IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced a record-breaking number of members for the 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, totaling six members of the Millsaps College football program. Seniors Nicholas Eaton, Bo Gilkison, Trevor Helper, Preston Hill, Connor Ladner and Peyton Parker earned recognition for this prestigious honor.
The honor society comprises college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.
A record 2,514 players from 339 schools qualified for membership in 2025, marking the largest class in the program's 19-year history.
Nominated by their respective schools, members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society must meet one of the following criteria:
And must have:
Eaton, a well-decorated student-athlete, was named to the 2025 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society after boasting a 3.69 cumulative GPA as a business administration major with a concentration in finance.
The Metairie, La., native was also selected on the 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Team for the second consecutive season.
Eaton appeared in all nine games for the Majors where he helped lead the program to its best conference finish since 2013.
The defensive lineman tallied 18 total tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks (18th SAA) and two quarterback hurries during his senior campaign.
Eaton's exceptional academic performance earned him a spot on the 2024 SAA All-Sportsmanship Team and a nomination for the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy.
Making the SAA Fall Academic Honor Roll four consecutive years, Eaton is also a member of the Kappa Alpha order on campus.
Hailing from Clinton, La., Gilkison is also pursuing a major in business administration with a concentration in finance. He also is pursuing minors in economics and accounting.
Gilkison holds a 3.37 cumulative GPA and has been named to the Millsaps Dean's List multiple times as well as the President's List. He also serves as the vice president of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
In the summer of 2024, Gilkison worked as a summer intern at B1 Bank with Buddy Roemer Business Development Center where his main goal was developing business plans, raising capital and growing economic development.
Gilkison also conducted research at Millsaps as an ELSEWORKS business school analyst. After graduation, he plans to pursue an MBA or a Master of Science in Finance.
A defensive back, Gilkison appeared in seven games during his senior season with a total of five tackles, including one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
Helper, a student-athlete from Daphne, Ala., made the list as well. The spectacular offensive lineman holds a 3.52 cumulative GPA and is double majoring in biology and health and exercise science.
Helper did a research project at Millsaps titled the Effect of Wingate Anaerobic Test on Blood Lactate and Mean Anaerobic Output.
Helper is a two-time member of the Fall SAA Academic Honor Roll and has also been recognized on the President's List.
On campus, the 2024 Research Presentation Winner is a member of the Kappa Sigma and the AED Pre-Health Honor Society.
After graduation, Helper plans to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
As an offensive lineman, Helper appeared in four games for the Majors during his senior campaign.
Protecting his quarterback, Helper helped the Majors total 1,800 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, 827 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores during his 2024 season campaign.
Named a 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy® Semifinalist, Hill also helped the Majors on the offensive front.
As a team captain, Hill started in all nine games for the Majors. His hard work and dedication on the field helped lead the Majors to a 5-5 overall record.
Hill is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry as well as art history, currently holding a 3.49 cumulative GPA.
On campus, he is a member of the TriBeta Biology Honors Society and is a secretary of the AED Pre-Health Honors Society. Hill is also serving on the executive committee of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity as the Grand Master of Ceremonies.
As an undergraduate, he has performed research titled Finding the Forgotten Crawfish Frog analyzing audio files of the late winter and early spring calling frogs and he was a member of a research group that saw the first confirmed crawfish frogs in Central Mississippi in over 30 years.
The Maben, Miss., native is a member of the Dean's List and President's List, while also being named to the SAA Fall Academic Honor Roll on three occasions.
Ladner, a native from Diamondhead, Miss., was also selected to the 2025 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, while being a team captain of the Millsaps football team during his senior campaign.
Ladner appeared in all nine games during the 2024 season, where he was tied for first on the team with three receiving touchdowns.
He also finished first on the team with an average of 14.38 yards per catch and second with 374 total receiving yards and third with his longest reception of 43 longest yards.
Double majoring in biology and exercise science, Ladner holds a 3.41 GPA and has been named to the President's List and Dean's List.
On campus, he is a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and has conducted research on salamanders and box turtles. After graduation, he plans to pursue further education in physical therapy.
Playing a crucial role to the Major offense as well, Parker appeared in five games for the Majors where he helped the Majors in both the running and passing games.
The Independence, La., native was named to the 2023 CSC Academic All-District® Football Team and is a three-time member of the Fall SAA Academic Honor Roll.
Parker has appeared on both the President's List and Dean's List. As a biology major, Parker holds a 3.52 cumulative GPA.
On campus he is a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Omicron, Kappa Delta Honors Society, TriBeta Honors Society, Alpha Epsilon Delta Honors Society and is a member of the Millsaps Ski Club.
He also interned at Greene, Lewis and Associates Veterinary Services in Folsom, La. Additionally, he is a current undergraduate researcher for the Millsaps College Biology Department. Parker also conducted research on the distribution and abundance of crawfish frogs in Central Mississippi with teammate hill.
After graduation, Parker plans to attend veterinary school to become a veterinarian specializing in large animals such as cows and horses.
ABOUT THE HAMPSHIRE FOUNDATION
The Hampshire Foundation is the charitable arm of The Hampshire Companies, a privately-held, fully-integrated real estate firm that has more than 60 years of hands-on, cycle-tested experience in acquiring, developing, leasing, repositioning, managing, financing and disposing of real estate. Founded by Jon F. Hanson, who served as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006, Hampshire is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey. Learn more at www.hampshirere.com.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship, and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters in 47 states, NFF programs include the criteria, selection and induction of members of the NFF College Football Hall of Fame; the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame museum in Atlanta; Future For Football; I Played; the William V. Campbell Trophy®; the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments; the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation & the Hatchell Cup presented by Bob's Steak & Chop House; and a series of programs and initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Bruin Capital, CAA Executive Search, Catapult, Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Hampshire Companies, Jostens, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, SideQuests and the Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the football program this year follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
