Tennessee Tech announced on Apr. 8 that football players Christian Thomas and Tremel Jones have been named to the 2026 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society.
The recognition highlights the academic achievements of student-athletes in college football, emphasizing the importance of excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
Thomas, an offensive lineman, and Jones, a wide receiver, join a record-setting group of 2,596 honorees from 365 schools across all divisions for this year’s class. The NFF reported that these student-athletes maintained an average GPA of 3.57, with more than a quarter having served as team captains. The honor society has recognized over 23,500 student-athletes since its creation in 2007.
NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell said, “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 student-athletes 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.”
The program recognizes players from all divisions who have maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 throughout their college careers.
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.”
