Seven Bearcats are Selected for NFF Hampshire Honor Society Class of 2024
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University football team has seven seniors or graduate students whose academic success has qualified them for the Hampshire Honor Society Class of 2024. Willamette's selections are Seth Beach (Sr., QB, Kailua-Kona, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy), Camdin Dirnberger (Jr., PK, Missoula, MT/Sentinel HS), Ronald Florentino (Jr. OL, Reedley, CA/Herbert Hoover HS), Dylan Hall (Sr., LB, Erie, CO/Peak to Peak Charter School), Ryan Johns (Jr., OL, Las Vegas, NV/Liberty HS), Avinash Naidu (Jr., DB, Bellevue, WA/Interlake HS), and Michael Valtierra (Sr., DL, Culver City, CA/Brentwood HS/Occidental College).
Sponsored by the National Football Foundation, the Hampshire Honor Society is in its 18th year. The award recognizes college football players from all divisions who are seniors and have maintained at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average. The GPAs listed below are from the end of the 2023 fall semester.
The class of 2024 features a record-setting 2,016 players from 343 colleges and universities. The new members join previous players who have been named to the Hampshire Honor Society, which began in 2007. This year's athletes were nominated after completing the fall semester.
Seventy-one Bearcats have been chosen for the Hampshire Honor Society since it started. The Bearcats have had at least one selection in 16 of the 18 seasons. Willamette had no selections in 2009-10 and in 2020-21, when the Bearcats did not compete due to COVID-19.
NFF Hampshire Honor Society Class of 2024
Seth Beach (Sr., QB) competed in 27 games during his career. He provided depth at the quarterback position and also served as the team's holder on place-kicks in 2022 and 2023. At quarterback, he completed 63.3% of his passes (19 of 30) for 198 yards and one touchdown.
In 2022, he nearly led a comeback from a 20-13 deficit against the University of Puget Sound, after entering the game in the third quarter and completing 11 of 16 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown. Despite his quality efforts off the bench, Willamette lost 26-20. He was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma student-athlete honorary society in 2022 and was named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators in 2022 and 2023. Beach majored in Exercise and Health Science with a minor in Chemistry. He achieved a 3.63 cumulative GPA.
Camdin Dirnberger (Sr./Grad,, PK) played in all 10 games in the fall of 2023, giving him 29 appearances in his career. During the season, he was 2 of 2 on field goals with a long of 30 yards. He converted 14 of 16 extra points.
In Dirnberger's career, he was 7 for 9 on career field goals. His longest field goal was 43 yards against Lewis & Clark College on Oct. 15, 2022. He connected on 51 of 56 extra points (91.1%) and scored 72 points. He was induced into Chi Alpha Sigma in 2024. He was chosen CSC Academic All-District in 2022 and 2023. Dirnberger majored in Data Science while participating in Willamette's 3+1 BS/MS in Data Science program. He held a 3.66 cumulative GPA.
Ronald Florentino (Sr., OL) played in 19 games over the past three seasons. Willamette did not compete in football in 2020-21 due to COVID-19. He was a regular contributor in the offensive line. In 2022, he played in nine of 10 games and helped Willamette gain 150.4 passing yards and 101.1 rushing yards per game. He also provided blocking that led to 145 first downs in 2022.
In 2023, he was part of an offense that gained 132.3 passing yards per game and picked up 110 first downs with 57 first downs on passing plays. Florentino was inducted this Chi Alpha Sigma this spring. He majored in Music with a 3.39 cumulative GPA.
Dylan Hall (Sr., TE) was a tight end this season after playing outside linebacker on defensive in 2021 and 2022. Overall, he saw action in 28 games, including a total of 20 games during his sophomore and junior years. He was a blocking tight end for the Bearcats in 2023 and also caught five passes for 18 yards.
His top season on defense was 2021, when he earned 63 total tackles, with 29 solo tackles and 34 assists. His career statistics include 112 total tackles (61 solo, 51 assists) with 3.0 quarterback sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, plus one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Hall was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma in 2023. He was named CSC Academic All-District in 2022. He majored in Civic Communication and Media and earned a 3.54 cumulative GPA at Willamette.
Ryan Johns (Sr., OL) competed in the offensive line for the Bearcats throughout his career. He also was active for the football team off the field. He served on the Willamette Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was the SAAC Board co-president in 2022-23 and 2023-24 after serving as the service and philanthropy director in 2021-22. He was president of the Northwest Conference SAAC in 2022-23 and also served on the NWC SAAC in 2021-22 and 2023-24.
Johns received the Individual Bearcat Spirit Award during the Bearcat Awards in 2021-22. At Willamette, he majored in Politics, Policy, Law and Ethics, while participating in Willamette's 3+2 BA/MBA program. He earned a 3.27 cumulative GPA.
Avinash Naidu (Sr., WR) played wide receiver for the Bearcats this year after beginning his career as a defensive back. He saw action in eight of 10 games during the 2023 season. He provided blocking on the edge and also caught one pass for seven yards. In 2022, he provided coverage as a defensive back and also registered one pass break-up.
Naidu majored in Business Administration at Willamette. He achieved a 3.38 cumulative GPA.
Michael Valtierra (Sr., DL) received Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference recognition this season. He provided Willamette with 40 total tackles. He was credited with 14 unassisted tackles and tied for second on the team with 26 assists. He was WU's co-leader with 4.0 QB sacks, which led to a team-high 37 yards lost. He was second on the defense with 5.0 tackles for loss. He forced two fumbles.
During three seasons, Valtierra earned 72 tackles on 35 solo tackles and 37 assists. He registered 5.5 QB sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss. He recovered a fumble in 2021 and blocked a kick in 2022. He was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma in 2023 and was chosen CSC Academic All-District in 2022 and 2023. Valtierra majored in History with a minor in Chemistry. He earned a 3.67 cumulative GPA.
Willamette Football Players in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society
2023-24
Seth Beach, QB
Camdin Dirnberger, PK
Ronald Florentino, OL
Dylan Hall, TE
Ryan Johns, OL
Avinash Naidu, WR
Michael Valtierra, DL
2022-23
Christopher Brown, LB
Trevor Carlin, OLB
Preston Doyle, OLB
Justin Genovia, WR
Jacob Hesse, OL
Aidan Kuykendall, QB
Luke Lowe, DB
Christian Moreno-Tovar, LB
Albert Ramon Jr., DB
Spencer Vigil, WR
Thomas Wirth, RB
2021-22
Max Andersen, WR
Ryan Morgan, DB
Carson Pies, OL
Dylan Streett, S
2020-21
No games played
2019-20
Kyle Bonn, OL
Jordan Jenkins, WR
2018-19
Jackson Lewis, ILB
KayLyn Stirton, PK
2017-18
Jordan Fickas, WR
Ikaika Hall, DB
Ryan Knowlton, QB/P
Kevin Martz, WR
2016-17
Daniel Abdie, WR
Nick Brickous, SS
Paimon Jaberi, ILB
Conner Olson, OLB
Trent Spallas, OLB
2015-16
Joseph Blanc, DL
Hans Lehndorff, DL
2014-15
Matt Holder, DL
Jack Nelson, ILB
Daley Smith, CB
Ryan Springer, OG
Shawn Wong, WR/KR
2013-14
Wyatt Briggs, DE
Kyle Davey, DE
Josh Dean, QB
Kyle Derby, PK
Joseph Harman, WR
Cuyler Hudson, OL
Ryan Johnston, WR
T.J. Matsumoto, FS
Matt Parr, ILB
2012-13
Jake Knecht, WR
Tommy Laird, PK
Matt Millar, DE
Cody Pastorino, S
Jake Turner, WR
Wes Wenzel, ILB
Zane Wise, OG
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