MIAMI — FIU football's quartet of Dante Anderson, Websley Etienne, Chad Staley and Zachary Waters were announced as members of the 2026 National Football Foundation's (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society on Wednesday morning. 

These four individuals have been recognized by the NFF for their dedication to their academic pursuits while balancing the rigors of being a student-athlete in the FIU Football program. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is one of the most comprehensive scholar-athlete initiatives in college athletics, recognizing football players from all divisions who have maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or higher.

Anderson, a rising senior defensive lineman, holds a 3.39 GPA as a Criminal Justice major. Etienne, a junior defensive back on the 2025 roster, has a 3.38 GPA in Marketing. Staley, who graduated following the 2025 season, finished his collegiate career with a 3.9 GPA as an Accounting major. Waters, a rising senior quarterback, currently has a 3.87 GPA, majoring in Sports and Recreation Management. 

The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is a key part of the NFF's mission to promote academic excellence, leadership and personal development through football. Created in 2007 with support from Jon F. Hanson, the program expanded the NFF's ability to recognize student-athletes beyond its National Scholar-Athlete program. The 2026 cohort marks the program's 20th anniversary, a milestone reflecting the scale and consistency of academic achievement across the sport. 

The 2026 class includes a record 2,596 players from 365 colleges and universities. Since 2007, the program has recognized 23,568 student-athletes from 691 schools, demonstrating sustained academic performance across the game.

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