IRVING, Texas – Coastal Carolina University's
Tarron Jackson and
Sam Denmark were both announced as members of the 2021 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.
An elite group of 910 players from 255 schools qualified for membership in the Society's 15th year.
Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must have:
• Completed their final year of playing eligibility in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021;
o Graduated players, who have remaining eligibility but will not return to collegiate play (e.g. declared for NFL Draft or retired from football), may also be nominated.
• Attained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale);
• Met all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements; and
• Been starters or significant contributors throughout the 2020-21 season.
A consensus All-American in 2020, with his first team honors from the Associated Press (AP), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of American (FWAA), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF), Jackson graduated in May 202 with a degree in mathematics.
Jackson, who also picked up All-American honors from ESPN (first team), the Reese's Senior Bowl (first team), the Phil Steele Publication (first team), Sporting News (second team), and CBS Sports/247Sports (second team) this postseason, was also named a Senior CLASS second-team All-American.
Tabbed the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Jackson was named to the All-Sun Belt first team for the second-straight season and was named a finalist for the Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He was also a Bednarik Award semifinalist, a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, and earned a spot on the Ted Hendricks Award watch list.
In 2020, Jackson led the team and was second in the Sun Belt in sacks with 8.5 on the year. He also led the Chants and was third in the league in tackles-for-loss with 14.0 despite seeing double-teams on over 60 percent of the snaps he played this year. He was also tied for second in the Sun Belt with three forced fumbles on the year while also adding 54 total tackles, 18 quarterback hurries, and one fumble recovery to his resume for 2020.
Denmark, who graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2019 with his bachelor's degree, completed his MBA at Coastal Carolina in December 2020.
A two-year member of the Coastal football team in 2019 and 2020, Denmark played in 19 games at wide receiver and on special teams. He totaled 16 receptions for 311 yards and two touchdowns as a Chant. His two touchdown passes were a 44-yard reception versus Louisiana in 2019 and a 72-yard scoring catch against Georgia Southern in 2020.
The duo joins a list of 26 former Chanticleers that have been named to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society since the 2006 season.
For complete coverage of CCU football, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalFootball (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUsports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.
