South Carolina Football announced on April 8 that Luke Doty, Brady Hunt, and William Joyce have been selected for the 2026 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society.
The recognition highlights the academic achievements of college football players who maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is known as one of the most comprehensive scholar-athlete initiatives in college athletics, celebrating student-athletes from all divisions.
The honor society marks its twentieth anniversary this year. Since its founding in 2007, it has recognized more than 23,500 student-athletes from nearly 700 schools. The class of 2026 includes a record number of honorees: over 2,500 players from more than 360 schools—the largest group in the program’s history.
Doty played both quarterback and wide receiver for South Carolina before finishing his eligibility in 2025. He graduated with a psychology degree in December 2023 and earned a master’s degree focused on coaching education and mental performance by May 2025. He is now part of the Gamecocks’ coaching staff.
Hunt is entering his final year with South Carolina after previously earning a finance degree from Ball State in 2024 and completing a master’s program in sport and entertainment management at South Carolina by December 2025. Joyce completed his undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering by May 2024 and received an MBA later that year.
“Twenty years ago, college coaches around the country came to the National Football Foundation asking us to recognize not just their top student-athlete, but the numerous student-athletes on their teams who were also excelling at the highest levels in the classroom,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Their voices led to the creation of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and two decades later, the results speak for themselves. Year after year, we continue to see remarkable academic achievements across college football.”
The continued growth of honorees reflects ongoing efforts within collegiate sports programs to emphasize success both on and off the field.
