Olivet College’s Bailey and Lankerd named to NFF Hampshire Honor Society

Two Olivet College senior football players Mitchell Bailey and Travis Lankerd have been named to the 2017 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society.

Olivet College’s Bailey and Lankerd named to NFF Hampshire Honor Society
April 5, 2017

IRVING, Texas – Two Olivet College senior football players Mitchell Bailey and Travis Lankerd have been named to the 2017 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society. The society is comprised of college football players who have maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college career. Overall, a total of 1,089 players from 297 schools qualified for membership in the society's 11th year.

Qualifications for membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society include:

  • Being a starter or a significant contributor in one's last year of eligibility (or a senior who has declared for the NFL Draft) at an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III or an NAIA college or university
  • Achieving a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study; and
  • Meeting all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements. 
Bailey, an insurance and risk management major carries a 3.2 GPA, was a 2016 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) first-team selection at wide receiver and an All-MIAA second-team pick at return specialist. He led the Comets with a single-season record 64 receptions and 882 receiving yards. Bailey ends his Olivet career ranked second with 1,814 receiving yards, tied for second with 14 touchdown receptions and third with 135 receptions.

Lankerd is also an insurance and risk management major and has a 3.95 GPA. The starting tight end for nine games before suffering a season-ending injury, he hauled in 19 passes for 186 yards. Lankerd was selected to the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America® and CoSIDA Academic All-District VI first-team.

Bailey and Lankerd helped Olivet finish the 2016 season with a 9-2 overall record and win the outright MIAA title with a 6-0 record. The Comets also earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA DIII Playoffs.