Martinas Rankin, a projected 2018 NFL Draft pick, maintained a 3.3 GPA.
Martinas Rankin Recognized on NFF Hampshire Honor Society
April 12, 2018 | Football
IRVING, Texas – Martinas Rankin continues to add to his collegiate accolades. The 2017 Mississippi State first-team All-Southeastern Conference offensive lineman was recognized on the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society for outstanding performance in the classroom.
The honor is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers. An all-time high 1,251 players from a record-tying 302 schools qualified for membership in the society's 12th year.
Rankin, a native of Mendenhall, was a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection and a semifinalist for the 2017 NFF Campbell Trophy after maintaining a 3.3 GPA during his career. The 6-foot-5 offensive lineman is about to embark on another chapter in his football career as the 2018 NFL Draft gets underway in two weeks. After a solid NFL Combine and MSU Pro Day, Rankin is a projected second round pick by several mock drafts.
In 2017, Rankin became the first Bulldog offensive lineman to earn Coaches First-Team All-SEC honors since current Oakland Raider Gabe Jackson. Rankin also claimed the same award Jackson did his senior year, winning the Kent Hull Trophy as the state of Mississippi's top collegiate offensive lineman. After going through the junior college ranks, Rankin played in 23 games in two seasons with MSU, including 18 starts at tackle.
The Hampshire Honor Society represents an important component in the organization's rich history as an innovator in promoting the scholar-athlete ideal, which began in 1959 with the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Launched with a donation from Hall of Fame coach Earl "Red" Blaik, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments, became the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on a player's combined academic success, football performance and community leadership. Since its inception, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards program has awarded $11.3 million to 841 top scholars and community leaders.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.
The honor is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers. An all-time high 1,251 players from a record-tying 302 schools qualified for membership in the society's 12th year.
Rankin, a native of Mendenhall, was a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection and a semifinalist for the 2017 NFF Campbell Trophy after maintaining a 3.3 GPA during his career. The 6-foot-5 offensive lineman is about to embark on another chapter in his football career as the 2018 NFL Draft gets underway in two weeks. After a solid NFL Combine and MSU Pro Day, Rankin is a projected second round pick by several mock drafts.
In 2017, Rankin became the first Bulldog offensive lineman to earn Coaches First-Team All-SEC honors since current Oakland Raider Gabe Jackson. Rankin also claimed the same award Jackson did his senior year, winning the Kent Hull Trophy as the state of Mississippi's top collegiate offensive lineman. After going through the junior college ranks, Rankin played in 23 games in two seasons with MSU, including 18 starts at tackle.
The Hampshire Honor Society represents an important component in the organization's rich history as an innovator in promoting the scholar-athlete ideal, which began in 1959 with the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Launched with a donation from Hall of Fame coach Earl "Red" Blaik, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments, became the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on a player's combined academic success, football performance and community leadership. Since its inception, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards program has awarded $11.3 million to 841 top scholars and community leaders.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.
Players Mentioned
OL
/ FootballFOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Thursday, April 16
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kamario Taylor
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Kelley Jones
Saturday, April 11
FOOTBALL | 2026 Spring Practice Media Session - Jeff Lebby
Saturday, April 11