Eleven Bearcats Qualify for NFF Hampshire Honor Society Class of 2023
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University football team has 11 seniors or graduate students whose academic success has qualified them for the Hampshire Honor Society Class of 2023. Willamette's selections are Christopher Brown (Sr., LB, Ketchikan, AK/Ketchikan HS), Trevor Carlin (Sr., OLB, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS), Preston Doyle (Grad., OLB, Sacramento, CA/Inderkum HS), Justin Genovia (Sr., WR, Aiea, HI/Iolani School), Jacob Hesse (Sr., OL, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS), Aidan Kuykendall (Grad., QB, San Pedro, CA/Palos Verdes Peninsula HS/L.A. Harbor College), Luke Lowe (Sr., DB, Fresno, CA/Clovis West HS), Christian Moreno-Tovar (Grad., LB, Covina, CA/South Hills HS), Albert Ramon Jr. (Grad., DB, Hesperia, CA/Northview HS), Spencer Vigil (Sr., WR, Sacramento, CA/Jesuit HS) and Thomas Wirth (Sr., RB, Basalt, CO/Basalt HS).
Sponsored by the National Football Foundation, the Hampshire Honor Society is in its 17th year. The award recognizes college football players from all divisions who are seniors and have maintained at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average.
The Class of 2023 features 1,734 players from 318 colleges and universities. The new members join previous players who have been named to the Hampshire Honor Society, which began in 2007. This year's athletes were nominated after completing the fall semester.
Sixty-four Bearcats have been chosen for the Hampshire Honor Society since it started. The Bearcats have had at least one selection in 15 of the 17 seasons. This year's 11 inductees are the most in a single year for the Bearcats, surpassing the nine Willamette players inducted in 2013-14. Willamette had no selections in 2009-10 and in 2020-21, when the Bearcats did not compete due to COVID-19.
NFF Hampshire Honor Society Class of 2023
Christopher Brown (Sr., LB) earned 41 total tackles each of the past two seasons for the Bearcats. In 2021, he made 17 solo tackles and 24 assists to tie for fifth on the team in tackles, while providing 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 quarterback sacks. In 2022, he registered 25 solo tackles to go along with 16 assists to tie for fourth in tackles. He also made 1.5 tackles for loss.
His career stats include 88 total tackles on 45 unassisted stops and 43 assists in 26 games played. He forced two fumbles, recovered one fumble, and broke up one pass.
Brown is majoring in Economics with a minor in Art History. He attained a 3.821 cumulative grade point average through the fall semester.
Trevor Carlin (Sr., OLB) played in one game in 2022 and in seven games in 2021. He provided Willamette with depth at the outside linebacker position.
He also was on the Willamette team in 2020 when the Bearcats did not play any games due to COVID-19. Carlin graduated from high school in 2013 and served in the Marine Corps for seven years.
Carlin graduated from Willamette in December of 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Economics. He achieved a 3.63 cumulative GPA.
Preston Doyle (Grad., LB) competed in three games in 2022 and contributed four total tackles. In 2021, he made 17 total tackles, including 12 assists, while recording one interception and one pass break-up. He set a career high with 36 tackles in 2018 while making 26 solo stops and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Doyle's career statistics in 27 games include 42 unassisted tackles and 25 assists for 67 total tackles. He intercepted two passes and accumulated three pass break-ups. He also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and blocked one kick.
At Willamette, Doyle has earned a 3.28 cumulative GPA. He received a bachelor's degree in Sociology in 2022 and is working toward an MBA degree at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management.
Justin Genovia (Sr., WR) played two seasons at Willamette after transferring from Central Washington University. This past season, he led the Bearcats with 40 catches for 528 yards, and scored four touchdowns. Genovia hauled in seven passes for 121 yards against Lewis & Clark College on Oct. 15.
In 2021, Genovia grabbed 25 passes for 244 yards. During his career with the Bearcats, he caught 65 passes for 772 yards. He averaged 11.9 yards per catch.
Genovia is majoring in Global Cultural Studies. He held a 3.373 cumulative GPA at the end of the fall semester.
Jacob Hesse (Sr., OL) competed in seven games as an offensive lineman for the Bearcats during the 2022 season. He helped Willamette pass for 1,504 yards last fall, while providing blocks that allowed the Bearcats to rush for 1,011 yards.
He also played in two games in 2019 and saw action in one game in 2021. Willamette did not play any games in 2020 due to COVID-19.
As a student at Willamette, Hesse is completing a bachelor's degree with a major in History. Through the fall semester, he owned a 3.29 cumulative GPA.
Aidan Kuykendall (Grad., QB) overcame injuries to play in eight games during the 2022 season and completed 74 of 135 passes (54.8%) for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also rushed for 219 yards and three scores on 78 carries. He passed for a career-high 285 yards at Lewis & Clark College on Oct. 15, 2022. He threw for 10 touchdown passes in 2021, when he completed 116 of 223 attempts for 1,092 yards.
During his three seasons with the Bearcats, he played in 23 games and passed for 2,612 yards and 24 touchdowns. He rushed for an additional 308 yards and four touchdowns in his career.
Kuykendall is in his first year at WU's Atkinson Graduate School of Management. He earned a bachelor's degree in Economics at Willamette in 2022 and owns a 3.62 cumulative GPA.
Luke Lowe (Sr., DB) received Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference recognition for his efforts in 2022. He started all 10 games in the defensive secondary and contributed 31 total tackles, including 24 solo tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss. He forced one fumble and broke up two passes.
He played in all 20 games during the past two years. He accumulated 64 total tackles in his career, including 40 solo stops. In addition, he recorded one fumble, one interception, and eight pass break-ups (six in 2021).
Lowe is majoring in Economics and is participating in Willamette's 3+2 BA/MBA program. He has a 3.516 cumulative GPA.
Christian Moreno-Tovar (Grad., LB) saw action in seven games this past season and earned 11 total tackles with seven unassisted stops. In 2021, he played in all 10 games and produced a career-high 53 total tackles, as he registered 28 solo tackles and 25 assists.
Moreno-Tovar's career statistics include 32 games played, 45 solo tackles, 41 assists and 86 total tackles. He achieved 4.5 tackles for loss. He forced one fumble and had two fumble recoveries. He scored on a 48-yard fumble return against Occidental College on Sept. 21, 2019.
He graduated from Willamette with a bachelor's degree in Civic Communication and Media, along with a minor in Economics, in 2022. He is working toward an MBA degree at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management.
Albert Ramon Jr. (Grad., DB) played in all 10 games in 2022 and recorded 17 total tackles for the Bearcats. He made nine solo stops and provided eight assists. In 2021, he accumulated a career-high 41 total tackles on 23 solo tackles and 18 assists.
Career statistics for Ramon Jr. include 36 games played and 112 career tackles, as he earned 74 unassisted stops and 38 assists. He also supplied WU with eight pass break-ups, including five in 2019.
Ramon Jr. is completing an MBA degree at Willamette's Atkinson Graduate School of Management after receiving a bachelor's degree in Physics from Willamette in 2022. He owns a 3.32 cumulative GPA.
Spencer Vigil (Sr., WR) saw action in six games in 2022 as a receiver for the Bearcazts and caught one pass for eight yards. He competed in seven games in 2021 and hauled in one pass for five yards. He also contributed on special teams. In 2021, he registered three total tackles, including two solo tackles. He provided the Bearcats with one solo tackle in 2022.
At Willamette, Vigil is majoring in Economics. He has achieved a 3.30 cumulative GPA.
Thomas Wirth (Sr., FB) completed his Willamette career with a total of 27 games played. He saw action in all 10 games in 2022 and played in eight games in 2021. This past fall, he provided solid blocking that helped the Bearcats average 101.1 rushing yards and 150.04 passing yards per game. He also caught three passes for 32 yards, including a 28-yard reception for a touchdown.
Wirth has attained a 3.541 cumulative GPA. He is majoring in Exercise and Health Science.
Qualifications for the NFF Hampshire Honor Society
In order to qualify for the Hampshire Honor Society, a football player must be a starter or significant substitute completing their last year of eligibility at an accredited NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, or NAIA college or university. Each student-athlete must have earned at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout their undergraduate study, and must have met all NCAA progress-toward-degree requirements.
Willamette Football Players in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society
2022-23
Christopher Brown, LB
Trevor Carlin, OLB
Preston Doyle, OLB
Justin Genovia, WR
Jacob Hesse, OL
Aidan Kuykendall, QB
Luke Lowe, DB
Christian Moreno-Tovar, LB
Albert Ramon Jr., DB
Spencer Vigil, WR
Thomas Wirth, RB
2021-22
Max Andersen, WR
Ryan Morgan, DB
Carson Pies, OL
Dylan Streett, S
2020-21
No games played
2019-20
Kyle Bonn, OL
Jordan Jenkins, WR
2018-19
Jackson Lewis, ILB
KayLyn Stirton, PK
2017-18
Jordan Fickas, WR
Ikaika Hall, DB
Ryan Knowlton, QB/P
Kevin Martz, WR
2016-17
Daniel Abdie, WR
Nick Brickous, SS
Paimon Jaberi, ILB
Conner Olson, OLB
Trent Spallas, OLB
2015-16
Joseph Blanc, DL
Hans Lehndorff, DL
2014-15
Matt Holder, DL
Jack Nelson, ILB
Daley Smith, CB
Ryan Springer, OG
Shawn Wong, WR/KR
2013-14
Wyatt Briggs, DE
Kyle Davey, DE
Josh Dean, QB
Kyle Derby, PK
Joseph Harman, WR
Cuyler Hudson, OL
Ryan Johnston, WR
T.J. Matsumoto, FS
Matt Parr, ILB
2012-13
Jake Knecht, WR
Tommy Laird, PK
Matt Millar, DE
Cody Pastorino, S
Jake Turner, WR
Wes Wenzel, ILB
Zane Wise, OG
2011-12
Harmon Bruno, OLB
Ben Kittelson, OT
Kenny Miller, C/OG
2010-11
Luis Guerra, OT/OG
Scott Schoettgen, WR
Dennis Plzak, OG
2008-09
Jack Bevins, ILB
2007-08
Matt Bicocca, PK
Justin Cole, OG
Ben Fennimore, FS
Stephen Shamus, LS
Kevin Whipps, QB
2006-07
Kevin Dean, FB
Ben Weyerhaeuser, ILB