Football | April 12, 2018

IRVING, Texas – The Western Michigan football team had four players named to the 2018 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society this week. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society recognizes players across collegiate football that maintained a 3.2 grade-point average through their careers, completed their final athletic season this past fall and were significant contributors to their teams. Honored from Western Michigan was Lucas Bezerra, Nick Matich, Derrick Mitchell and Wyatt Pfeifer.

Bezerra played in all 12 games in 2017, appearing primarily on special teams and was a backup tight end. He was also recognized by the Mid-American Conference as a Distinguished Scholar Athlete. He maintains a 3.77 GPA studying biomedical sciences.

Matich played in 10 games and recorded nine tackles (five solo), one sack and one fumble recovery on the Bronco defensive line. Matich has a 3.28 GPA in sales and business marketing.

Mitchell played in all 12 games, handled punting and kickoff duties and was also WMU's holder on field goals and PATs. He was a Third Team All-MAC selection, named Second Team All-MAC by Phil Steele and led the nation with 33 punts inside the 20 during the regular season. Mitchell carries a 3.41 GPA in finance.

Pfeifer has been the Broncos' long snapper the last four years, playing in 52 career games, and was named Second Team All-American and First Team All-MAC by Phil Steele. Pfeifer has a 3.24 GPA in health informatics and information management.

An all-time high 1,253 players from a record 303 schools qualified for NFF Hampshire Honor Society membership in the organization's 12th year.