Stonehill Places Three in NFF Hampshire Honor Society


John Jenkins

Pat Jenkins

Lanier

Stonehill seniors among record 838 student-athletes recognized across all divisions of collegiate football

EASTON, Mass. (May 6, 2014) – Three members of the Northeast-10 Conference regular season champion Stonehill College football program have been named members of the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society for having maintained a 3.20 cumulative grade point average or higher throughout their college career.

Seniors John and Pat Jenkins (Pittsford, New York/McQuaid Jesuit) and James Lanier (Westampton, New Jersey/Rancocas Valley) are among a record 838 student-athletes from 267 schools who have qualified for membership in the society's eighth year. Qualification for membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society include being a starter or significant contributor in one's last season of eligibility, achieving a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and meeting all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.

John Jenkins has earned a 3.42 cumulative grade point average as a public administration and business major at Stonehill. He has been named to the Northeast-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll all seven semesters and Athletic Director's Honor Roll six semesters at the College. Jenkins played all 11 games for the Skyhawks this past fall and was a regular contributor on special teams, finishing with 15 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 for a loss of 20 yards. He ranked second on the team with ten special teams tackles, ranking second with seven stops on kickoff returns and third on the team with three punt coverage tackles.

Jenkins appeared in 30 games over his Stonehill career and posted 22 tackles (ten solo). He posted a career-high four tackles (one solo) in the Skyhawks 42-14 win over Pace University on November 2 and capped his career with two stops (one solo), including the tackled for a loss of 20, in the NE-10 Championship at American International College.

Pat Jenkins, twin brother of John, has earned a 3.21 cumulative grade point average as a public administration and business major at Stonehill. He has been named to the NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll five semesters and Athletic Director's Honor Roll four semesters at the College. Jenkins also appeared in all 11 games last fall on special teams and the Skyhawks nickel package, finishing with 20 tackles (11 solo) and a pass breakup. He posted eight special teams tackles, ranking second with seven stops on kickoff return coverage.

Jenkins played 36 games over his career at Stonehill and totaled 21 tackles (12 solo). He handled kickoff duties over his first two seasons at the College, averaging 56.7 yards per kick with five touchbacks, including 57.7 yards on 52 kickoffs his sophomore season. Jenkins opened the 2013 season with a career-high five tackles (three solo) at 18th-ranked Bloomsburg (Pa.) University. He added four stops (one solo) in the Skyhawks win over Pace and registered two solo tackles and a pass breakup in the NE-10 Championship at American International.

Lanier has earned a 3.51 cumulative grade point average in criminology at the College, earning the major's Academic Excellence Award, and is a member of the Edwin Sutherland Honor Society. He was named the Northeast-10 Sports Excellence Award recipient for football this season and is a two-time NE-10 Academic All-Conference selection. Lanier was a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award candidate & William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist this past fall and has been named to the NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll all seven semesters and Athletic Director's Honor Roll four semesters in addition to receiving Capital One Academic All-District first team honors as a junior.

Lanier, who recently received the Fr. John McCarthy, CSC, Leadership Award at the annual Stonehill Senior Student-Athlete Dinner, started all 11 games this past season and finished fifth on the team with 56 tackles (41 solo), including 2.0 for a loss, an interception, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He led the team with eight punt coverage tackles, finishing the season third on the team for special teams tackles.

Lanier played 42 games over his career at Stonehill and compiled 126 tackles (97 solo), including 3.5 for a loss of six yards, an interception, nine breakups, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He was named a recipient of a Student Life Vice President's Award this spring and has worked as a resident assistant on campus, is involved with MOSAIC (Male Diversity Club) as club facilitator and community service representative. Lanier is the football team's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative and volunteers his time with the Boys & Girls Club of Brockton as Youth Diversion Program mentor.

Stonehill posted its best season in nearly 20 years this fall as it finished with an 8-3 record overall, including an 8-1 mark in the Northeast-10 to earn a share of its first NE-10 regular season championship. The Skyhawks posted their first winning season since an 8-2 campaign in 1996 and fell a win shy of the single-season program record of nine in 1995. Stonehill finished above .500 in NE-10 play for the second-straight year and third time in head coach Robert Talley's seven seasons at the helm.

Stonehill appeared among teams receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll for the first time in program history six weeks this fall, including five straight leading up to Saturday's NE-10 Championship appearance, and was ranked in each of the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 rankings this fall. Stonehill was also ranked sixth in the final ECAC Lambert Meadowlands poll, after being ranked as high as fifth during the season.

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