Four Flashes Named to Hampshire Honor Society
4/27/2016 4:16:00 PM | Football
Kent State's Jordan Italiano (Canfield, Ohio), Connor Arlia (Weirton, W. Va.), Chad Bushley (Berea, Ohio) and Matt Dellinger (Clarkston, Mich) were named to the 2016 National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society Wednesday. The Honor Society is comprised of football players from all divisions who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or better throughout their college career.
The Golden Flashes were among just 14 NCAA FBS programs to have four or more members named to the Hampshire Honor Society this season.
Italiano, a safety, finished his career with 257 tackles, and is the only three-time Academic All-American in program history. He was named the smartest player in College Football by NFL.com. This past season he became the program's first Campbell Trophy finalist.
Arlia, a wide receiver, earned the team's Read award last spring, given to the player who exemplifies hard work and dedication beyond the call of duty. He was also named to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team.
Bushley served as the Flashes' long snapper on punts and kicks for four seasons. He was named to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team during his junior and senior seasons.
Dellinger, a linebacker, finished his career with 273 tackles and 13 tackles for loss. He is a three-time member of the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team. Last season, Dellinger finished second on the team in tackles with 89 and earned the Jack Rittichier Award.
A total of 868 players from 275 schools qualified for membership in the society's 10th year, which set a new record for the number of members in the history of the program, which began in 2007.
Hampshire Honor Society members must be a starter or a significant contributor in one's last year of eligibility, achieve a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study and meet all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements and graduation.
Kent State opens its 2016 schedule at Penn State University on Saturday, Sept. 3.
