Eleven Polar Bears named to National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society for 2022 season

By Wes Mayberry

| NFF Hampshire Honor Society release (.pdf) |

ADA — Eleven members of the Ohio Northern football team were named to the prestigious National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society for the 2022 season.

Fifth-year seniors Dom DiFalco (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) and Trevor McConnell (Detroit, Mich./Cranbrook) and seniors Zach Binnix (Saverna Park, Md.), Toriano Bobbitt (Streetsboro), Jack DiMario (Dayton/Alter), Matt Eller (Medina), Zach George (Utica/Northridge), Robby Levak (Macedonia/Nordonia), Jette Morgan (Wooster), Nick Tangeman (Maria Stein/Marion Local) and Cordell Wyatt (Ashland) all received the honor.

Nominated by their respective schools, members of the 2023 NFF Hampshire Honor Society must have completed their final year of playing eligibility in fall 2022, attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, met all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements and been starters or significant contributors throughout the 2022 season.

An elite group of 1,760 players from 331 schools representing from all divisions of the NCAA and NAIA qualified for membership in 2023, setting a new record for the number of members in a single year during the program's 17-year history. The initiative has now honored 16,396 student-athletes since its inception.

Fifty-seven schools had at least nine honorees in 2023, and ONU was one of just 30 schools to have 11 or more honorees.

"We are thrilled to honor another impressive group of athletes as part of this year's Hampshire Honor Society," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. "Over the last 17 years, the Hampshire Honor Society has served as a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives."

The Polar Bears finished the 2022 season 3-7 overall and posted a 3-6 mark in the Ohio Athletic Conference under 19th-year head coach Dean Paul.

Northern opens its 2023 campaign on Sept. 2 at Alma (Mich.).