Boise State Athletics
4/14/2022 12:00:00 PM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – Five Boise State football student-athletes received National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society membership, Wednesday.
Boise State's five honorees tied for the most in the MW, and it marks the seventh-consecutive year the Broncos have had multiple award recipients.
Broncos recognized included long snapper Daniel Cantrell, offensive lineman Donte Harrington, defensive back Kekaula Kaniho, punter Joel Velazquez and linebacker Riley Whimpey.
To earn NFF Hampshire Honor Society membership, a student-athlete must have completed his final year of playing eligibility, maintained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 throughout his career, met all NCAA mandated progress toward a degree and have been a starter or significant contributor throughout the 2021 season.
Cantrell appeared in every game for Boise State after making his collegiate debut against Troy, Sept. 1, 2018. He finished the 2019 season with nine tackles (eight solo) on special teams.
The Boise native was named to the 2021 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Big Board and is a three-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree.
Harrington played in 29 games as a Bronco, including appearing in each of Boise State's 12 games in 2021, making five starts.
He was named to the 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 First Team and was a preseason candidate for the AFCA Good Works Team for his efforts in the community.
Kaniho returned in 2021 for his fifth year and made his 55th-career appearance as a Bronco against Air Force (Oct. 16), a Boise State record. He concluded his tenure playing in 60 games, starting 46.
The Kahuku, Hawaii, native registered 217 tackles, including 28.5 for-loss (five sacks), six interceptions, 30 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries during his career.
Kaniho was named to the 2021 Academic All-America Division I Football First Team and was a three-time All-MW performer, including a first-team honoree in 2019. The defensive back was the FBS Senior CLASS Award winner in 2020 and was selected to participate in the 2022 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
Velazquez appeared in 56 games for the Blue and Orange, the second-most in school history. In 2021, he placed 15 punts inside the 20 and had only three of 51 result in touchbacks.
The Mission Viejo, Calif., native collected 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 First Team honors and was tabbed to the 2021 Pro Football Focus All-MW Third Team.
Whimpey appeared in 54 games as a Bronco, making 40 starts. He led the team in tackles in both 2019 (83) and 2020 (61) and also recorded a team-leading 7.5 tackles-for-loss in 2020. His 71 tackles, including 42 solo, were the second most at Boise State in 2021.
The San Clemente Calif., native garnered his second CoSIDA Academic All-America accolade in 2021, was named a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy and was a 2021 Football Senior CLASS Award candidate.
Boise State's five honorees tied for the most in the MW, and it marks the seventh-consecutive year the Broncos have had multiple award recipients.
Broncos recognized included long snapper Daniel Cantrell, offensive lineman Donte Harrington, defensive back Kekaula Kaniho, punter Joel Velazquez and linebacker Riley Whimpey.
To earn NFF Hampshire Honor Society membership, a student-athlete must have completed his final year of playing eligibility, maintained a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 throughout his career, met all NCAA mandated progress toward a degree and have been a starter or significant contributor throughout the 2021 season.
Cantrell appeared in every game for Boise State after making his collegiate debut against Troy, Sept. 1, 2018. He finished the 2019 season with nine tackles (eight solo) on special teams.
The Boise native was named to the 2021 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Big Board and is a three-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree.
Harrington played in 29 games as a Bronco, including appearing in each of Boise State's 12 games in 2021, making five starts.
He was named to the 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 First Team and was a preseason candidate for the AFCA Good Works Team for his efforts in the community.
Kaniho returned in 2021 for his fifth year and made his 55th-career appearance as a Bronco against Air Force (Oct. 16), a Boise State record. He concluded his tenure playing in 60 games, starting 46.
The Kahuku, Hawaii, native registered 217 tackles, including 28.5 for-loss (five sacks), six interceptions, 30 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries during his career.
Kaniho was named to the 2021 Academic All-America Division I Football First Team and was a three-time All-MW performer, including a first-team honoree in 2019. The defensive back was the FBS Senior CLASS Award winner in 2020 and was selected to participate in the 2022 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
Velazquez appeared in 56 games for the Blue and Orange, the second-most in school history. In 2021, he placed 15 punts inside the 20 and had only three of 51 result in touchbacks.
The Mission Viejo, Calif., native collected 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 First Team honors and was tabbed to the 2021 Pro Football Focus All-MW Third Team.
Whimpey appeared in 54 games as a Bronco, making 40 starts. He led the team in tackles in both 2019 (83) and 2020 (61) and also recorded a team-leading 7.5 tackles-for-loss in 2020. His 71 tackles, including 42 solo, were the second most at Boise State in 2021.
The San Clemente Calif., native garnered his second CoSIDA Academic All-America accolade in 2021, was named a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy and was a 2021 Football Senior CLASS Award candidate.
Players Mentioned
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