Six Rice Owls football players have been honored as part of the 20th National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, recognizing their academic achievements. This year, a record 2,596 student-athletes from 365 institutions received accolades, with Rice contributing notably to a total of 78 honorees since the program's inception in 2007. Criteria for selection include holding a minimum GPA of 3.2, being a senior or graduate player, and serving as a key contributor during the previous season. This recognition emphasizes Rice's commitment to promoting academic excellence alongside athletics.

By the Numbers
  • Six Rice players honored out of 2,596 from 365 colleges/universities.
  • Rice's 78 honorees rank ninth in 20 years of the NFF program.
State of Play
  • Micah Barnett and Christian Edgar maintained GPAs above 3.4 while contributing significantly to their team.
  • All six honorees played crucial roles in the 2025 season, with four of them being starters.
What's Next

With these recognitions, Rice University aims to continue fostering an environment where student-athletes can excel academically and athletically, potentially leading to more academic accolades in the future.

Bottom Line

The honor highlights Rice's dual commitment to academic excellence and athletic prowess, setting a standard for future student-athletes in maintaining high performance both on the field and in the classroom.