2009 NFF HAMPSHIRE HONOR SOCIETY

MINNEAPOLIS -- Three Augsburg College football seniors were named to the 2009 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Hampshire Honor Society, honoring some of the top student-athletes in college football.

Augsburg quarterback Jordan Berg (SR, Gaylord, Minn./Sibley East HS) and offensive linemen Brandon Rudenick (SR, Nicollet, Minn.) and Mike Struss (SR, Nicollet, Minn.) were named to the Hampshire Honor Society. Berg is a physics major with a 3.773 grade-point average, while Rudenick is a health and physical education major with a 3.529 GPA, and Struss is a business management major with a 3.423 GPA.

To qualify, student-athletes must be a starter or significant substitute in their last year of eligibility, have a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade-point average (4.0 scale), and meet all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements. A total of 564 players from 266 schools qualified for membership in the society's third year, a 27 percent increase from the 2008 class. In its inaugural year in 2007, the Hampshire Honor Society honored over 300 students from 195 schools.

Berg and Rudenick were both named to the All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first team this season, while Struss earned All-MIAC second-team honors. Berg and Rudenick also earned D3football.com All-West Region second-team honors this season. Berg was also named as one of 10 finalists, and one of four regional finalists, for the Gagliardi Trophy, honoring the top student-athlete in NCAA Division III football.

Berg finished his three-season career at Augsburg as the top passing quarterback in school history. In his career, Berg finished with 8,777 passing yards (292.6 yards per-game) on 796-of-1,350 pasing with 74 touchdowns -- all school records. Berg also holds the MIAC's career passing yardage record (conference games-only) with 7,414 yards in 24 league games.

In his first year as Augsburg's starting center after missing last season due to injury, Rudenick led an offense that averaged 378.3 yards per-game (second-best in the MIAC), including a passing average of 325.5 yards per-game -- tops among MIAC teams and fifth-best nationally among Division III teams -- while surrendering just 22 sacks. Rudenick has been a versatile lineman, playing both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in his career. Rudenick was also a team co-captain this season.

Struss completed his second full year as a starter for the Auggies on the offensive line. In his two seasons as a starter at tackle, Augsburg has produced 8,030 yards of total offense (401.5 yards per-game), including 6,839 passing yards (341.95 yards per-game), while surrendering just 45 sacks.

Under fourth-year head coach Frank Haege, Augsburg finished 5-5 overall, 3-5 in MIAC play, duplicating its record from 2007. Augsburg opened its season with four straight victories, including its second win in a row over nationally-ranked Wartburg (Iowa) in nonconference play, a 30-24 overtime win on Sept. 13.