RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced Wednesday that senior running back Nathan Denney, graduate student offensive lineman Kingsley Ejiofor, senior defensive back Elijah Graham, graduate student offensive lineman Vicente Hughes, senior quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger, graduate student linebacker Spencer Rich, graduate student linebacker Warren Shankle, and graduate student cornerback Austin Trimble of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) football team are part of the 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.
 
All of the record 2,596 honorees from 365 colleges and universities are seniors or graduate students who maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2, were key contributors during the 2025 season, and either graduated in December or are on track to graduate this spring or summer.

Nathan Denney
Denney earned Fall Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and AD Honor Roll recognition while also earning Phil Steele All-Conference Second Team honors. He ranked 36^th in the FCS and second in the Southland in rushing yards per game (73.8), 44^th in the FCS and second in the Southland in all-purpose yards per game (101.89), 74^th in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in rushing yards per carry (4.68), 87^th in the FCS and third in the Southland in rushing yards (884), and 159^th in the FCS and 13^th in the Southland in total yards per game (73.8) while competing in nine games (eight starts).
 
Denney rushed for a career-high 158 yards on 26 carries for 165 all-purpose yards vs. East Texas A&M on Nov. 22. He recorded 170 all-purpose yards vs. Nicholls on Nov. 8, including 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and posted 104 rushing yards and one touchdown while adding 37 receiving yards at Prairie View A&M on Sept. 6.
 
Denney is expected to complete is degree in finance in May.
 
Kingsley Ejiofor
While working toward a Master of Business Administration, Ejiofor appeared in seven games (one start) during the 2025 season, contributing depth and experience to the Vaqueros lineup.
 
Elijah Graham
A sociology major, Graham ranked 13^th in the FCS and third in the Southland in fumble recoveries (2) and 53^rd in the FCS and seventh in the Southland in interceptions per game (0.25). He was named a Phil Steele 2025 FCS Mid-Season All-American and earned Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention on Sept. 15.
 
In 12 games (seven starts), Graham recorded 40 tackles (22 solo), two fumble recoveries, three interceptions, and five pass breakups. He posted a career-high six tackles (five solo) and one pass breakup at Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 1 and recorded two interceptions for 65 yards, including a pick-six, with four tackles vs. Langston on Sept. 13.
 
Vicente Hughes
A kinesiology major, Hughes earned Fall Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and AD Honor Roll recognition. He appeared in 12 games (eight starts) and recorded his first tackle of the season vs. Nicholls on Nov. 8.
 
Eddie Lee Marburger
The first graduate in program history, Marburger completed a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies with minors in business administration, management, and marketing in December. Marburger earned Fall Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and AD Honor Roll recognition while finishing tied for 25^th in the Walter Payton Award voting. He was named Dave Campbell's Texas Football Texas Non-FBS Offensive Player of the Year while earning All-Texas First Team, Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, All-Conference First Team, Phil Steele Offensive Player of the Year and First Team honors, and Academic All-Conference recognition.
 
Marburger earned National Offensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention and Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 27 as well as Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention on Sept. 1. He led the Southland in nine statistical categories, ranking fourth in the FCS in passing efficiency (170.8), sixth in passing touchdowns (31), seventh in points responsible for per game (17.5), ninth in passing yards per completion (13.97), points responsible for (210), and yards per pass attempt (9.11), 17^th in total yards per game (257.3), 19^th in passing yards per game (231.7), and 23^rd in passing yards (2,780).
 
He also ranked third in the Southland in two categories, ranking 26^th in the FCS in completion percentage (65.2%) and 41^st in completions per game (16.58).
 
Marburger threw for a career-high six touchdowns while going 26-for-36 for a career-high 440 yards and adding a rushing touchdown vs. UIW on Oct. 25. He also rushed for a career-high 95 yards and two touchdowns vs. Houston Christian University on Oct. 4 and threw five touchdown passes while going 19-for-20 for 417 yards in the first half vs. Sul Ross State on Aug. 30.
 
Spencer Rich
While working toward a Master of Business Administration, Rich earned Fall Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, AD Honor Roll recognition, and Phil Steele All-Conference Third Team honors. He ranked third in the FCS and first in the Southland in fumble recoveries (3) and 58^th in the FCS and ninth in the Southland in total tackles per game (8.2).
 
Rich started all 12 games and reached double-figures in tackles four times, including 13 (five solo) vs. East Texas A&M on Nov. 22, a career-high 16 (nine solo) at McNeese on Nov. 15, 10 (two solo) at No. 18 Lamar on Oct. 18, and 12 (three solo) at Prairie View A&M on Sept. 6. He also recorded nine tackles at No. 23 Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 1 and vs. UIW on Oct. 25.
 
Warren Shankle
While working toward a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in financial planning, Shankle earned Fall Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and AD Honor Roll recognition. He appeared in eight games and recorded a career-high five tackles (three solo), including a sack, vs. Texas Wesleyan on Sept. 20. He also posted three tackles (one solo) at (RV) Southeastern on Sept. 27.
 
Austin Trimble
While working toward a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in human resource management, Trimble earned Fall Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and AD Honor Roll recognition along with Academic All-Conference honors. In 12 games (three starts), he recorded 22 tackles (16 solo) and three pass breakups.
 
He posted a season-high four tackles (two solo) and one pass breakup vs. UIW on Oct. 25, an interception at McNeese on Nov. 15, and had three games with three tackles vs. Houston Christian University on Oct. 4, Texas Wesleyan on Sept. 20, and Prairie View A&M on Sept. 6.

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