IRVING, Texas — Former Sacramento State football players Markell Williams and Trent Eskew were part of a record 838 players named to the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society, the organization announced Tuesday. The Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football players at all divisions who are starters or significant contributors who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better throughout their collegiate career.
Williams, who was also a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy earlier this season, graduated in December with a degree in sociology. During his career, he was a four time Big Sky Conference all-academic selection and posted a perfect 4.00 gpa in his final two semesters. In 2014, Williams started the first nine games of the season at safety before being slowed by an ankle injury. He finished the season with 57 total tackles, including 4.0 for loss and two sacks. During his career, he accumulated 126 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions.
Eskew appeared in 43 games as a defensive lineman for the Hornets during his career. As a senior, he started all 12 contests and made 41 total tackles. He 8.0 tackles-for-loss ranked third on the team and helped him earn the team's Outstanding Defensive Lineman award. During his career, the Bakersfield, Calif., native was credited with 79 tackles, 14.0 TFLs and nine sacks. He graduated with a degree in business administration following the fall semester.
"We continue to raise the bar each year for the number of student-athletes who qualify for membership in the Hampshire Honor Society," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. "The Hampshire Honor Society plays an important role in highlighting that college football players clearly play a leadership role in the classroom as well as on the playing field. We congratulate each of these young men for their commitment to excellence."
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's current National Scholar-Athlete program. The program further strengthens the organization's leadership role in encouraging academic performance by student-athletes who play football at the more than 700 college and universities with football programs nationwide. The initiative has honored 4,927 student-athletes since its inception, and the program has experienced growth every year in either members or school participation since its launch in 2007. The 2014 class of 838 players represents a new high water mark for members, eclipsing the old record mark by 117 student-athletes.
Currently, the NFF distributes more than $300,000 per year at the national level through the program to 16 individuals. Each winner of a National Scholar-Athlete Award receives an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. Additionally, the William V. Campbell Trophy is given to one member of each year's class as the absolute best.

April 29, 2014
WILLIAMS, ESKEW NAMED TO HAMPSHIRE HONOR SOCIETY

April 25, 2014
SPERBECK RESIGNS AS HEAD COACH; SEARS NAMED INTERIM

April 12, 2014
OFFENSE ERUPTS IN SPRING GAME

April 5, 2014
SHORT-HANDED FOOTBALL HOLDS SECOND SPRING SCRIMMAGE

February 24, 2014
FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 2014 SCHEDULE

February 10, 2014
FOOTBALL NAMES SOLOMONA TAPASA DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

February 4, 2014
FOOTBALL UNVEILS 2014 SIGNING CLASS

January 27, 2014
SACRAMENTO STATE EARNS 22 FALL BIG SKY ALL-ACADEMIC HONORS

January 24, 2014
JODY SEARS HIRED AS FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

January 2, 2014
FOOTBALL ADDS MORGAN NEVIN TO MIDYEAR SIGNING CLASS

December 19, 2013
FOOTBALL INKS THREE IN EARLY SIGNING PERIOD

December 19, 2013
ROBERTS RANKED 18th AMONG BIG SKY'S GREATEST ATHLETES

December 18, 2013
TODD DAVIS AND JUSTIN WELDON HONORED AS FCS ALL-AMERICANS

November 26, 2013
FOOTBALL PLACES NINE ON ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE TEAMS

November 25, 2013
FOOTBALL HANDS OUT END OF SEASON AWARDS

November 23, 2013
FOOTBALL SUFFERS 34-7 LOSS TO UC DAVIS IN CAUSEWAY CLASSIC

November 22, 2013
A LOOK BACK AT MAGICAL 1988 SEASON ON 25TH ANNIVERSARY

November 21, 2013
ROBERTS' RECORD-BREAKING EFFORT RANKS 26th ON BIG SKY COUNTDOWN

November 19, 2013
60th CAUSEWAY CLASSIC TAKES PLACE ON SATURDAY AT HORNET STADIUM

November 18, 2013
SAFRON NAMED ROOT SPORTS BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR THIRD TIME

November 16, 2013
SAFRON SHATTERS RECORDS, LEADS COMEBACK IN 43-42 WIN OVER PSU

November 13, 2013
FOOTBALL PLAYS FINAL ROAD GAME AT PORTLAND STATE ON SATURDAY

November 9, 2013
CAL POLY RELIES ON RUSHING ATTACK IN WIN OVER FOOTBALL

November 7, 2013
FOOTBALL TRAVELS TO CAL POLY FOR IN-STATE SHOWDOWN

November 7, 2013
FORMER HORNET RICKY RAY NAMED TO CFL ALL-STAR TEAM

November 4, 2013
SAFRON NAMED ROOT SPORTS BIG SKY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

November 2, 2013
FOOTBALL FALLS IN OVERTIME TO No. 12 MONTANA

October 30, 2013
FOOTBALL WELCOMES MONTANA ON MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY

October 19, 2013
FOOTBALL DOMINANT IN 31-7 WIN AT NORTH DAKOTA

October 15, 2013
FOOTBALL MAKES FIRST TRIP TO NORTH DAKOTA IN 34 YEARS

October 7, 2013
SAFRON NAMED ROOT SPORTS BIG SKY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

October 5, 2013
FOOTBALL CRUISES TO 37-21 WIN OVER NORTHERN COLORADO

October 2, 2013
WILLIAMS NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR CAMPBELL TROPHY

October 1, 2013
FOOTBALL HOSTS NORTHERN COLORADO FOR HOMECOMING ON SATURDAY

September 30, 2013
SANKEY NAMED NATIONAL AND BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK

September 28, 2013
FOOTBALL BEGINS BIG SKY PLAY AT WEBER STATE ON SATURDAY

September 28, 2013
FOOTBALL RECORDS FIRST WIN AT WEBER STATE

September 21, 2013
FOOTBALL EDGED IN OVERTIME BY SOUTHERN UTAH

September 18, 2013
FOOTBALL CONTINUES HOMESTAND AGAINST SOUTHERN UTAH ON SATURDAY

September 16, 2013
CARTER NAMED CO-FCS OFFENSIVE NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

September 14, 2013
FOOTBALL PREVAILS IN OVERTIME SHOOTOUT, 63-56

September 11, 2013
FOOTBALL HOSTS SOUTHERN OREGON IN HOME OPENER ON SATURDAY

September 5, 2013
FOOTBALL STUMBLES IN LOSS AT ARIZONA STATE

September 3, 2013
FOOTBALL HEADS TO ARIZONA STATE FOR ANOTHER PAC-12 SHOWDOWN

August 29, 2013
FOOTBALL OPENS YEAR WITH LOSS AT SAN JOSE STATE

August 25, 2013
FOOTBALL OPENS SEASON AT SAN JOSE STATE ON THURSDAY NIGHT

August 21, 2013
FOOTBALL CONCLUDES CAMP WITH SECOND SCRIMMAGE

August 17, 2013
FOOTBALL MAKES FIRST SCRIMMAGE A FULL TEAM EFFORT

August 14, 2013
NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND FOOTBALL CAMP

August 7, 2013
TRAVEL WITH HORNET FOOTBALL IN 2013

August 2, 2013
NEWCOMERS ARRIVAL MARKS START OF FOOTBALL SEASON

July 29, 2013
MAKE PLANS TO WATCH FOOTBALL OPENER AT SAN JOSE STATE

July 25, 2013
McMAHON SIGNS WITH GREEN BAY ON EVE OF TRAINING CAMP

July 15, 2013
FOOTBALL PICKED SIXTH BY BIG SKY MEDIA AND COACHES

July 15, 2013
WORTHLEY, NORRISE NAMED TO BIG SKY PRESEASON TEAM