ODESSA, Texas (April 8, 2026) – Following the best season in program history, The University of Texas Permian Basin football was recognized for their excellence in the classroom on Wednesday as the Falcons named two players to the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame's Hampshire Honor Society. UTPB's selections to the Hampshire Honor Society class of 2026 included Tyler Ball and Ben Patterson.

Ball (4.0 cumulative GPA), an offensive lineman from Tulare, California, was named Honorable Mention All-LSC this season. Ball started all 14 games at center to lead the Falcons' offensive line. He played a team-high 951 snaps and graded out at 89 percent. The Falcons' offense sat second in the LSC, averaging 461.9 total yards per game and 330.1 passing yards per game, and was third at 37.1 points per game. In addition, UTPB ranked third in the nation in passing offense, eighth in total offense and 16th in scoring offense. Ball has a 4.0 cumulative GPA in his Master's program (exercise science). He previously graduated with his Bachelor's degree in human performance (3.90 GPA). Ball was named to the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Team and was named to the Fall 2025 Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA for the semester.

Patterson (3.37 cumulative GPA), a wide receiver from Fort Worth, Texas, was named Second-Team All-LSC this past season. Patterson played in all 14 games, totaled 32 catches, ranked third on the team in receiving yards (678), and was fourth with five touchdown catches. In all of NCAA Division II, Patterson ranked 11th in yards per reception (21.19). He had at least one catch in all 14 games throughout the season and surpassed his career-high in receiving yards for the third year in a row. Patterson has totaled at least five receiving touchdowns with at least 500 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons. With 1,774 career receiving yards, Patterson is ranked second in program history and is just 19 yards shy of the program record of 1,793 receiving yards. Lastly, Patterson's 16 career receiving touchdowns are good for the third-most in program history. Patterson has a 3.37 cumulative GPA in petroleum engineering.
 

About the NFF Hampshire Honor Society:
At a time of continued change across college football, academic achievement among players remains strong, reinforcing the game's role in developing educated leaders.

On April 8, the National Football Foundation (NFF) announced the 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society class, marking the program's 20th anniversary and introducing the largest group of honorees in its history. The milestone reflects the scale and consistency of academic achievement across the sport.

The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is a key part of the NFF's mission to promote academic excellence, leadership and personal development through football. Created in 2007 with support from Jon F. Hanson, the program expanded the NFF's ability to recognize student-athletes beyond its National Scholar-Athlete program. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is one of the most comprehensive scholar-athlete initiatives in college athletics, recognizing football players from all divisions who have maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or higher.

The 2026 class includes a record 2,596 players from 365 colleges and universities. Since 2007, the program has recognized 23,568 student-athletes from 691 schools, demonstrating sustained academic performance across the game.

Members are nominated by their respective schools and must meet the following criteria:

• A senior player graduating this spring/summer who completed his final season of eligibility in 2025; or
• A graduate player or grad transfer who has already earned a bachelor's degree and competed in the 2025 season
• Maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 (4.0 scale)
• Been a starter or significant contributor during the 2025 season