WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University football team had five graduating seniors selected to the 2018 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society. Defensive backs David Akere (Carrollton, Texas/Hebron) and Jelani Williamson (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel), offensive lineman Matthew Houpert (West Hartford, Conn./William H. Hall), wide receiver Jim McLaughlin (Fairfax, Va./WT Woodson) and longsnapper Warren Wynn (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) were five of 27 Patriot League student-athletes to earn the prestigious academic honor.

A record 1,253 players from an all-time high of 303 colleges and universities across all divisions of play were honored in the 12th year of the society. To be eligible a student-athlete must be a starter or significant contributor with a cumulative 3.2 grade-point average (GPA) or better in their final year of eligibility.

Akere, a government major in the Georgetown College capped off a great career with a career-high 99 tackles as a senior, leading the entire Georgetown defense and ranking fourth in the Patriot League. He played and started in all 11 games, adding 1.0 TFL, two interceptions and three pass breakups. Akere opened the season with a 10-tackle, two-interception performance in GU's 16-10 victory over Campbell. He had five games with at least 10 tackles, including a career-high 14 takedowns in the season finale. He finished his four years on the Hilltop ranked fifth all-time on Georgetown's career tackles list with 274.

Houpert, a neurobiology and classical studies double major in the College, played in only three games due to injury on the offensive line as a senior. For his career, he started 22 games in three years on the offensive line after switching from the defensive side of the ball after his freshman year. Houpert is a three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

McLaughlin is an economics major in the Georgetown College with a double minor in history and business administration. He played in 10 games as a senior and ranked seventh on the team with 12 catches and 102 receiving yards. In six Patriot League games, McLaughlin caught four passes for 50 yards, averaging 12.5 yards per catch. He finishes his career having played in 28 games with 48 receptions for 375 yards and a touchdown. McLaughlin is a three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and was twice named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team.

Williamson, an economics and anthropology double major in the College, played and started in all 11 games for the Hoyas this season. He ranked ninth on the team with 47 total tackles and tied for third with 3.5 tackles-for-loss, while his 11 pass breakups led the defense and ranked third in the Patriot League. He finished with one sack, one interception and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned 32 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes of Georgetown's season-opening victory at Campbell. For his career, Williamson finished with 134 tackles and seven interceptions, tying for the league lead last season with four picks. A two-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, Williamson was selected to the 2017 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Football Team. Like McLaughlin, he was also twice named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team.

Wynn is a finance major in the McDonough School of Business. A longsnapper, Wynn appeared in all 11 games as a senior. He made eight tackles on the season and helped the Hoyas rank third in the Patriot League in punting average and fifth in field goal percentage.

Georgetown is in the midst of its spring practice schedule. The Hoyas will play their annual Blue & Gray Spring Scrimmage on Friday, April 20 at 6 p.m.