RVING, TEXAS – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) has announced the members of the 2021 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which 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. Five Virginia Tech players were named to the squad.
Qualifications for the NFF Hampshire Honor Society
• Completed their final year of playing eligibility in Fall 2021 or have declared for the NFL Draft
• Attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale)
• Met all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements
• Were starters or significant contributors throughout the 2021 season.
S Tae Daley Curriculum and Instruction – Warner Robins, Georgia
Daley earned a spot on the ACC All-Academic Team in 2021 after transferring from Vanderbilt. He made an immediate impact for the Hokies’ secondary, recording an interception and the game-clinching pass breakup at Virginia (11/27/21). In his one season with Tech, Daley racked up 73 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. His 73 tackles ranked fifth on the team in 2021. Daley played in the 2022 Tropical Bowl following the conclusion of the season.
C Brock Hoffman Curriculum and Instruction – Statesville, North Carolina
Hoffman earned All-ACC honorable mention honors after playing in 12 games in 2021 with 11 starts (10 at center, one at right guard). He also made his second straight appearance on the All-ACC Academic Team. The Statesville, North Carolina native was named the TD Club of Richmond’s Wells Fargo Advisors Humanitarian of the Year and was a semifinalist for both the Wuerffel Trophy and the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. Hoffman played in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in February.
TE James Mitchell Sports Media and Analysis – Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Mitchell was a Preseason All-ACC Selection and a Mackey Award Watch List honoree for the Hokies in 2021 before suffering a season-ending knee injury vs. Middle Tennessee State (9/11/21). The Big Stone Gap, Virginia native led Tech with four receiving touchdowns in 2020, recording 26 receptions for 435 yards in 10 games (nine starts). In 38 career games (20 starts) for Tech, he racked up 52 catches for 838 yards with seven touchdowns to go along with five rushing TDs. He was a second-team All-ACC pick of PFF College in 2020.
OL Tyrell Smith Criminology/Instructional Technology – North Brunswick, New Jersey
Smith served as a three-year captain for the Hokies from 2019-21 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and a master’s degree in instructional technology. He began his career in Blacksburg in 2014 and would go on to play in 65 career games with one start for the Hokies. In 2021 he was one of only eight FBS players entering their seventh season at the same school. The North Brunswick, N.J. native served on Virginia Tech’s Student-Athlete Advisory, volunteered in Tech’s weight room during the spring of 2021 and was a regular participant in community engagement activities.
OL Luke Tenuta Sports Media & Analytics – Crozet, Virginia
Tenuta earned the All-ACC Academic nod for a third consecutive season after starting 12 games at tackle in 2021. He also earned All-ACC Honorable Mention honors following the regular season. The Crozet, Virginia native started 11 games at left tackle and also had one start at right tackle vs. Richmond (9/25/21). Tenuta competed in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in Feburary.
Qualifications for the NFF Hampshire Honor Society
• Completed their final year of playing eligibility in Fall 2021 or have declared for the NFL Draft
• Attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale)
• Met all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements
• Were starters or significant contributors throughout the 2021 season.
S Tae Daley Curriculum and Instruction – Warner Robins, Georgia
Daley earned a spot on the ACC All-Academic Team in 2021 after transferring from Vanderbilt. He made an immediate impact for the Hokies’ secondary, recording an interception and the game-clinching pass breakup at Virginia (11/27/21). In his one season with Tech, Daley racked up 73 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. His 73 tackles ranked fifth on the team in 2021. Daley played in the 2022 Tropical Bowl following the conclusion of the season.
C Brock Hoffman Curriculum and Instruction – Statesville, North Carolina
Hoffman earned All-ACC honorable mention honors after playing in 12 games in 2021 with 11 starts (10 at center, one at right guard). He also made his second straight appearance on the All-ACC Academic Team. The Statesville, North Carolina native was named the TD Club of Richmond’s Wells Fargo Advisors Humanitarian of the Year and was a semifinalist for both the Wuerffel Trophy and the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. Hoffman played in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in February.
TE James Mitchell Sports Media and Analysis – Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Mitchell was a Preseason All-ACC Selection and a Mackey Award Watch List honoree for the Hokies in 2021 before suffering a season-ending knee injury vs. Middle Tennessee State (9/11/21). The Big Stone Gap, Virginia native led Tech with four receiving touchdowns in 2020, recording 26 receptions for 435 yards in 10 games (nine starts). In 38 career games (20 starts) for Tech, he racked up 52 catches for 838 yards with seven touchdowns to go along with five rushing TDs. He was a second-team All-ACC pick of PFF College in 2020.
OL Tyrell Smith Criminology/Instructional Technology – North Brunswick, New Jersey
Smith served as a three-year captain for the Hokies from 2019-21 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and a master’s degree in instructional technology. He began his career in Blacksburg in 2014 and would go on to play in 65 career games with one start for the Hokies. In 2021 he was one of only eight FBS players entering their seventh season at the same school. The North Brunswick, N.J. native served on Virginia Tech’s Student-Athlete Advisory, volunteered in Tech’s weight room during the spring of 2021 and was a regular participant in community engagement activities.
OL Luke Tenuta Sports Media & Analytics – Crozet, Virginia
Tenuta earned the All-ACC Academic nod for a third consecutive season after starting 12 games at tackle in 2021. He also earned All-ACC Honorable Mention honors following the regular season. The Crozet, Virginia native started 11 games at left tackle and also had one start at right tackle vs. Richmond (9/25/21). Tenuta competed in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in Feburary.
