina), Yale and Youngstown State.
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.
The Hampshire Honor Society 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. Each player has been nominated by their respective institutions and must be nominated by their respective schools; be a senior in his final year of eligibility or a graduated player who has already earned a bachelor's degree; earn a minimum 3.2 GPA; and have been a starter or contributor to the football team.
With this year's additions to the group, the number of Mountaineers named to the Honor Society since its formation in 2007 is now up to 69.
A record group of 2,596 players from 365 schools qualified for membership in 2026, setting a new record for the number of members in a single year during the program's 20-year history.
"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 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."
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.
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is a key part of the NFF's mission to promote academic excellence, leadership and personal development through football. Created in 2007 with support from Jon F. Hanson, the program expanded the NFF's ability to recognize student-athletes beyond its National Scholar-Athlete program. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is one of the most comprehensive scholar-athlete initiatives in college athletics.
Players Mentioned
WR
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LB
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K
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OL
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P
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S
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DL
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S
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LB
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OL
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