Three Willamette Football Players Chosen for Hampshire Honor Society

By Brandon Chinn, Athletics Communications Writer

SALEM, ORE. -- Three Willamette University football players have been chosen for the sixth annual class of the Hampshire Honor Society, which was formed by the National Football Foundation in 2007. The Hampshire Honor Society recognizes college football players from all divisions who are seniors and have maintained a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or better during their collegiate careers.

Harmon Bruno (Sr., OLB, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS), Kenny Miller (Sr., C/OG, Woodland, WA/Woodland HS) and Ben Kittelson (Sr., OT, Beaverton, OR/Aloha HS)are all recipients of this award for the 2011 season.

In total, the class of 2012 for the Hampshire Honor Society features 731 players, making it the largest class since the program's creation in 2007.

Harmon Bruno earned First Team All-Northwest Conference honors in 2011 for the second consecutive season. He ranked second on the team with 63 total tackles, including 7.0 tackles for losses combining for 26 yards lost. He also forced one fumble and finished the season with 1.5 sacks.

Bruno's membership in with the Hampshire Honor Society caps off an accomplished career as a member of the Bearcats. In his four years at Willamette, Bruno recorded 218 tackles, 26 tackles for losses, 10.5 sacks, two interceptions, two blocked kicks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was a team captain for the Bearcats in 2011.

At Willamette, Bruno majored in Rhetoric and Media Studies.Hemaintained a 3.26 cumulative GPA through the fall semester.

Kenny Miller received this honor from the NFF after a successful season in which he started all 10 of Willamette's games andwas named First Team All-NWC. Miller served as a key blocker up front for Willamette in 2011, helping the offense amass a total of 3,540 yards to go along with 174 first downs.

During the four years Miller competed at Willamette, the Bearcats rushed for 9,930 yards and averaged 236.4 yards per game.

Miller, who started 20 games and played in 30 games throughout his career, also was named First Team All-NWC in 2010. He helped Willamette achieve a 30-12 record in his four years with the Bearcats and was chosen as a team captain for the 2011 season.

Miller earned a major in Psychology and a minor in Mathematics. He completed the fall semester with 3.28 cumulative GPA.

Ben Kittelson played in four games for Willamette in 2011. On Oct. 8, he helped the Willamette offense gain 464 total yards and 22 first downs in a 49-7 route of Pacific University. He played ineight games for Willamette throughout the course of his career.

Kittelson completed a double major in Economics and Politics. Hefinished the fall semesterwith a 3.30 cumulative GPA.

Qualifications for membership in the NFF's Hampshire Honor Society

• Being a starter or significant substitute in the last year of eligibility at an accredited NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III or NAIA college or university.
• Achieving a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout undergraduate study
• Meeting all NCAA-mandated progress-toward-degree requirements

Willamette Football Players
in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society

2011-12
Harmon Bruno, OLB
Ben Kittelson, OT
Kenny Miller, C/OG
2010-11
Luis Guerra, OT/OG
Scott Schoettgen, WR
Dennis Plzak, OG
2008-09
Jack Bevins, ILB
2007-08
Matt Bicocca, PK
Justin Cole, OG
Ben Fennimore, FS
Stephen Shamus, LS
Kevin Whipps, QB
2006-07
Kevin Dean, FB
Ben Weyerhaeuser, ILB