Hampshire Honor Society Announcement

IRVING, Texas – Seven players from the 2021 Slippery Rock University football team were announced this week as Hampshire Honor Society members by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in recognition of their academic and athletic achievements.
 
In order to be named to the Hampshire Honor Society, a student-athlete must have completed his final year of eligibility in the fall, must own a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 or above and must have been a starter or significant contributor during the 2021 season.
 
Slippery Rock's seven players that were recognized are Garrett de Bien, Henry Litwin, Trysten McDonald, Khadir Roberts, Cinque Sweeting, Tim Vernick and Austin Wayt.
 
Litwin headlines that list as the only Division II member of the 2021 National Football Foundation's National Scholar-Athlete Class and a 2021 finalist for the William Campbell Trophy.
 
All seven seniors were starters and made a significant impact for a Slippery Rock program that won three straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division titles and reached the NCAA Playoffs three straight years. The Rock reached the NCAA quarterfinals twice and made it to the national semifinals once during their careers.
 
De Bien finished his undergraduate degree in safety management with a 3.344 GPA. On the field, he was named a first team All-PSAC selection last fall after recording 46 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He finished his career with 25.0 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks and 109 total tackles.
 
Litwin earned his safety management degree with a 3.664 GPA and had one of the best collegiate careers in SRU history. A two-time All-American, Litwin left the SRU program as the all-time leader in career catches, yards and touchdowns with 221 catches for 3,392 yards and 42 touchdowns, all coming over the last three seasons. Those numbers ranked first in Division II among all players during that stretch.
 
McDonald finished his undergraduate degree with a 3.558 GPA in mathematics. He appeared in 35 games over four seasons and made 192 total tackles and 31.5 tackles for loss. He also grabbed four interceptions, forced five fumbles and broke up 15 passes.
 
Roberts posted a 3.221 GPA during his undergrad tenure in the communication major. A two-time All-PSAC selection and 2021 All-Region honoree at cornerback, Roberts ranks 12th at SRU in career passes defended. He appeared in 44 games with 137 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 30 passes defended.
 
Sweeting wrapped up his undergraduate degree in sport management with a 3.541 GPA. On the field, the versatile all-purpose specialist racked up 1,616 receiving yards, 308 rushing yards, 794 kick return yards and 79 punt return yards for 2,797 all-purpose yards and 22 total touchdowns over two seasons at SRU.
 
Vernick, a three-year team captain, posted a 3.507 GPA to earn his undergraduate degree in cybersecurity. On the field, he appeared in 48 games over four seasons and made 265 total tackles, ranking 19th all-time at SRU. He also recorded 29.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
 
Wayt, a two-time Academic All-American, earned a 3.496 GPA in safety management during his undergraduate career. He started in 40 straight games on The Rock's offensive line over the last three seasons, helping to pave the way for one of the top offensive units in the nation, which included a Harlon Hill winning quarterback in 2019. During his three seasons as the starting center, SRU ranked in the top 10 in numerous offensive categories nationwide each season.
 
The Hampshire Honor Society recognized a total of 1,559 players from 313 colleges and universities at all levels of college football.



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