By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University football players Jackson Lewis (Sr., ILB, Yakima, WA/A.C. Davis HS) and KayLyn Stirton (Sr., PK, Cottonwood, CA/West Valley HS) have been named to the Hampshire Honor Society class of 2019. Sponsored by the National Football Foundation, the Hampshire Honor Society is in its 13th year. It recognizes college football players from all divisions who are seniors and have maintained at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average.
The class of 2019 includes 1,678 players from a record 430 colleges and universities. It is the largest induction class since the Hampshire Honor Society was started in 2007. This year's athletes were nominated after completing the fall semester.
Since the spring of 2007, a total of 48 Bearcats have been chosen for the Hampshire Honor Society. The Bearcats have had at least one selection in 12 of the 13 seasons.
NFF Hampshire Honor Society Class of 2019
Jackson Lewis (Sr., ILB) started all nine games this season and ranked third for Willamette with 42 total tackles. He tied for second on the team with 33 unassisted tackles and recorded nine assists. He broke up one pass, registered 3.0 tackles for loss and had one-half of a quarterback sack. He earned eight total tackles against Simon Fraser University (Canada) and against George Fox University. He provided his one-half sack in Willameette's win over Occidental College (Calif.).
Despite injuries that limited him to one game played as a freshman and two games played as a junior, Lewis finished his career with 94 total tackles, including 66 unassisted tackles and 28 assists. He contributed 7.5 tacles for loss and was achieved 2.5 quarterback sacks. He recovered one fumble.
Lewis is a double major in Economics and Politics at Willamette. He owned a 3.592 cumulative GPA at the end of the 2018 fall semester.
KayLyn Stirton (Sr., PK) was Willamette's primary place-kicker for extra points and field goal attempts this past fall. She was 7 of 12 on extra points and went 1 for 2 on field goals. Stirton, the second woman to play and score in a football game for Willamette, became the first woman to successfully kick a field goal for the Bearcats with a 21-yarder against Occidental on Sept. 15, 2018.
She leads Willamette in football career scoring by a woman with 11 total points. She kicked one extra point in 2017 prior to scoring 10 points in 2018. She played in two games in 2017 and in all nine games in 2018.
Former Willamette student-athlete Liz (Heaston) Thompson '99 was the first woman to play and score in a college football game on Oct. 28, 1997, when she kicked two extra points on two attempts in a 27-0 win over Linfield. Thompson was 2 for 4 overall.
Stirton is majoring in Exercise Science at Willamette. She entered the spring semester with a 3.220 cumulative GPA.
Qualifications for the NFF Hampshire Honor Society
In order to qualify for the Hampshire Honor Society a football player must be a starter or significant substitute completing their last year of eligibility at an accredited NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III or NAIA college or university. Each student-athlete must have earned at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout undergraduate study, and must have met all NCAA progress-toward-degree requirements.
Willamette Football Players in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society
2018-19
Jackson Lewis, ILB
KayLyn Stirton, PK
2017-18
Jordan Fickas, WR
Ikaika Hall, DB
Ryan Knowlton, QB/P
Kevin Martz, WR
2016-17
Daniel Abdie, WR
Nick Brickous, SS
Paimon Jaberi, ILB
Conner Olson, OLB
Trent Spallas, OLB
2015-16
Joseph Blanc, DL
Hans Lehndorff, DL
2014-15
Matt Holder, DL
Jack Nelson, ILB
Daley Smith, CB
Ryan Springer, OG
Shawn Wong, WR/KR
2013-14
Wyatt Briggs, DE
Kyle Davey, DE
Josh Dean, QB
Kyle Derby, PK
Joseph Harman, WR
Cuyler Hudson, OL
Ryan Johnston, WR
T.J. Matsumoto, FS
Matt Parr, ILB
2012-13
Jake Knecht, WR
Tommy Laird, PK
Matt Millar, DE
Cody Pastorino, S
Jake Turner, WR
Wes Wenzel, ILB
Zane Wise, OG
2011-12
Harmon Bruno, OLB
Ben Kittelson, OT
Kenny Miller, C/OG
2010-11
Luis Guerra, OT/OG
Scott Schoettgen, WR
Dennis Plzak, OG
2008-09
Jack Bevins, ILB
2007-08
Matt Bicocca, PK
Justin Cole, OG
Ben Fennimore, FS
Stephen Shamus, LS
Kevin Whipps, QB
2006-07
Kevin Dean, FB
Ben Weyerhaeuser, ILB
