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Ten Named to NFF Hampshire Honor Society
4/8/2026 12:05:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke football team had 10 players selected for membership in the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society, the organization announced Wednesday. Representing the Blue Devils were Dawson Andrew, Anderson Castle, Curtis Cooper, Bruno Fina, Brian Parker II, Todd Pelino, Justin Pickett, Caleb Weaver, Wesley Williams and George Wright.
Duke leads the ACC in Hampshire Honor Society selections since 2012 with 91.Â
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which is celebrating its 20th year, is composed of college football players from all divisions who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better, was a starter or regular contributor and either a senior, graduating player or graduate transfer.
"Twenty years ago, college coaches around the country came to the National Football Foundation asking us to recognize not just their top student-athlete, but the numerous student-athletes on their teams who were also excelling at the highest levels in the classroom," NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell said. "Their voices led to the creation of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and two decades later, the results speak for themselves. Year after year, we continue to see remarkable academic achievements across college football."
As part of the 20th celebration of the Hampshire Honor Society, Duke was recognized for having the sixth most FBS honorees in its history.Â
Andrew led off this year's selections. A two-year letterman (2024-25) at linebacker for the Blue Devils, he appeared in 24 games with seven tackles. The Buford, Georgia, product booked a career-high two tackles against Elon in 2025 and carded one tackle in five contests. Andrew, a two-time Academic All-ACC selection, is an economics major.
Castle lettered one season (2025) at Duke after arriving as a graduate transfer from Appalachian State University. In 68 career games (three starts), Castle totaled 308 carries for 1,524 yards (4.95) and 20 touchdowns with an additional 36 receptions for 252 yards (7.00) and a score. On the Duke single-season record chart, Castle, a native of Boone, North Carolina, tied for fifth with 12 rushing scores in 2025. He paired with Nate Sheppard (11) to become Duke's first duo to each rush for 10+ touchdowns in a season. Castle carded two or more touchdowns in four games with a personal-best three versus NC State and North Carolina in 2025. In helping Duke sweep in-state ACC foes in 2025, Castle rushed for eight TDs in the three victories. He graduated from Appalachian State in December 2024 with a degree in sports management.Â
Cooper was a three-year letterman (2023-24-25) who experienced action in 40 games. The long snapper was a two-time Academic All-ACC and three-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection. Cooper, a Huntsville, Alabama, product, helped Duke to a program-record 35 wins over four seasons, four bowl game appearances (2022 Military Bowl, 2023 76 Birmingham Bowl, 2024 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl), three bowl victories and Duke's first outright ACC championship since 1962. Cooper graduated from Duke in May 2025 with a degree in economics.
Fina lettered two (2024-25) seasons after arriving as a graduate transfer from UCLA in 2023. He was named to the 2023, 2024 and 2025 CSC Academic All-District Team and earned 2024 CSC Second Team Academic All-America accolades. The offensive lineman was an Academic All-ACC and Hampshire Honor Society member in 2024. He was part of 18 victories in two seasons with the Blue Devils, the second-most wins in a two-year stretch in program history. The Tucson, Arizona, native was part of two bowl games with Duke, the 2024 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, as well as helping Duke to the 2025 ACC Championship. Fina graduated from UCLA in June 2024 with a degree in business economics and added a master's in management studies from Duke's Fuqua School of Business in May 2025.Â
Parker II, from Cincinnati, Ohio, was a 2025 Walter Camp Foundation and ESPN.com Second Team All-America and a Phil Steele and Associated Press Third Team All-America as an offensive lineman. He was a second team All-ACC selection in 2024 and 2025 as well as an Associated Press First Team All-ACC honoree in 2025. Parker II was an Academic All-ACC pick in 2023 and 2024 who played in 40 games and started 33, 32 at right tackle and one at left tackle. Parker II graduated in December 2025 with a degree in economics.Â
Pelino lettered four seasons (2022-23-24-25) and was a three-time Academic All-ACC pick (2023-24-25). A native of Cornelius, North Carolina, Pelino was a 2023 CSC Academic All-District honoree as well as a Duke Dean's List member for the fall 2025 semester. In 45 career games (45 starts), the starting kicker totaled 317 points on 55-of-71 (.775) field goals and 152-of-154 (.987) PATs. He also had 61 kickoffs for 3,778 yards (61.93) with 25 touchbacks. Pelino is majoring in economics while pursuing a certificate in markets and management.
Pickett, a team captain in 2024 and 2025, was a three-time Academic All-ACC selection (2022-23-24). The offensive lineman earned Third Team All-ACC accolades in 2025. In 49 career games, the Carmel, Indiana, product made 35 starts. He was the recipient of the team's 2024 Duke Tough Award, presented annually to the football student-athlete who personifies the physical and mental toughness required to be a Blue Devil. In 2025, Pickett was the recipient of Duke's Hard Hitter Award, fittingly presented to the hardest-hitting and most physical players on the team. Pickett graduated from Duke in December 2024 with a degree in public policy, minor in sociology and a certificate in markets and management studies.
Weaver lettered one season (2025) at Duke after arriving as a graduate transfer from Sam Houston State. In 48 career games (45 starts), the safety registered 258 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, eight interceptions, three caused fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 13 pass breakups and two quarterback pressures. The Houston, Texas, product helped guide the Bearkats to their first bowl appearance in program history with a 31-26 victory in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl in 2024. He also assisted in Duke claiming its first outright ACC Championship since 1962 and the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl crown. Weaver graduated from Sam Houston State in May 2025 with a degree in communication studies.
Williams was a three-year letterman (2023-24-25) who earned honorable mention All-ACC accolades as a defensive end in 2024 and 2025. A team captain in 2025, Williams was a 2024 and 2025 Academic All-ACC selection. The Gainesville, Virginia, product played in 41 career games (29 starts) and compiled 131 tackles, 29.0 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery, four pass breakups, 28 quarterback pressures and five blocked kicks. On the Duke record chart, Williams finished tied for third in quarterback pressures. Williams graduated in December 2025 with a degree in public policy.Â
Wright was a one-year letterman (2025) and four-year member of the program who played in 25 games. An Academic All-ACC honoree in 2024, Wright booked four tackles, all as a member of the special teams in 2025. The safety graduated in December 2025 with a degree in computer science.
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