IRVING, Texas- DeShawn Ards and Noah Bennett of the Mansfield Sprint Football team have earned memberships into the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society, the organization announced on Wednesday afternoon, April 8.

The NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which is comprised of college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.

A total of 2,596 players from 365 schools qualified for membership in 2026, setting a record for the total number of members during the program's 20-year history.

Ards has earned a GPA of 3.23 in Business and Bennett earned a 3.33 in Multidisciplinary Studies.
 
Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must have:

• Completed their final year of playing eligibility in Fall 2025
• Graduated players, who have remaining eligibility but will not return to collegiate play (e.g. declared for NFL Draft or retired from football), may also be nominated.
• Attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale);
• Met all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements; and
• Been starters or significant contributors throughout the 2025 season.

 
ABOUT THE HAMPSHIRE FOUNDATION : The Hampshire Foundation is the charitable arm of The Hampshire Companies, a privately-held, fully integrated real estate firm that has more than 60 years of hands-on, cycle-tested experience in acquiring, developing, leasing, repositioning, managing, financing and disposing of real estate. Founded by Jon F. Hanson, who served as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006, Hampshire is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey. Learn more at www.hampshirere.com.
 
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME: Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) is a nonprofit organization that leverages the power of amateur football to build leaders. With 120 chapters in 47 states, the NFF oversees initiatives such as the NFF College Hall of Fame, the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, Future For Football, and I Played. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.