IRVING, Texas – The University of South Alabama football team had a pair of representatives on the 2018 Hampshire Honor Society list released on Wednesday by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Offensive linemen Dominic Esposito and Harrison Louden were recognized, marking the first time in program history that multiple Jaguars have been honored by the organization in the same season.  In fact, the two double the number of Jag student-athletes to make the list as they join Jesse Kelley (2015) and Roman Buchanan (2017).

The duo both completed their undergraduate degrees from South with better than a 3.30 grade-point average, with Louden graduating in December 2016 and Esposito finishing his studies at the end of the fall 2017 semester.  Louden made the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll for the 2014-15 academic year, and has been on the league's Commissioner's List each of the last two seasons, and he was joined by Esposito on the Commissioner's List in 2016-17.

The two started all 12 contests a year ago with Esposito at center and Louden at right guard; the former earned the coaches' offensive lineman award following a Senior Day win over Arkansas State, with the latter receiving the honor twice after USA victories over Alabama A&M and ULM on Homecoming weekend.  In 2016, Esposito started all 13 contests — splitting time at center and left guard — while Louden took over as starting center midway through the campaign, with the pair helping the Jags earn an invitation to the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.

An all-time high 1,251 players from a record-tying 302 schools qualified for membership in the society's 12th year.

To qualify for the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, individuals must be a starter or a significant contributor in their 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; record a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 or better throughout the entire course of undergraduate study; and meet all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress toward degree requirements.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/sports/2013/3/13/Gridiron%20Club.aspx?id=22

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