IRVING, Texas — Former WKU Football student-athlete Marcus Ward has earned his place as a 2018 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society member, it was announced Wednesday morning. Ward achieved at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 during his entire Hilltopper career.
Ward finished his career on The Hill with 143 tackles across 137 games played. The safety racked up 9.5 tackles for loss, 13 passes defended and a pair of interceptions. From 2013-17, WKU boasted a 45-21 overall record. The Hilltoppers won back-to-back Conference USA Championships in 2015 and 2016, and had three consecutive bowl wins from 2014-16.
A leader for WKU on and off the field, Ward graduated with a bachelor's degree in Accounting in 2016, and was pursuing a master's degree in the same field of study in his final year of eligibility. He was previously honored by the NFF in both 2016 and 2017 as a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, which recognizes the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation.
In August 2017, the Birmingham, Alabama, native attended the Campbell Trophy Summit in Stanford, California. The three-day event gathered individuals committed to practicing authentic leadership, sharing powerful concepts and exchanging ideas to foster personal growth and empowerment. Featured guests included Campbell Trophy participants plus distinguished entrepreneurs, CEO's and friends who benefited from Bill Campbell's passion and purpose.
An all-time high 1,251 players from a record-tying 302 schools qualified for membership in the society's 12th year. The initiative has now honored 8,994 student-athletes since its inception, and the program has experienced growth every year in either members or school participation since its launch in 2007.
"We are pleased to see another record number of athletes honored by the Hampshire Honor Society this year," NFF President and CEOÂ Steve Hatchell said. "Over the past decade, it has become a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives."
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