Christian Thomas, Tremel Jones Named to 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society
Tennessee Tech Football's Christian Thomas and Tremel Jones Named to 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, as announced today by the foundation.
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech Football's Christian Thomas and Tremel Jones Named to 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, as announced today by the foundation.
Tech football standout offensive lineman Christian Thomas and wide receiver Tremel Jones have joined a prestigious list of student-athletes who have displayed academic excellence, reinforcing a consistent truth: football continues to develop disciplined, educated leaders at scale.
- 2,596 honorees (all-time single-year record for membership) representing 365 schools
- 3.57 average GPA
- 26% have served as a captain
- 1,251 offensive players | 1,089 defensive players | 256 special teams players
- 102 schools had at least 10 honorees in 2026
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.
"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."
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 GPA of 3.2 or higher throughout their college careers. Click here for the full criteria and 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 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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Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) is a nonprofit organization that leverages the power of amateur football to build leaders. With 120 chapters in 47 states, the NFF oversees initiatives such as the NFF College Hall of Fame, the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, Future For Football, and I Played. Learn more at footballfoundation.org and follow @NFFNetwork on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
