All Sports Schedule

Ten Cougars Named to 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society

IRVING, Texas (April 22, 2026) – Washington State University had ten football student-athletes named to the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, it was announced recently.

2026 WSU Hampshire Honor Society Members2026 WSU Hampshire Honor Society Members
IRVING, Texas (April 22, 2026) – Washington State University had ten football student-athletes named to the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, it was announced recently.
 
Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must have:
  • A senior player, who will graduate this spring/summer, and just completed his final year of playing eligibility in 2024; or
  • A graduated player, who has been out of high school at least (3) years.
And must have:
  • Attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale); and
  • Been starters or significant contributors throughout the 2022 season.
     
Included on the 2025 Hampshire Honor Society list from WSU were defensive lineman Max Baloun, offensive lineman Brock Dieu, safety Matthew Durrance, quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, linebacker Caleb Francl, punter Ryan Harris, safety Tucker Large, wide receiver Leon Neal, Jr., defensive lineman Buddha Peleti and wide receiver Leyton Smithson.
 
Baloun, a redshirt senior from Redfield, S.D., was a transfer from South Dakota State in his first year at WSU where he posted a 3.92 GPA while working towards his master's in strategic communication.
 
Dieu, a fifth-year senior from Queen Creek, Ariz., was a team captain in 2025 and carried a 3.23 GPA will working towards his master's in mechanical engineering.

Durrance, a redshirt-senior from Lutz, Fla., received his degree in general studies and boasted a 3.83 GPA after playing in all 13 games last season, 11 as a starter.
 
Eckhaus, a redshirt-senior from Los Angeles, Calif., was working on his master's in strategic communication and carried a 3.75 GPA, while leading WSU to a victory over Utah State in the 2025 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Francl, from Grand Island, Neb. who transferred from South Dakota State, was a business major with a 3.21 GPA who started all 13 games with 83 tackles.

Harris, from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, was a general studies major who carried a 3.84 GPA. He appeared in all 13 games, averaging 40.7 yards per punt.
 
Large, a redshirt-senior from Sioux Falls, S.D., started all 13 games in 2025 while serving as a team captain. He is a general studies major with a 3.37 GPA.
 
Neal, a graduate student from Seattle, Wash., is working towards his master's in business administration with a 4.00 GPA. He appeared in all 13 games, catching 13 passes with one touchdown.
 
Peleti, a senior from Adelanto, Calif., played in all 13 games in 2025, with 11 starts. He is a general studies major with a 3.27 GPA.
 
Smithson, from Bellingham, Wash., spent all four seasons in a Cougar uniform, appearing in 11 games last season. He graduated with a fine arts degree and a 3.70 GPA as a President's Honor Roll honoree.