At a time of significant change across college football, the National Football Foundation (NFF) is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society by recognizing academic excellence across the sport. Among this year's honorees, Rhodes College placed seven student-athletes on the prestigious list, highlighting the program's continued success in the classroom.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society has recognized 23,568 student-athletes from 691 schools since 2007. The 2026 class includes a record 2,596 players from 365 schools, marking the largest group in program history and underscoring the sustained academic achievement across all levels of college football.

To qualify for the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, student-athletes must be seniors or graduate transfers who maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher throughout their collegiate careers while serving as starters or key contributors during the 2025 season.

Rhodes' seven selections reflect the program's strong commitment to excellence both on the field and in the classroom, standing among the top representations within the Southern Athletic Association.

Rhodes Honorees:
Barrett Buchanan
John Hampton III
Zach Johns
TézJioh Knox
Evan Reeder
Liam Sitz
Lawrence Watts

A total of 39 student-athletes from the Southern Athletic Association were recognized, further emphasizing the league's dedication to academic and athletic achievement.