National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete page will bring you news on athletes who excel on the playing field and the classroom
phot from National Football Foundation Pictured student-athletes will be playing college football this fall having already earned their undergraduate degrees, including (clockwise from the upper left): Kaimon Rucker (North Carolina), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech), Carson Beck (Georgia), Jarett Hunter (Howard), Clay Webb (Jacksonville State), Trevin Gradney (Montana) and Howard Cross III (Notre Dame).
The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame released a list of 3,534 student-athletes who have already earned their undergraduate degrees and will be playing college football this fall while pursuing additional diplomas.
"By showcasing the more than 3,500 student-athletes who have not only earned their undergraduate degrees but are now continuing their educations at the graduate level, we send a clear message about the transformative power of college football," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "The National Football Foundation is proud to hold out these individuals as examples of the significant educational opportunities created by playing college football."
The NFF compiled the list with the help of sports information directors from all divisions of the NCAA and NAIA who identified the players on their 2024 fall rosters who have already earned their undergraduate degrees. A total of 245 schools responded.
Notable players include Carson Beck (Georgia), Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech), Eli Cox (Kentucky and a 2024 Campbell Trophy Nominee), Howard Cross III (Notre Dame), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon and a 2024 Campbell Trophy Nominee), Garrett Greene (West Virginia), Ashton Gillotte (Louisville), Tre Harris (Mississippi), Seth Henigan (Memphis), Will Howard (Ohio State), Nick Jackson (Iowa), Haynes King (Georgia Tech) Phil Mafah (Clemson and a 2024 Campbell Trophy Nominee), Nick Martin (Oklahoma State), Jordan McCloud (Texas State), Jalen Milroe (Alabama and a 2024 Campbell Trophy Nominee), Malachi Moore (Alabama), Cameron Rising (Utah), Kaimon Rucker (North Carolina), Kaidon Salter (Liberty), Shilo Sanders (Colorado), DJ Uiagalelei (Florida State), Xavier Watts (Notre Dame).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to all 2020 fall athletes. Many student-athletes have decided to take advantage of this, and they are returning to the field in 2024, leading to another high number of graduates this season.
The numbers include 2,239 players from 120 schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), 926 players from 66 schools in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), 244 players from 29 schools in Division II, 118 players from 27 schools in Division III and 7 players from three schools in the NAIA.
Northwestern leads all schools nationwide (as well as the FBS) with 34 players having already earned their degrees. Montana is fielding 28 players with degrees, leading the FCS. New Haven (CT) tops Division II with 27 players. North Central (IL) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA) both boast 12 players, sitting atop Division III. Rocky Mountain (MT) has four graduates on its roster, the most of any NAIA school.
Nearly all 120 FBS school that responded reported a double-digit number of graduates, with the following schools joining Northwestern (34) with at least 20: Jacksonville State (32), Massachusetts (32), Louisville (31), Memphis (31), Duke (31), Oklahoma State (30), Mississippi (29) Texas State (29), UCF (29), James Madison (28), UCLA (28), South Carolina (28), South Florida (28), Houston (27), Kansas (27), Utah (27), Western Kentucky (27), Indiana (26), Texas Christian (26), Auburn (25), Florida State (25), Notre Dame (25), Toledo (25), New Mexico (24), UNC at Charlotte (24), Southern California (24), Connecticut (24), NC State (23), California (23), Southern Mississippi (23), Virginia (23), Bowling Green State (22), Middle Tennessee State (22), Tulane (22), Appalachian State (22), Cincinnati (22), Nevada (22), Liberty (21), Washington (21), Vanderbilt (21), Wyoming (21), Arizona State (20), Miami, OH (20), Texas Tech (20), Iowa (20), North Texas (20), Pittsburgh (20), West Virginia (20) and Kent State (20).
Joining the FCS leader Montana (28) with at least 20 graduates on the roster this season are Maine (24), Jackson State (23), Austin Peay State (22), Albany (22), Villanova (22), Delaware (22), North Dakota State (21), Stony Brook (21) and Texas A&M-Commerce (21).
The following Division II programs joined national leader New Haven, CT (27) with at least 10 graduates on their fall rosters: Colorado School of Mines (20), Concordia, MN (18), Texas of the Permian Basin (15), Emporia State, KS (13), East Stroudsburg, PA (12), Wingate, NC (12), Harding, AR (11), Bentley, MA (10).
Following Division III leaders North Central (IL) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, who both had 12 graduates are Brevard, NC (11), Endicott, MA (11), Case Western Reserve, OH (8), Hardin-Simmons, TX (8), Johns Hopkins, MD (8). Rocky Mountain (MT) listed four graduates to lead the NAIA respondents.
Publishing a list of the graduates playing college football is just one of the NFF's long list of initiatives designed to promote the scholar-athlete ideal, dating back to 1959 and the launch of the highly prestigious NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments. Other key components of the NFF efforts to promote the scholar-athlete ideal include The William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF Faculty Salutes presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF Team of Distinction, the NFF Hatchell Cup presented by the Original Bob's Steak & Chop House, and the National High School Academic Excellence Awards presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation.