1,439 with Undergraduate Degrees Playing Football This Season
IRVING, Texas (Aug. 27, 2019) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame today released a list of 1,439 student-athletes who have already earned their undergraduate degrees and will be playing college football this fall while pursuing second diplomas. This season marks the third year the NFF has compiled the list of graduated players.
"The National Football Foundation takes great pride in its role as a leading voice in the promotion of the scholar-athlete," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "And highlighting the 1,439 student-athletes who have not only earned their undergraduate degrees but are now pursuing additional diplomas sends a powerful message about the doors that college football opens. This list allows us to showcase those individuals who have truly taken full advantage of the opportunities created by college football."
The NFF compiled the list with the help of athletics directors, faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors from all divisions who identified the players on their 2019 fall rosters who have already earned their undergraduate degrees. A total of 245 schools responded, creating the list of 1,439 student-athletes who are slated to play this year while pursuing additional diplomas.
The numbers include 963 players from 126 schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), 353 players from 82 schools in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), 110 players from 31 schools in Division II, one player from one school in Division III and 12 players from five schools in the NAIA.
SMU and Kansas State identified the most graduates with 21 players on each of their 2019 rosters. Other FBS schools reporting a double-digit number include Louisville (20), Nebraska (16), UAB (16), Baylor (14), Boston College (14), Coastal Carolina (14), Middle Tennessee (14), Arkansas State (13), Cincinnati (13), South Carolina (13), Texas Tech (13), UTSA (13), West Virginia (13), Houston (12), Marshall (12), Minnesota (12), Mississippi State (12), Oregon (12), Auburn (11), Illinois (11), Iowa State (11), Liberty (11), Toledo (11), USF (11), Arizona State (10), Iowa (10), Missouri (10), Ohio State (10), Oklahoma State (10), UCF (10) and Western Michigan (10).
Sacred Heart and William & Mary are tied for the FCS lead with 12 players on each of their rosters with degrees, followed by Hampton (11), New Hampshire (11), Austin Peay State (9), Chattanooga (9), Gardner-Webb (9), Northern Colorado (9), Northwestern State (9), Southern (9), Duquesne (8), East Tennessee State (8), Jacksonville State (8), Sam Houston State (8), Western Illinois (8), Abilene Christian (7), Charleston Southern (7), Elon (7), Youngstown State (7).
West Georgia tops the schools from Division II, Division III and NAIA with 10 players pursuing a second degree.
Publishing a list of the graduates playing college football represents the latest addition to the NFF's list of initiatives designed to promote the scholar-athlete ideal, dating back to 1959 and the launch of the highly prestigious NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, proudly supported by Fidelity Investments. The NFF has distributed more than $33 million in scholarships, including $11.5 million to 854 individuals via the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards and another $22 million through its nationwide Chapter Network.
Other key components of the NFF efforts to promote the scholar-athlete ideal include The William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF Campbell Trophy® Summit, the NFF Faculty Salutes presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF Team of Distinction and the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association.
"Today's release allows us to recognize a truly exceptional group of college football players," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "And it expands our efforts to highlight the integral role that college football has played in the education of millions of student-athletes over the years. It is often said that college is not about the four years on campus but the next 40 years of your career. Clearly those on this list have made the most of their college experiences, and we are extremely pleased to shine a light on their accomplishments."
West Virginia Hakeem Bailey
West Virginia Josh Browden
West Virginia George Campbell
West Virginia Reuben Jones
West Virginia Austin Kendall
West Virginia Deamonte Lindsay
West Virginia Colton McKivitz
West Virginia Quondarius Qualls
West Virginia TJ Simmons
West Virginia Rex Sunahara
West Virginia Brenon Thrift
West Virginia Keith Washington
West Virginia Kelby Wickline
IRVING, Texas (Aug. 27, 2019) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame today released a list of 1,439 student-athletes who have already earned their undergraduate degrees and will be playing college football this fall while pursuing second diplomas. This season marks the third year the NFF has compiled the list of graduated players.
"The National Football Foundation takes great pride in its role as a leading voice in the promotion of the scholar-athlete," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "And highlighting the 1,439 student-athletes who have not only earned their undergraduate degrees but are now pursuing additional diplomas sends a powerful message about the doors that college football opens. This list allows us to showcase those individuals who have truly taken full advantage of the opportunities created by college football."
The NFF compiled the list with the help of athletics directors, faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors from all divisions who identified the players on their 2019 fall rosters who have already earned their undergraduate degrees. A total of 245 schools responded, creating the list of 1,439 student-athletes who are slated to play this year while pursuing additional diplomas.
The numbers include 963 players from 126 schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), 353 players from 82 schools in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), 110 players from 31 schools in Division II, one player from one school in Division III and 12 players from five schools in the NAIA.
SMU and Kansas State identified the most graduates with 21 players on each of their 2019 rosters. Other FBS schools reporting a double-digit number include Louisville (20), Nebraska (16), UAB (16), Baylor (14), Boston College (14), Coastal Carolina (14), Middle Tennessee (14), Arkansas State (13), Cincinnati (13), South Carolina (13), Texas Tech (13), UTSA (13), West Virginia (13), Houston (12), Marshall (12), Minnesota (12), Mississippi State (12), Oregon (12), Auburn (11), Illinois (11), Iowa State (11), Liberty (11), Toledo (11), USF (11), Arizona State (10), Iowa (10), Missouri (10), Ohio State (10), Oklahoma State (10), UCF (10) and Western Michigan (10).
Sacred Heart and William & Mary are tied for the FCS lead with 12 players on each of their rosters with degrees, followed by Hampton (11), New Hampshire (11), Austin Peay State (9), Chattanooga (9), Gardner-Webb (9), Northern Colorado (9), Northwestern State (9), Southern (9), Duquesne (8), East Tennessee State (8), Jacksonville State (8), Sam Houston State (8), Western Illinois (8), Abilene Christian (7), Charleston Southern (7), Elon (7), Youngstown State (7).
West Georgia tops the schools from Division II, Division III and NAIA with 10 players pursuing a second degree.
Publishing a list of the graduates playing college football represents the latest addition to the NFF's list of initiatives designed to promote the scholar-athlete ideal, dating back to 1959 and the launch of the highly prestigious NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, proudly supported by Fidelity Investments. The NFF has distributed more than $33 million in scholarships, including $11.5 million to 854 individuals via the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards and another $22 million through its nationwide Chapter Network.
Other key components of the NFF efforts to promote the scholar-athlete ideal include The William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF Campbell Trophy® Summit, the NFF Faculty Salutes presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF Team of Distinction and the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association.
"Today's release allows us to recognize a truly exceptional group of college football players," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "And it expands our efforts to highlight the integral role that college football has played in the education of millions of student-athletes over the years. It is often said that college is not about the four years on campus but the next 40 years of your career. Clearly those on this list have made the most of their college experiences, and we are extremely pleased to shine a light on their accomplishments."
West Virginia Hakeem Bailey
West Virginia Josh Browden
West Virginia George Campbell
West Virginia Reuben Jones
West Virginia Austin Kendall
West Virginia Deamonte Lindsay
West Virginia Colton McKivitz
West Virginia Quondarius Qualls
West Virginia TJ Simmons
West Virginia Rex Sunahara
West Virginia Brenon Thrift
West Virginia Keith Washington
West Virginia Kelby Wickline
