BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior wide receiver Travis Bassett (Littleton, Mass.) has been selected to the National Football Foundation (NFF) 2019 Hampshire Honor Society.
An all-time high of 1,678 players from a record 430 schools qualified for membership in the society’s 13th year.
To be nominated, student-athletes must have been a starter or significant contributor in their final season 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.
Bassett has compiled an impressive overall grade point average of 3.63 since arriving on the Bridgewater State campus in the fall of 2014. He will be graduating in May with a degree in Exercise Science.
A four-year member of the Bridgewater State football team, Bassett hauled in 50 receptions for 605 yards and six touchdowns in 2018. He also rushed for 72 yards and another score. Bassett ranked fifth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in receptions, ninth in yards per catch (12.1) and tenth in receiving yards. He was also tied for seventh in the conference in receiving touchdowns.
In 42 games over four seasons with the BSU football team, Bassett notched 182 receptions for 2,556 yards and 22 touchdowns. He finished his career second all-time at Bridgewater State in receptions, fourth in receiving yards and tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns.
Last October, Bassett was named a Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award Nominee. He battled his way back from hip and shoulder surgeries, which cost him the 2017 season, and was back on the Bears' gridiron for the 2018 campaign.
"We are pleased to see another record number of athletes honored by the Hampshire Honor Society this year," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell.
"For more than a decade, it has become a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically," Hatchell added, "and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives."
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's National Scholar-Athlete program by greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The program further strengthens the organization's leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes at the 778 colleges and universities with football programs nationwide.
The 1,678 players honored in 2019 sets a new high water mark, eclipsing the previous record of 1,274 honorees in 2018. The 430 schools represented breaks the previous mark of 308 set in 2018.
The initiative has now honored 10,695 student-athletes since its inception, and the program has experienced growth every year in either members or school participation since its launch in 2007.
Jon F. Hanson, the chairman and founder of The Hampshire Companies, provided the endowment to launch the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2007. He made the contribution as part of his legacy to the organization after serving as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006. He currently serves the organization as chairman emeritus. Each player awarded with membership in this year's Honor Society will receive a certificate commemorating his or her achievement.
"It was my great privilege to endow the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which has greatly increased the number of college student-athletes the NFF has been able to recognize during the past 13 years," said Hanson. "Nationwide there are thousands of football players excelling in the classroom, and they are going on to become great leaders. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society continues to grow and allows us to shine a light on their hard work."
"We have honored more than 10,000 student-athletes in the last 13 years thanks to Jon Hanson's generosity," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "We are grateful for his passionate belief in the scholar-athlete ideal, and the Hampshire Honor Society allows us to showcase the names of tomorrow's leaders while inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps."