FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

National Football Foundation Press Release

July 11, 2011 - North Central College student-athletes Joe Antonacci, Scott Hogan, Derek Sulo, Matt Wenger and Shaun Wild have been selected as members of the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society Class of 2011.

The Hampshire Honor Society, part of the NFF's effort to recognize academic and athletic success, is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who have maintained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 or better during their collegiate football careers. A total of 685 players qualified for membership in the society's fifth year, the highest total since the society was founded in 2007.

Of this year's honorees, 270 came from NCAA Division III institutions. North Central's five selections are the most the Cardinals have had in a single season and constitute more than half the delegation from College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) institutions. Also among this year's selections are three players from Elmhurst College and one from Augustana College.

Antonacci, a three-year letter winner for the Cardinals, finished his second season as a starting wide receiver in 2010. He caught 25 passes for 433 yards and five touchdowns while also serving as North Central's primary kickoff and punt returner. He was a First Team All-College Conference of Illinois & WIsconsin (CCIW) and Second Team All-North Region selection as a return specialist and earned his third straight Academic All-CCIW selection.

Hogan started the past two seasons at cornerback after spending his first two seasons as a wide receiver. He intercepted a total of four passes and was named to the Academic All-CCIW Team twice. Sulo, a four-year starter in the Cardinals' defensive backfield, moved to strong safety from cornerback during his final season and earned First Team All-CCIW honors for the second time. Sulo was also a Third Team All-North Region selection in 2008.

Wenger, a four-year starter at linebacker, was named the NCAA Division III National Defensive Player of the Year by D3football.com in 2010, as well as a D3football.com First Team All-American and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American. He also received All-America honors from both organizations in 2008. Wenger twice led the CCIW in tackles and was a three-time First Team All-CCIW selection, winning the CCIW's Don Larson Defensive Player of the Year Award twice. He was also a two-time Academic All-CCIW selection.

Wild, the Cardinals' punter the past two campaigns, earned CCIW Special Teams Player of the Week and D3football.com Team of the Week honors in each of the past two seasons. He led the CCIW in punting average in 2010 and was a two-time Academic All-CCIW honoree.

The Cardinals (12-1, 7-0 CCIW) won their fifth consecutive CCIW title and advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time in the program's history in 2010. North Central ranked second nationally in scoring defense (9.23 points allowed per game), third in total defense (225.7 yards allowed per game), and fifth in rushing defense (68.1 yards allowed per game), kickoff return average (25.5 yards per return) and quarterback sacks (3.46 per game).