Owls' Football Places Six on Hampshire Honor Society
The Hampshire Society recognizes graduating seniors who attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale) and have been starters or contributors throughout the 2024 season.
WESTFIELD, Mass. --- Westfield State University football had six seniors qualify for recognition in the The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's Hampshire Honor Society.
Tight end Jordan Lanoue (Belchertown, Mass.), WR/RB Jacob Swinehart (Holyoke, Mass.), offensive lineman Noah Will (S. Hadley, Mass.), linebacker Blake Simpson (Bellingham, Mass.) and defensive linemen Ethan Russell (Montague, Mass./Frontier Regional) and Anthony Messore (Wellesley, Mass.) were all tabbed for recognition by the basis of their classroom and on-field success.
The Hampshire Society recognizes graduating seniors who attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale) and have been starters or contributors throughout the 2024 season.
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced a record number of members for the 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which comprises college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.
A record 2,529 players from 340 schools qualified for membership in 2025, marking the largest class in the program's 19-year history. Since its inception, the initiative has honored 20,943 student-athletes. This year's members represented six divisions: 689 from the FBS, 532 from the FCS, 212 from Division II, 991 from Division III, 58 from the NAIA, and 47 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.
"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."
Westfield State football finished the fall 2024 campaign with a 4-6 record under first-year head coach Lou Conte, Jr.