DALLAS, Texas — Former University of Florida football players Billy Latsko and Steve Rissler were named as members of the inaugural class of National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) National Honor Society as announced by the organization on Wednesday.
The NFF’s National Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a 3.2 GPA or better. A total of 345 players from 195 schools earned recognition as part of the inaugural class.
“The inaugural class of the Honor Society contains an outstanding group of young men who simply set the standard for excellence on and off the field, and we are proud to showcase their accomplishments as a powerful example of football’s unique ability to produce the next generation of great leaders,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “We anticipate that the program will grow dramatically in the coming years, and we project recognizing hundreds of more student-athletes each year as people learn about the qualifications for membership and submit additional nominations.”
Qualifications for membership in the inaugural NFF National Honor Society include:
* 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.
Both Latsko and Rissler earned multiple Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll distinctions while at UF. Latsko finished his career seeing action in 51 games, including 16 starts, and in 2006, he was a member of Florida’s Leadership Committee and was named one of six team captains. Rissler appeared in 42 games making 24 starts as a Gator, and he earned first-team Coaches’ All-SEC honors in 2006.
The National Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF’s current National Scholar-Athlete program, and further strengthens the NFF’s leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the more than 700 college and universities with football programs.
The National Honor Society becomes the latest component of the organization’s efforts to promote combined athletic and academic success. Launched in 1959, the NFF’s National Scholar-Athlete Award program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for his combined academic success, football performance and community leadership. Since its inception, the NFF’ National Scholar-Athlete Awards program has awarded $8.3 million to 678 top scholars and community leaders. Currently, the NFF distributes approximately $320,000 a year at the national level through the program to 15 to 17 individuals. Each winner of a National Scholar-Athlete Award receives an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship.
Upon the death of Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who served as the NFF Chairman for 19 years, the NFF added the Draddy Trophy to the program. First awarded in 1990, the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, selects one member of each year’s class as the absolute best. The winner of the Draddy receives a total scholarship of $25,000 and a stunning 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy.
Former Quarterback Chris Leak was selected as one of 17 members of the 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class and was as a finalist for the 2006 Draddy Trophy. UF has had two recipients of the Draddy Trophy * Brad Culpepper (1991) and Danny Wuerffel (1996).
As part of the launch, the NFF has established a national advisory committee, including representatives from the seven major conferences, a college president, a conference commissioner, an athletics director, and a Division I-A head football coach. Each one of these representatives provided comprehensive feedback in developing the Honor Society.
SCHOOL MEMBER
Abilene Christian University (Texas) John Brock
Adams State College (Colo.) George Holley
Alabama A&M University Kristian Smith
Albion College (Mich.) Chase Chandler
Albion College (Mich.) Peter Shaw
Albright College (Pa.) Matt Hoelscher
Allegheny College (Pa.) James Savage
Angelo State University (Texas) Tyrell McCrea
Angelo State University (Texas) T.J.Gillen-Hall
Appalachian State University (N.C.) Daniel Orlebar
Appalachian State University (N.C.) Dominick Dingle
Arizona State Univeristy Andrew Carnahan
Auburn University Kody Andrew Bliss
Auburn University William Ronald Herring
Auburn University Karibi Dede
Austin Peay State University (Tenn.) Drew L. Wilson
Ball State University (Ind.) Brian Jackson
Ball State University (Ind.) Riley Larimore
Ball State University (Ind.) Justin Schneider
Ball State University (Ind.) Brad Seiss
Ball State University (Ind.) Jason Sieman
Bates College (Maine) James Walker
Baylor University Daniel Sepulveda
Baylor University Shawn Bell
Bethel University (Minn.) Phil Porta
Bethel University (Minn.) Kirby Carr
Bethel University (Minn.) Mark Gaalswyk
Bluffton University (Ohio) James Fay
Bluffton University (Ohio) Benjamin McCullough
Bluffton University (Ohio) Tyler Schwab
Bluffton University (Ohio) Jacob Slager
Brigham Young University Nathan Meikle
Brown University Justin Amoah
Brown University Joe DiGiacomo
Brown University Alex Doty
Brown University David Healy
Brown University Gavin Logan
Brown University Akin Oyalowo
Brown University Blake Trocki
Bucknell University (Pa.) David Frisbey
Butler University (Ind.) David McMahon
Campbellsville University (Ky.) Jason Foley
Capital University (Ohio) Sam Abdullah
Capital University (Ohio) Eric Calland
Capital University (Ohio) Kyle Hausler
Capital University (Ohio) Steve Leppert
Capital University (Ohio) Luke Schnittger
Capital University (Ohio) Charlie Smith
Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) Aaron Lewis
Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) Thomas Brew
Central Michigan University Daniel Bazuin
Centre College (Ky.) Kevin Phelps
Christopher Newport University (Va.) George L. Jones
The Citadel (S.C.) Christopher Murray
College of New Jersey Ryan Ross
College of William & Mary (Va.) Matthew Trinkle
The College of Wooster (Ohio) Rick Drushal
Colorado School of Mines Bryan Florendo
Colorado State University Clint Oldenberg
Columbia University Jeffrey Oke
Columbia University Justin Nunez
Columbia University Adam Brekke
Columbia University Nicholas DeGasperis
Columbia University Benjamin Schori
Columbia University Darren Schmidt
Cornell University Patrick Blakemore
Cornell University John Lucas
Cornell University Anthony Macaluso
Cornell University Brian McGuire
Coastal Carolina University (S.C.) Brian Kepple
Coastal Carolina University (S.C.) Anthony M. Franklin
Coastal Carolina University (S.C.) Brad Poston
Coastal Carolina University (S.C.) Jamar Leath
Coastal Carolina University (S.C.) Samuel Grady Harper Jr.
Coastal Carolina University (S.C.) Joshua Hoke
Coastal Carolina University (S.C.) Rodney Burgess
Coastal Carolina University (S.C.) Tyler Thigpen
Dartmouth College Donald Bly
Dartmouth College Michael Fritz
Dartmouth College Ryan Fuselier
Davidson College (N.C.) Kyle Kinsell
Defiance College (Ohio) Tyler Haines
Delaware State University Peter Gaertner
Duke University Eli Nichols
East Carolina University (N.C.) Robert Clayton Lee
East Carolina University (N.C.) Kevin Jackson Roach
Eastern Illinois University Jonathan Rueter
Eastern New Mexico University Fidencio Davalos
Edinboro University (Pa.) Christopher Kaczor
Emporia State University (Kan.) Scott Schoenfeld
Emporia State University (Kan.) Zachary Teske
Ferris State University (Mich.) Michael Klobucher
Florida International University Chris Patullo
Fresno State Joseph Fernandez
Furman University (S.C.) Adnan Filipovic
Georgetown College (Ky.) Ryan Blackerby
Gettysburg College (Pa.) Dain Alaia
Gettysburg College (Pa.) Spencer Davidson
Greensboro College (N.C.) Christopher Palme
Hiram College (Ohio) Caleb Bihari
Hofstra University (N.Y.) Justyn Davis
Hofstra University (N.Y.) RC Scarpa
Huntingdon College (Ala.) Thomas Jacob Seales
Huntingdon College (Ala.) Frederick O’Ryan Shelby
Huntingdon College (Ala.) Hodge Patterson IV
Huntingdon College (Ala.) Avery Toreal Ford
Huntingdon College (Ala.) Mark McDuffie Colson
Huntingdon College (Ala.) Yancey Lee Gordon
Idaho State University Brandon Mennear
Illinois College Brandon Rhea
Illinois Wesleyan University Michael Stephens
Illinois Wesleyan University Eric Esch
Indiana University Will Meyers
Indiana University Lance Bennett
Iowa State University Shawn Moorehead
Iowa State University Seth Zehr
Ithaca College (N.Y.) Justin Brunell
Jamestown College (N.D.) Robert Hummel
John Carroll University (Ohio) Matt Lemke
Johns Hopkins University (Md.) Brian Nickel
Kansas State University Blake Seiler
Kent State University Usama Young
Kentucky Wesleyan College Todd Hollis
Kentucky Wesleyan College Joshua Abell
Kentucky Wesleyan College Terry Durham
Kenyon College (Ohio) Ryan Lacy
La Salle University (Pa.) Zachery Greaver
La Salle University (Pa.) Taylour Lauri
La Salle University (Pa.) Mark Moraca
La Salle University (Pa.) Christopher Reiter
La Salle University (Pa.) Louis Russo
Lafayette College (Pa.) Bradley Maurer
Lewis & Clark College (Ore.) Mike Brooder
Lewis & Clark College (Ore.) Erik Gerwick
Lewis & Clark College (Ore.) Joshua Schoonover
Linfield College (Ore.) Michael Greenberg
Linfield College (Ore.) Tyler Kaluza
Louisiana College Justin Webb
Louisiana College Nicholas Williams
Louisiana Tech University Jacob Peeler
Macalester College (Minn.) Nate Vernon
Macalester College (Minn.) George Robbins
Maine Maritime Academy Richard A. Schrempf
Marist College (N.Y.) Shawn Casadiego
Marist College (N.Y.) Prince Prempeh
Marist College (N.Y.) Nicholas Salis
Marist College (N.Y.) Michael Walsh
McNeese State University (La.) Brent Pousson
Mesa State College (Colo.) Creed James
Michigan State University Drew Stanton
Michigan State University Brian Bury
Michigan State University Brandon Fields
MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) Clayton Matthew Pritchard
Middlebury College (Vt.) Matthew Morrissey
Middlebury College (Vt.) Scott Secor
Millsaps College (Miss.) Josh Hanna
Minot State University (N.D.) Mathew Jensen
Minot State University (N.D.) Max Milne
Minot State University (N.D.) Tyler Perrson
Missouri Valley College Ryan Ross
Montana State University Ryan Force
Montana State University Brant Birkeland
Mount Union College (Ohio) Anthony Angelo Antonucci
Mount Union College (Ohio) Jerry J. Ditz
Mount Union College (Ohio) Maxwell T. Smith
Mount Union College (Ohio) Bryan J. Hubler
Mount Union College (Ohio) Anthony E. Ursetti
Nebraska Wesleyan University Josh Codr
Nebraska Wesleyan University Joe Gramann
Nebraska Wesleyan University Zac Heisey
Nebraska Wesleyan University Matt Smoyer
Nebraska Wesleyan University Chris Softley
Nebraska Wesleyan University Josh Strehle
Nebraska Wesleyan University Connor Wobig
New Mexico State University David Romaka
North Carolina State University William Lee
North Dakota State University Craig Dahl
Northern Illinois University Douglas Free
Northwestern College (Iowa) Blake Reinke
Ohio State University Douglas Datish
Ohio State University Andrew Norman
Ohio State University Joel Penton
Ohio State University Stan White, Jr.
Ohio University Austen Everson
Ohio Wesleyan University Kyle Sherman
Oklahoma State University Darnell Smith
Oregon State University Adam Koets
Penn State University Paul Posluszny
Pittsburg State University (Kan.) Ryan Meredith
Plymouth State University (N.H.) Ryan Puck
Pomona-Pitzer College (Calif.) Matthew Barbour
Purdue University Michael Otto
Rowan University (N.J.) Mike Orihel
Saint Anselm College (N.H.) Gary R. Senecal
Saint Francis University (Ind.) Luke Palko
Saint Francis University (Ind.) Sean McCune
Saint John’s University (Minn.) Jamie Steffensmeier
Salisbury University (Md.) Wilhelm Leinemann
Samford University (Ala.) Graham Lemmond
San Diego State University Patrick Justman
University of the South (Tenn.) D’Anthony M. Allen
University of the South (Tenn.) Conor M. Bozzi
University of the South (Tenn.) Jason J. Loudon
University of the South (Tenn.) Wesley A. Satterfield
Shenandoah University (Va.) Justin Mosser
South Dakota State University Marty Kranz
Southern Illinois University Braden Jones
Southern Illinois University Kent DeVinney
Southern Illinois University Jack Wise
Southern Methodist University Duke William Clifford Hasson
Saint Ambrose University (Iowa) Brad Cook
Stephen F. Austin State University (Texas) Andrew Fleck
Temple University Elliot Seifert
Tennessee State University Brandon Hubbard
Tennessee State University Carlos Jones
Texas A&M University Chad Schroeder
Texas Christian University Chad Andrus
Texas Christian University Brent Hecht
Texas Lutheran University Jake Robbins
Texas State University Walter Musgrove
Towson University (Md.) Eric Yancey
Trinity College (Conn.) Kevin Swiniarski
United States Military Academy Pete Bier
United States Military Academy Mike Castelli
United States Military Academy Justin Koenig
United States Military Academy Austin Miller
University at Albany Ryan Chrobak
University of Akron Tim Crouch
University of Akron Luke Getsy
University of Akron Mark Groza
University of California-Davis Jonathan Grant
University of Chicago Benjamin Potts
University of Cincinnati Anthony Carvitti
University of Cincinnati Brent Celek
University of Cincinnati William Poland
University of Colorado Ben Carpenter
University of Colorado Brian Daniels
University of Connecticut Rhema Fuller
University of Connecticut Christopher Pavasaris
University of Dayton Brandon Godsey
University of Dayton Josh Heyne
University of Dayton John Hoppe
University of Dayton Chance Walton
University of Dayton Scott Wintering
University of Florida Billy Latsko
University of Florida Steve Rissler
University of Hawaii Michael Malala
University of Hawaii Kenneth Patton
University of Hawaii Dane Uperesa
University of Houston Wade P. Koehl
University of Iowa Mike Elgin
University of Iowa Andrew Fenstermaker
University of Kansas Jonathan Lamb
University of Kentucky Hayden Lane
University of Louisiana-Monroe Christopher Bauman
University of Maryland Josh Wilson
University of Massachusetts Bradley Anderson
University of Memphis Russell Clayton
University of Minnesota Matthew Spaeth
University of Minnesota-Duluth Mark Knudsen
University of Minnesota-Morris Adam Turgeon
University of Mississippi William Moseley
University of Montana Dustin Dlouhy
University of Nebraska Andy Kadavy
University of Nebraska Kurt Mann
University of Nebraska Brandon Rigoni
University of Nebraska Andrew Shanle
University of Nebraska Dane Todd
University of New Hampshire Corey Graham
University of New Hampshire Evan Loring
University of New Hampshire Arden Snook
University of New Mexico Christopher J. Nelson
University of North Dakota Christopher Belmore
University of North Dakota Trent Christensen
University of North Dakota Michael Greenwood
University of North Dakota Thomas Loegering
University of North Dakota Reed Manke
University of North Dakota Sam Schmitz
University of North Texas Zachary Muzzy
University of North Texas Sky Pruitt
University of Northern Iowa Curt Bradley
University of Northern Iowa James Lindgren
University of Notre Dame Daniel A. Santucci
University of Notre Dame Christopher Frome
University of Oklahoma Carl Pendleton
University of Pennsylvania Arthur Fritzinger
University of Redlands (Calif.) Jeffrey Gazaille
University of Rhode Island Kyle Edwards
University of San Diego Kyson Hawkins
University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Dan DeJong
University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Josh Veurink
University of South Dakota Matthew Murphy
University of South Dakota Lucas Mikkelsen
University of South Dakota Ryan Mach
University of South Dakota Travis Mlady
University of South Dakota Ryan Hedden
University of Saint Thomas (Minn.) P.J. Theisen
University of Tennessee James Howell Wilhoit, II
University of Texas-El Paso Reagan Schneider
University of Tulsa Brandon Diles
University of Utah Casey Evans
University of Virginia Marcus Hamiliton
University of Wisconsin Joseph Thomas
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Matthew Evensen
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Michael Hayes
University of Wyoming John Wendling
University of Wyoming Mike Groover
University of Wyoming Tyler Holden
Utah State University Malik Cin
Utah State University Ryan Taylor
Utica College of Syracuse University (N.Y.) Michael Sanchez
Valley City State University (N.D.) Eric Spooner
Vanderbilt University Benjamin Koger
Villanova University Allyn Bacchus
Villanova University Jonathan Cooper
Villanova University Zachary Mariacher
Villanova University Blake Shubert
Wabash College (Ind.) Will Certain
Wabash College (Ind.) Frank Knez
Wabash College (Ind.) Tim Schirack
Wabash College (Ind.) Chris Greisl
Wabash College (Ind.) Patrick Millikan
Walsh University (Ohio) Lucas Grove
Walsh University (Ohio) Michael Lum
Walsh University (Ohio) Adam Maione
Wartburg College (Iowa) Nick Noble
Washington & Lee University (Va.) Mark C. Snoddy
Washington & Lee University (Va.) Josh Hudak
Washington & Lee University (Va.) James Delgado
Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) Drew Wethington
Wayne State University (Ind.) Ryan Oshnock
Webber International University (Fla.) Eric Potochney
West Texas A&M University Nick Ashley
West Virginia University Jay Henry
West Virginia University Dan Mozes
Westminster College (Utah) Joshua A Moore
Willamette University (Ore.) Kevin Dean
Willamette University (Ore.) Ben Weyerhaeuser
Wingate University (N.C.) Daniel Brooks
Wingate University (N.C.) Jeremy Kent
Wingate University (N.C.) Francis Marino
Winston Salem State University (N.C.) Chad Oakley
Wittenberg University (Ohio) Tristan Murray
Yale University Ed McCarthy
Youngstown State University Ryan Jewell