Record Seven Scarlet Knights Named to Hampshire Honor Society
Apr 17 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football saw a program-record seven student-athletes named on the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society list released this week. DB Flip Dixon, TE Victor Konopka, DL Aaron Lewis, DB Robert Longerbeam, DB Joe Lusardi, LS Austin Riggs and OL Reggie Sutton all merited recognition for RU. The Scarlet Knights have had multiple honorees in 12 of the past 16 years and at least one student-athlete named in each of the last 18 years.
The list 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, saw action as a starter or significant contributor on the field and competed in their final year of eligibility in 2024 or return with an undergraduate degree.
FLIP DIXON
Major: Labor and Employment Relations
Dixon started 25 games for the Scarlet Knights the past two seasons, totaling 138 tackles. An honorable mention All-Big Ten and All-ECAC pick in 2023, the Statesboro, Georgia, native was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. The defensive back ranked third on the Scarlet Knights with 62 tackles this past year, adding four pass breakups, an interception and blocked punt. Overall, Dixon played in 55 collegiate games with 183 tackles.
VICTOR KONOPKA
Major: Finance
Konopka is back on the 2025 roster a graduate student, having played in 39 games so far at tight end and on special teams. The Kinnelon, New Jersey, native is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and claims a spot on the Hampshire Honor Society for the second straight year.
AARON LEWIS
Major: Communications
Lewis collected honorable mention All-Big Ten status for the third consecutive year in 2024. The Williamstown, New Jersey, native posted sacks versus Nebraska, Maryland and Illinois with 27 tackles overall. He also batted down passes versus Akron and Maryland. Lewis, who played in 54 games for RU, joins Christian Izien (2020-22) and Adam Korsak (2018-22) as Scarlet Knights to merit All-Big Ten recognition in three different seasons. Overall, the defensive lineman totaled 176 tackles with 21 for loss and 10.5 sacks, and twice was named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
ROBERT LONGERBEAM
Major: Criminal Justice
Longerbeam led the Big Ten with 13 passes defended (11 breakups, two interceptions) this past season, collecting interceptions late in the game to seal the win at Virginia Tech and in the Rate Bowl versus Kansas State. The Alexandria, Virginia, native was third among active FBS players with 42 career passes defended (37 breakups, five interceptions) in 53 games (31 starts). He collected 154 career tackles and added five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Longerbeam served as a team captain, twice collected honorable mention All-Big Ten status and gained Academic All-Big Ten honors in each of the past four years.
JOE LUSARDI
Major: Communications
A two-time captain for the Scarlet Knights, Lusardi played in 50 career games, including in three bowls. He was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and totaled 18 tackles.
AUSTIN RIGGS
Major: Supply Chain Management
Riggs handled all long snaps for field goals and punts throughout all 13 games in 2024. The unit connected on 15 field goals, including each of the last 13 attempts to tie the school record. That included a 4-for-4 showing in snowy conditions in the win at Michigan State. The Scarlet Knights downed 15 punts inside the 20 with a clean operation in all 50 attempts. Riggs is from Eagle, Idaho, was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten in both the coaches and media votes and took part in the specialist portion of the NFL Scouting Combine. He played in 53 collegiate games overall.
REGGIE SUTTON
Major: Sport Management
Sutton finished his seventh season with the Scarlet Knights in 2024 and impacted the program on and off the field. He was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and selected as a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner. The Baltimore, Maryland, native is also active within Chop4Change, a program that involves giving back to the community. He earned his undergraduate degree in labor studies in 2022 and holds a 3.9 GPA as a graduate student in the labor studies and employment relations program. Sutton played in 41 career games with 20 starts on the offensive line for the Scarlet Knights, including making a comeback from an injury that forced him to miss parts of two seasons. He is a member of the Hampshire Honor Society for the second straight year.
Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
The list 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, saw action as a starter or significant contributor on the field and competed in their final year of eligibility in 2024 or return with an undergraduate degree.
FLIP DIXON
Major: Labor and Employment Relations
Dixon started 25 games for the Scarlet Knights the past two seasons, totaling 138 tackles. An honorable mention All-Big Ten and All-ECAC pick in 2023, the Statesboro, Georgia, native was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. The defensive back ranked third on the Scarlet Knights with 62 tackles this past year, adding four pass breakups, an interception and blocked punt. Overall, Dixon played in 55 collegiate games with 183 tackles.
VICTOR KONOPKA
Major: Finance
Konopka is back on the 2025 roster a graduate student, having played in 39 games so far at tight end and on special teams. The Kinnelon, New Jersey, native is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and claims a spot on the Hampshire Honor Society for the second straight year.
AARON LEWIS
Major: Communications
Lewis collected honorable mention All-Big Ten status for the third consecutive year in 2024. The Williamstown, New Jersey, native posted sacks versus Nebraska, Maryland and Illinois with 27 tackles overall. He also batted down passes versus Akron and Maryland. Lewis, who played in 54 games for RU, joins Christian Izien (2020-22) and Adam Korsak (2018-22) as Scarlet Knights to merit All-Big Ten recognition in three different seasons. Overall, the defensive lineman totaled 176 tackles with 21 for loss and 10.5 sacks, and twice was named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
ROBERT LONGERBEAM
Major: Criminal Justice
Longerbeam led the Big Ten with 13 passes defended (11 breakups, two interceptions) this past season, collecting interceptions late in the game to seal the win at Virginia Tech and in the Rate Bowl versus Kansas State. The Alexandria, Virginia, native was third among active FBS players with 42 career passes defended (37 breakups, five interceptions) in 53 games (31 starts). He collected 154 career tackles and added five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Longerbeam served as a team captain, twice collected honorable mention All-Big Ten status and gained Academic All-Big Ten honors in each of the past four years.
JOE LUSARDI
Major: Communications
A two-time captain for the Scarlet Knights, Lusardi played in 50 career games, including in three bowls. He was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and totaled 18 tackles.
AUSTIN RIGGS
Major: Supply Chain Management
Riggs handled all long snaps for field goals and punts throughout all 13 games in 2024. The unit connected on 15 field goals, including each of the last 13 attempts to tie the school record. That included a 4-for-4 showing in snowy conditions in the win at Michigan State. The Scarlet Knights downed 15 punts inside the 20 with a clean operation in all 50 attempts. Riggs is from Eagle, Idaho, was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten in both the coaches and media votes and took part in the specialist portion of the NFL Scouting Combine. He played in 53 collegiate games overall.
REGGIE SUTTON
Major: Sport Management
Sutton finished his seventh season with the Scarlet Knights in 2024 and impacted the program on and off the field. He was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and selected as a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner. The Baltimore, Maryland, native is also active within Chop4Change, a program that involves giving back to the community. He earned his undergraduate degree in labor studies in 2022 and holds a 3.9 GPA as a graduate student in the labor studies and employment relations program. Sutton played in 41 career games with 20 starts on the offensive line for the Scarlet Knights, including making a comeback from an injury that forced him to miss parts of two seasons. He is a member of the Hampshire Honor Society for the second straight year.
Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
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