Hope College football player Kirby Crook has been selected to the 2015 National Football Foundation Honor Society.
The defensive back from Beech Grove, Indiana (Beech Grove HS), is one of 817 players from all college divisions who were nominated and who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college career.
Crook has graduated from Hope with a degree in management.
“We continue to raise the bar each year for the number of student-athletes who qualify for membership in the Hampshire Honor Society,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “The Hampshire Honor Society plays an important role in highlighting that college football players clearly play a leadership role in the classroom as well as on the playing field. We congratulate each of these young men for their commitment to excellence.”
Crook exemplifies what Hope College Football is about, Flying Dutchmen coach Dean Kreps said.
"He is a great student, great athlete and most of all a great person,” Kreps said. “Kirby has been stellar on the field as well as off. He led the MIAA in interceptions per game. He was also second in the MIAA in passes defended.”
Crook collected seven interceptions last fall to tie for second-most, single-season interceptions all-time at Hope with Randy Ames (1996) and Kelly Clark (1991).
Crook's 16 career interceptions also are tied for second all-time at Hope with Troy Blasius (2004-07).
Crook was picked an All-MIAA First Team Defensive Back in the 204 season by the league's coaches. He finished sixth on the Flying Dutchmen with 49 tackles.