By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Every season, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announces new members of its Hampshire Honor Society, recognizing college football players from all divisions who have maintained a cumulative 3.2 grade point average or better through their collegiate careers.
On Wednesday, as the NFF released its annual list, Tennessee Tech saw three members among its ranks as Alex Carling, Josh Poplar and Jake Warwick were all selected to the 2019 roster.
The requirements for inclusion state that the players must have completed their final year of eligibility and been starters or significant contributors through the 2018 season.
Carling, a nominee for Tech Athletics' Man of the Year Award, posted a 3.39 GPA in undergraduate studies, with a 4.0 in his current graduate program as he is completing a master's degree in professional studies/public safety. Carling also received the team's Bill Dupes Award for inspiration and sportsmanship.
A starter at tight end for the Golden Eagles, Carling saw his season come to an end with an injury against Jacksonville State. Despite the injury, he was a visible and vocal member of the Tech team and finished the season with two catches for 10 yards and a touchdown.
Poplar, also a nominee for Tech Athletics' Man of the Year Award, had a 3.97 undergraduate GPA and has a 4.0 as he is pursuing his master's in business administration. The linebacker received multiple honors over the season, including the Bonnie Sloan Courage Award from the Middle Tennessee chapter of the NFF, an honorable mention selection for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, a third-team Phil Steele All-OVC Team pick, the Google Cloud Academic All-District Team presented by CoSIDA, the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team and was the Ohio Valley Conference's nominee for the STATS FCS Doris Robinson Award.
Poplar finished the season with 101 tackles, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and an interception for a touchdown in his first game back after missing the 2017 season following a stroke and heart surgery.
Warwick, the grandson for Tech Hall of Famer Lonnie Warwick, posted a 3.25 GPA in exercise science and physical wellness. He was named the winner of the team's Tech Pride Award. Warwick finished the season with 72 tackles, the fourth-most on the team, while also forcing a fumble, recording one sack and breaking up a pass.
