BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University seniors Mark DeGirolamo, Matthew Leofanti, Brandon Medeiros, Mohale Mitchell and Joey Naso have been selected to the National Football Foundation (NFF) 2026 Hampshire Honor Society.
The 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society has recognized 23,568 student-athletes from 691 schools since 2007. The 2026 class, which includes a record 2,596 players from 365 schools, represents the largest group in the program’s history and underscores the sustained academic achievement taking place across all levels of college football.
To be nominated, student-athletes must have been a starter or significant contributor in their final year of eligibility while achieving at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and meeting all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements and graduation.
DeGirolamo (3.436 GPA) and Medeiros (3.282 GPA) are physical education majors while Leofanti (3.363 GPA) and Mitchell (3.344 GPA) are majoring in health science. Naso sports a 3.775 GPA while majoring in marketing.
A native of Mansfield, Massachusetts, DeGirolamo appeared in 37 games for the Bears over four seasons at linebacker and long snapper. He recorded 143 tackles (72 solo) with 25 1/2 tackles for loss, 10 1/2 sacks, a forced fumble, six fumble recoveries, three pass breakup and two blocked kicks.
Leofanti, who hails from Franklin, Massachusetts, appeared in all 20 games for the Bears over the last two seasons at offensive tackle and served as a captain in 2025. He helped anchor an offensive line that paved the way for 6,436 yards of total offense (3,131 passing, 3,305 rushing) over the last years.
A Somerset, Massachusetts resident, Medeiros played in all 41 games over his four-year career in the BSU defensive backfield and also captained the team in 2025. He tallied 128 tackles (100 solo) with a sack and 10 1/2 tackles for loss to go along with four interceptions, 20 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks.
Mitchell, who calls Lakewood, Colorado home, hauled in 31 passes for 727 yards and three touchdowns at wide receiver in 16 games over two season at BSU.
A product of Hopewell Junction, New York, Naso converted 136 of 143 point after touchdowns and went 14-for-20 on field goal attempts in 38 games over four seasons as the Bears' kicker. He wraps up his career as BSU's all-time leader in made PATs, PAT percentage (.951) and points by a kicker (178). He also ranks 15th among the Bears' all-time scoring leaders.
"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."
"To see this program reach 20 years with a record number of honorees is really special," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "As the world of college football faces an era of transition, one thing remains the same: the game's ability to develop well-rounded student-athletes committed to excellence in the classroom as well as on the field. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society provides an important platform for us to recognize the value of the game in developing leaders while shining a light on their individual accomplishments."
Complete list of National Football Foundation 2026 Hampshire Honor Society members (PDF)
ABOUT THE HAMPSHIRE FOUNDATION
The Hampshire Foundation is the charitable arm of The Hampshire Companies, a privately-held, fully-integrated real estate firm that has more than 60 years of hands-on, cycle-tested experience in acquiring, developing, leasing, repositioning, managing, financing and disposing of real estate. Founded by Jon F. Hanson, who served as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006, Hampshire is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) is a nonprofit organization that leverages the power of amateur football to build leaders. With 120 chapters in 47 states, the NFF oversees initiatives such as the NFF College Hall of Fame, the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, Future For Football, and I Played.