Four Cougars Named to Hampshire Honor Society

PROVO -- Offensive lineman David Oswald, linebacker David Nixon and defensive backs David Tafuna and Kellen Fowler have been named to the 2009 Hampshire Honor Society, announced by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

The Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of student-athletes from all divisions of college football who each maintained a 3.2 grade point average (GPA) or higher in their last year of eligibility, while being a starter or significant substitute.

Oswald, an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American, started all 26 games for BYU over the past two seasons. He was part of an offensive unit that led the Mountain West Conference and ranked sixth nationally in passing and passing efficiency in 2008. An international relations major, with a minor in geography, Oswald was a three-time Academic All-MWC selection and three-time MWC scholar athlete. He recently signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Rams.

As a team captain in 2008, Nixon set a new MWC record with 43 career tackles for loss and finished his senior season second on the team with 90 tackles, earning second-team All-MWC honors. He was named MWC Defensive Player of the Week after his forced fumble and interception return for a touchdown against Wyoming. A business management major, with an emphasis in finance, Nixon started all 26 games during the 2007-08 seasons and was a four-time Academic All-MWC selection. He has signed a free-agent contract with the Oakland Raiders.

Tafuna earned All-MWC honorable mention in 2008 after starting 12 games at safety. A four-time Academic All-MWC selection, Tafuna recorded 57 tackles his senior season, including a season-high nine tackles against New Mexico and Air Force. Graduating in general business, Tafuna recorded an interception in BYU’s win over New Mexico.

Also playing in the defensive backfield, Fowler earned accolades both on and off the field in 2008. He started all 13 games and finished third on the team with 88 tackles, while also earning ESPN Academic All-America honors and receiving an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Graduating in business management, with an emphasis in finance, along with a minor in English, Fowler plans to attend law school at the University of Virginia in the fall. He ended his BYU career as a four-time Academic All-MWC honoree and three-time MWC Scholar Athlete.

Seven of the nine MWC institutions had football players named to the 2009 class for a total of 15. BYU led the conference with four student-athletes named to the honor society, while Colorado State and Wyoming each had three. TCU boasted two honorees, while Air Force, New Mexico and Utah all added one.

A total of 564 student-athletes from 266 institutions qualified for membership in the society's third year, a 27-percent increase from 2008.