Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
NFF Press Release
Apr. 6, 2017 - The North Central College football program has placed nine individuals in the 2017 induction class for the National Football Foundation's (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society, matching the Cardinals' highest total in a single year. The foundation released this year's honorees Wednesday.
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 record total of 1,091 players from 298 schools qualified for membership in the society's 11th year.
Of this year's honorees, 455 came from 89 different NCAA Division III institutions. North Central's nine selections include tight end
Nolan Brannick, defensive linemen
Jon Egan,
Jack McCoy and
Ben Rabe, and defensive backs
Larry Holman,
Nick Lynch,
Kevin Nalefski,
Jason Ochoa and
Mike Zebold. The Cardinals rank 13th among Division III institutions and 20th in all of college football for the most representatives from a single team.
North Central has had 58 players named to the Hampshire Honor Society since its inception in 2007. A total of 28 players from the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) were inducted this year.
The Cardinals concluded the 2016 campaign with an overall record of 11-1 and a perfect 8-0 slate in CCIW play, winning the program's 12th CCIW Championship and advancing to the second round of the Division III Football Championship. The 2017 season is scheduled to begin Saturday, Sept. 2, when North Central hosts Robert Morris University-Chicago.
