University Park, Pa. — A trio of Penn State Football student-athletes have been selected to the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society for the 2008 season.
Nittany Lion tackle Gerald Cadogan (Portsmouth, Ohio), placekicker Kevin Kelly (Langhorne) and safety Mark Rubin (Amherst, N.Y.) were selected for the honor.
In order to be considered for membership in the Hampshire Honor Society, a player must be a starter or significant reserve who maintains a cumulative 3.20 grade point average or higher in their last year of eligibility at an accredited NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, or an NAIA college or university.
In its third year, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's current National Scholar-Athlete program, greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year and further strengthening its leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the more than 700 college and universities with football programs.
A starter in all 26 games the past two seasons, Cadogan was selected first team All-Big Ten by the media and coaches in 2008. He played an instrumental role in Penn State ranking in the Top 20 nationally in rushing (17th, 205.9 ypg), total (14th, 448.9 ypg) and scoring offense (11th, 38.9 ppg). Cadogan graduated with degrees in psychology and rehabilitation services and earned his second selection as a first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American®, one of a program-record four Nittany Lions so honored in 2008. Cadogan became just the sixth Nittany Lion to earn first team accolades twice, joining the likes of Jeff Hartings (1994, '95) and Paul Posluszny (2005, '06). He was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Cadogan signed with the NFL's Carolina Panthers.
Kelly made a tremendous impact on the fortunes of the Nittany Lions the past four seasons and ranks among college football's most prolific kickers of all-time. Kelly etched his name into the Penn State, Big Ten, and NCAA record books and led the Big Ten in kick scoring with a school season record 120 points. He owns four of the top six season kick scoring totals in Penn State annals. Kelly, who graduated last month, was selected first team All-Big Ten by the coaches. He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Kelly finished his career with 425 career points, which includes a touchdown run at Michigan State in 2007 and a two-point conversion run at Michigan as a freshman. His total ranks second in Big Ten history, just one point shy of the record of 426 points by Wisconsin tailback Ron Dayne. He also ranks fourth in NCAA career overall scoring. The Big Ten career field goal leader, he made 78 career field goals, good enough for a tie for No. 8 on the NCAA career list. Kelly owns one NCAA mark, having connected on at least one field goal in 31 consecutive games until he did not have an attempt against Michigan State in the 2008 regular season finale.
A starter at safety every game last season, Rubin's fumble hit on Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor provided the momentum boost that led to Penn State's game-winning fourth quarter touchdown in the dramatic13-6 victory. Rubin was huge in the win, recording a career-high 11 tackles (nine solo) and won the Pontiac Game Changing Performance, Walter Camp Football Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive accolades. Rubin was fifth on the team with 60 tackles, had one TFL, two interceptions and one huge fumble hit.
Rubin, who signed with the St. Louis Rams, also distinguished himself as one of the Nittany Lions' top students. He began taking MBA classes during the 2008 fall semester. He graduated with a 3.80 grade point average and was selected a first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American, joining Cadogan as one of a program-record four Nittany Lions so honored in 2008. A starter in six games as a true freshman wide receiver in 2004, he was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree as well.