IRVING, Texas – Twelve University of Dayton football players – running back Jack Adams, linebacker Christopher Beaschler, defensive tackle Andy Carfagna, safety Carson Chatterton, cornerback Tommy Fanning, defensive end Mike Gray, Flyer Chris Hagan, tight end Ian Palin, center Shane Toub, offensive tackle Jimmy Vogel, placekicker William Will and running back Owen Williams– have been named to the 2017 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society.

Beaschler was a finalist for the NFF's highest academic honor, the Campbell Trophy, and was named one of 15 NFF Scholar-Athletes across all of college football in December.

 Now in its 11th year, the Hampshire Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college career. A record 1,091 total players from 298 schools qualified for membership in the society this year, breaking last year's record for individuals recognized by more than 200.

 Dayton's 12 members were the second-best in NCAA Division I football, behind the Ivy League's Brown University, who had 18.  The Flyers had the most in the Pioneer Football League.  Butler and Drake were next with eight each. 

 The Flyers are one of just 18 Division I institutions (and 28 overall) to have at least one senior qualify for membership in all 11 classes of the Hampshire Society.  Dayton is also the only PFL member.

 The top five for total honorees during the 11-year span of the program include Brown (122), Dayton (101), Yale (91), Nebraska Wesleyan (90) and Johns Hopkins [Md.] (85).

The majors of the 12 Flyers recognized range from political science to applied mathematical economics.  Three major in mechanical engineering, and two in finance.

"We are pleased to see a record number of colleges and universities embrace the Hampshire Honor Society this year," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Over the past decade, it has become a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives."

The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's National Scholar-Athlete program by greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The program further strengthens the organization's leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the 777 colleges and universities with football programs nationwide.
 
The initiative has honored 7,725 student-athletes since its inception, and the program has experienced growth every year in either members or school participation since its launch in 2007.
 
 A total of 28 schools have had at least one student-athlete recognized in each of the Hampshire Honor Society's 11 years: Austin Peay State, Brown, Bucknell, BYU, Colorado, Columbia, Dayton, Huntingdon (Ala.), Johns Hopkins (Md.), Kentucky, Lafayette, Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Penn State, Purdue, Redlands (Calif.), Saint John's (Minn.), SMU, South Dakota State, Wartburg (Iowa), Washington U. in St. Louis (Mo.), Wayne State (Mich.), West Virginia, Wingate (N.C.), Yale and Youngstown State.

  Jon F. Hanson, the chairman and founder of The Hampshire Companies, provided the endowment to launch the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2007. He made the contribution as part of his legacy to the organization after serving as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006. He currently serves the organization as the chairman emeritus. Each player awarded with membership in this year's Honor Society will receive a certificate commemorating their achievement.
 
"It was my great privilege to endow the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which has greatly increased the number of college student-athletes the NFF has been able to recognize during the past 11 years," said Hanson. "Nationwide there are thousands of football players excelling in the classroom, and they're going on to be great leaders. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society continues to grow and allows us to shine a light on their hard work."

"We have honored more than 7,700 student-athletes in the last 11 years thanks to Jon Hanson's generosity," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "We are grateful for his passionate belief in the scholar-athlete ideal, and the Hampshire Honor Society allows us to showcase the names of tomorrow's leaders while inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps."

 Qualifications for membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society include:
• Being a starter or a significant contributor in one's last year of eligibility (or a senior who has declared for the NFL Draft)  at an 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/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.
 
The Hampshire Honor Society represents an important component in the organization's rich history as an innovator in promoting the scholar-athlete ideal, which began in 1959 with the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

Launched with a donation from Hall of Fame coach Earl "Red" Blaik, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments, became the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on a player's combined academic success, football performance and community leadership. Since its inception, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards program has awarded $11.1 million to 828 top scholars and community leaders.

Each recipient of an NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. Additionally, The William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments and displayed at its official home inside the New York Athletic Club, is given to one member of each year's class as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation. The winner of the Campbell Trophy receives a total scholarship of $25,000 and a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy.

Through its chapter network, the NFF also awards an additional $1 million to local high school student-athletes, bringing the NFF's annual scholarship distribution total to more than $1.3 million.