Five former Brevard football players were recently inducted into the Hampshire Honor Society, an initiative of the National Football Foundation to honor scholastic and athletic achievement by student-athletes competing in football.
Juan Hicks, Andre Overholt, Jack Woerner, Peter Woerner, and Ethan Woodie joined 812 other players from 278 schools at all levels of college football in this year’s record-setting class. To be eligible for induction to the Hampshire Honor Society, a student-athlete must be in his final year of football eligibility and maintain a 3.2 cumulative GPA while satisfying all progress toward degree requirements. The NFF honors players competing at levels ranging from NCAA Division I to NAIA.
“As always, I am very proud of our players’ accomplishments, not only on the field, but most importantly off the field,” remarked head coach Paul Hamilton. “It is wonderful to see our players honored for their academic achievement, and they understand that our number one goal is for them to graduate. These young men represent the importance we place on academics here at Brevard College.”
Each of Brevard’s five honorees has maintained stellar academic work in addition to their accomplishments on the field. Slot back Andre Overholt headlines the class after becoming Brevard’s first-ever Academic All-District honoree in any sport in November. He closed out his senior season as the career leader in several categories for Brevard, including kick return yards, and is second in all-purpose yards with 4,607 over four years.
Hicks primarily played at the linebacker position and had the best season of his career in 2014, totaling 18 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup. He also scored a rushing touchdown and recovered a fumble in his career.
Jack Woerner has played on both sides of the ball during his career, rushing for 535 yards and four touchdowns while compiling 72 total stops, four tackles for loss, and a forced fumble on the defensive side of the ball. His brother Peter made seven career tackles and served as a long snapper this season. Ethan Woodie was an offensive lineman during his time in royal blue and white and helped pave the way for the Tornados to have the program’s most prolific rushing season since joining the Division II ranks in 2008.
Brevard’s quintet of honorees were tops among South Atlantic Conference institutions. Newberry had three players inducted into the society, while Carson-Newman had the conference’s only other honoree.