The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame recognized on Apr. 8 twelve members of last year’s Brigham Young University (BYU) football team as part of the 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society. The honor is given to college football players from all divisions who maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 throughout their college careers.
This recognition highlights academic achievement among student-athletes in college football, with the NFF Hampshire Honor Society celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. BYU was also noted as one of only seven Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools—and one of just twenty-three programs across all six divisions—to have had at least one player selected every year since the society began in 2007.
The twelve honored BYU players include defensive backs Tanner Wall and Talan Alfrey, defensive linemen Logan Lutui and Justin Kirkland, linebacker Max Alford, offensive linemen Isaiah Jatta and Bruce Mitchell, wide receiver Tiger Bachmeier, running back Enoch Nawahine, punter Sam Vander Haar, kicker Will Ferrin, and long snapper Garrison Grimes.
With a total of 106 honorees since the program’s inception in 2007, BYU ranks fourth among FBS schools for most selections to the society. Only Nebraska (114), Northwestern (112), and Minnesota (109) have more overall honorees during this period. Over these two decades, BYU has also achieved a record on the field with a .683 winning percentage.
NFF Chairman Archie Manning said: “To see this program reach 20 years with a record number of honorees is really special. As the world of college football faces an era of transition, one thing remains the same: the game’s ability to develop well-rounded student-athletes committed to excellence in the classroom as well as on the field. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society provides an important platform for us to recognize the value of the game in developing leaders while shining a light on their individual accomplishments.”
NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell added: “Twenty years ago, college coaches around the country came to the National Football Foundation asking us to recognize not just their top student-athlete, but the numerous studentathletes on their teams who were also excelling at the highest levels in the classroom. Their voices led to the creation of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and two decades later, the results speak for themselves. Year after year, we continue to see remarkable academic achievements across college football.”
