A number of Hampden-Sydney College football standouts have earned recognition from the National Football Foundation (NFF). Braeden Bowling, Melik Frost, Dorian Green, George Langhammer, Braxton Mergenthal, TJ Minter and James-Ryan Salvi have each been named a member of the 2024 NFF Hampshire Honor Society. 

The society is made up of college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football who have each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers. An elite group of 1,989 players from 339 schools qualified for membership in 2024, setting a new record for the number of members in a single year during the program’s 18-year history. 

LOOKING AT THE PLAYERS 

Braeden Bowling is a psychology major with a 3.43 GPA. Braeden completed his H-SC career with 98 receptions for 1,681 yards and 11 touchdowns-starting 12 of 29 career games, while a three-time ODAC All-Academic Team honoree. 

Melik Frost is a psychology major with a 3.27 GPA. On the field, the running back completed his H-SC career with 2,041 yards rushing on 495 attempts and 25 touchdowns, adding 467 yards receiving on 55 receptions and three receiving touchdowns-starting 19 of 31 career games, while a three-time ODAC All-Academic Team honoree. 

Dorian Green is a biochemistry & molecular biology major with a 3.58 GPA. He finished his H-SC career with 146 total tackles, including 51 solo and 95 assisted, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, four passes defended and one forced fumble-starting 19 of 33 career games, while a three-time ODAC All-Academic Team honoree and a two-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Football Team selection. 

George Langhammer is a foreign affairs major, minoring in Spanish with a 3.91 GPA, and was a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy. On the field, the punter averaged 39.8 career yards on 72 career punts with seven career punts over 50 yards, including a career long of 67 yards, with 13 career punts downed inside the 20 and 20 career punts fair caught-playing in 30 career games, while a three-time ODAC All-Academic Team honoree and a two-time CSC Academic All-District® Football Team selection. 

Braxton Mergenthal is an economics and business major with a 3.25 GPA. He completed his H-SC career with 31 total tackles, including nine solo and 22 assisted, 2.5 tackles for loss, one pass defended and one fumble recovery-starting 11 of 20 career games, while a two-time ODAC All-Academic Team honoree. 

TJ Minter is an economics and business major with a 3.22 GPA. A three-time All-ODAC honoree, TJ started 32 of 33 career games, while a two-time ODAC All-Academic Team honoree. 

James-Ryan Salvi is a dual major in computer science and applied mathematics with a 3.81 GPA. He completed his H-SC career with 236 total tackles, including 95 solo and 141 assisted, eight tackles for loss, three interceptions, 13 passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries-starting 30 of 34 career games, while a three-time ODAC All-Academic Team honoree and a two-time CSC Academic All-District® Football Team selection.