WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley football team tied for the most student-athletes among all NCAA D-II programs to make the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society for the 2023-2024 academic year, the NFF announced Wednesday.

NFF release

Twelve Falcons earned the academic honor, tying the Colorado School of Mines. Matt Bulman, Anthony Golden, Phil Koechling, Juan Monjarres, Tommy Palicz, Nick Pucillo, Aaron Racki, Joe Rivers, Aaron Sousa, Jake Tarentino, Tajon Vassar, and Mark Waid represent Bentley on the list.

In order to qualify, student-athletes must be a senior/graduate student with a minimum 3.20 cumulative undergraduate GPA.

Earlier this year, Tarentino earned Academic All-American from College Sports Communicators (CSC). He is the 12^th member in program history to earn that distinction.

Vassar was named an All-American by the Don Hansen Football Committee following the 2023 season. He also received an All-Super Region 1 honor from the Conference Commissioners Association. Vassar tied for the NE10 lead in interceptions with five in 2023. In the return game, his 33.5 yards per kick return led the nation. Vassar scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns this past fall.

Vassar and Waid both earned All-Northeast-10 honors in 2023.