KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan football team had six student-athletes selected for membership in the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF announced Wednesday. Representing the Broncos were Stefan Claiborne, Alex Grace, Luke Juriga, Giovanni Ricci, Justin Tranquill and Jon Wassink.

Western Michigan's six selections are tied with Boise State, Eastern Michigan and Toledo for the second most among Group of 5 conferences, trailing only Air Force (7). Among all FBS schools, the Broncos' six honorees were behind Kansas State (9), Oregon (8) and Air Force. WMU has now placed at least four players on the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in each of the last four seasons.

The NFF Hampshire Honor Society, celebrating its 14th year, comprises of college football players from all divisions who maintained cumulative 3.2 grade-point averages or better throughout their college careers. An impressive 1, 432 players from 364 schools qualified for membership.

"We are pleased to honor another impressive group of athletes as part of this year's Hampshire Honor Society," NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell said. "For more than a decade, the Hampshire Honor Society has served as a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives."

Claiborne, a four-year letterman at safety, is a finance major. The Clinton Township, Mich., product played in 45 career games (25 starts) and posted 177 tackles, 3.5 tackles for lost yardage, eight pass breakups, two caused fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one quarterback pressure. A three-time Academic All-Mid-American Conference honoree (2017-18-19), Claiborne was credited with 30 career games with three tackles and 14 games with five or more tackles, including a personal-high 10 stops at Eastern Michigan in 2017. Claiborne caused and recovered a fumble against BYU in the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. During his time in Kalamazoo, he helped Western Michigan to three bowl appearances (2016 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 2019 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl).

Grace was a two-year starter at linebacker and graduated from Western Michigan in December, 2019, with a degree in sales & business marketing. A native of Saginaw, Mich., Grace played in 50 career games (21 starts) and registered 187 tackles, 14.5 tackles for lost yardage, 2.0 sacks, three interceptions, three pass breakups, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery. He finished with three career games with 10 or more tackles, including a personal-high 13 stops against Syracuse in the 2018 season opener. Grace served as a team captain in 2018 and was a two-time Academic All-MAC selection (2016-19). He is one of seven Broncos to own an interception in a bowl game, picking off Ty Storey of Western Kentucky in the 2019 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

Juriga, a four-year starter along the offensive line, was an All-America selection in 2019 by Phil Steele and a three-time All-MAC choice (second team in 2017 & first team in 2018 & 2019). A four-time Academic All-MAC honoree, Juriga was also a three-time MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete (2017-18-19). He served as team captain as a senior in 2019. Juriga started all 52 career games and played 890 or more snaps in each of his last three seasons. He helped Western Michigan to 33 wins including the 2016 Marathon MAC Championship Game and three bowl game appearances (2016 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 2019 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl) while being part of the third-winningest senior class in program history. He graduated from Western Michigan in December, 2019, with a degree in manufacturing engineering technology.

Ricci was a four-year letterman for the Broncos. A product of Loveland, Ohio, he was one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award in 2019, presented annually to the top tight end in the country. Ricci was a third team All-MAC honoree in 2018 and a first team pick in 2019, as well as a four-time Academic All-MAC selection. In 45 career games (21 starts), he caught 98 passes for 1,114 yards (11.37) and 11 touchdowns. Ricci finished with a career-high eight grabs and personal-best 105 receiving yards at Syracuse in 2019. He ended the 2019 campaign tied for third nationally among tight ends with eight TDs. He graduated from Western Michigan in April, 2019, with a degree in finance.

Tranquill, from Huntertown, Ind., received three letters. He played in 46 career games with 39 starts. He posted 272 tackles, 6.0 tackles for lost yardage, 1.0 sack, three interceptions, nine pass breakups, two caused fumbles and four quarterback pressures. A two-time team captain, in 2018 and 2019, he was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection (2016-18-19) and two-time MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete (2016-18). Tranquill is one of three Broncos in program history to record at least one tackle in three bowl games (2016 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 2019 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl), joining Nathan Braster (2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 2015 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, 2016 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic) and Keion Adams (2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 2015 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, 2016 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic). Tranquill graduated from Western Michigan in April, 2019, with a degree in sales & business marketing.

Wassink lettered three seasons (2017-18-19) and played in 30 career games with 30 starts. He completed 516-of-845 (.611) passes for 6,482 yards with 50 touchdowns and 18 interceptions while rushing 156 times for 607 yards (3.89) and 12 TDs. He was a team captain in 2019 as well as a third team All-MAC honoree. Nationally decorated during his final campaign, Wassink was the 2019 Wuerffel Trophy winner and an NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award recipient. A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, in 2017 and 2019, Wassink was also a three-time Academic All-MAC (2017-18-19) pick and three-time MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete (2017-18-19). Wassink graduated from Western Michigan in December, 2018, with a degree in accountancy.

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