April 21, 2008

MEMPHIS, TENN. - Senior captains Andy Smith and Jake Kasser have been named to the 2008 Hampshire Honor Society by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF).

The Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions who each maintained a 3.2 grade point average or better. A total of 439 players from 226 schools qualified for membership in the society's second year, an increase of more than 25 percent from the inaugural class in 2007.

Kasser, who was a semi-finalist this season for the NFF's Draddy Trophy, started all 13 games at linebacker and led the team in tackles with 100. He also recovered three fumbles and was named a C-USA Defensive Player of the Week following Memphis' win over UAB in which he had a career-high 13 tackles. At the post-season team banquet, Kasser was presented a Top Tiger Award. A native of Germantown, Tenn., Kasser holds a 3.47 grade point average in accounting and will earn his bachelor's degree next month.

Smith started all 13 games at right guard and helped pave the way for a Tiger offense that ranked in the top 15 nationally throughout the season in passing offense. Memphis also ranked 10th nationally and led Conference USA for the fourth straight year in sack denial, allowing only 14 in 13 games. Smith, who was a first-team All-C-USA honoree in 2007, received the Offensive Lineman of the Year Award at the post-season banquet. A native of Fayetteville, Ga., Smith earned his bachelor's degree in geography in December of 2006 and was working towards his master's degree in the same discipline while completing his final year of eligibility.

"It's a privilege to be a part of this initiative," said Florida State President and NFF Hampshire Honor Society National Advisory Committee Chairman Dr. T.K. Wetherell. "I am pleased to see the strong membership growth that the NFF Hampshire Honor Society produced in its second year. I would encourage coaches at all levels to tap the competitive spirit of their teams and promote membership and academic performance as a point of pride among their players."

The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's current National Scholar-Athlete program, greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year and further strengthening its leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the more than 700 college and universities with football programs.

Qualifications for membership in the inaugural NFF National Honor Society includes: Being a starter or a significant substitute in one's last year of eligibility at an accredited NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, or an NAIA college or university; Achieving a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study; and Meeting all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.

Launched in 1959, the NFF's National Scholar-Athlete Awards program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for his combined academic success, football performance and community leadership.

"There is no question that the lessons learned on the field translate directly into success later in life," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "And the members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society serve as the perfect example of football's ability to teach leadership skills. We are proud to showcase the accomplishments of this group as part of the NFF's mission in promoting the scholar-athlete ideal."

Since its inception, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards program has awarded $8.6 million to 693 top scholars and community leaders. Currently, the NFF distributes more than $300,000 a year at the national level through the program to 15 individuals. Each winner of a National Scholar-Athlete Award receives an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. Additionally, the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, is given to one member of each year's class as the absolute best. The winner of the Draddy, claimed by Texas longhorn center Dallas Griffin in 2007, receives a total scholarship of $25,000 and a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy.