IRVING, Texas – Five graduating James Madison football student-athletes were recognized for their academic achievements, as Scott Bracey, Cole Johnson, Ethan Ratke, Jack Sroba and J.T. Timming were all named to the 2021 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame announced.
 
A total of 1,559 football players from 313 colleges and universities were selected for the annual honor, which is now in its 16th year.
 
Bracey played in all 14 games, making nine starts at receiver this past season. He had 20 catches for 299 yards and a touchdown and was honored on the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll while being enrolled in the sport and recreation leadership master's program at JMU.
 
Johnson finished his career ranking top six at JMU in five categories, as he was second in both passing touchdowns (58) and passing yards (6,511), third in completions (482), fifth in pass attempts (722) and sixth in total offense (6,976). Johnson won the 2021 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy and finished fourth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award. The 2021 CAA Offensive Player of the Year winner set JMU single-season records with 3,779 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes and 287 completions, ranking second nationally in pass efficiency. Off the field he was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team and was selected to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team. He graduated from JMU with a degree in management and received a master's certificate in cyber intelligence.
 
Ratke goes down as one of the best field goal kickers in NCAA history, as he set JMU, FCS and NCAA records for career field goals (101) and scoring by a kicker (542). He also was second in FCS history in scoring by any player and is 13th on the NCAA list for career scoring by any player at any division. The two-time Consensus All-American was named the Fred Mitchel Outstanding Place Kicker Award recipient after making 29 field goals on 32 attempts while converting 63 of 64 extra points. He was the NCAA statistical champion for field goals per game (2.07) and ranked second in scoring per game (10.7). Ratke also garnered CAA Special Teams Player of the Year and Touchdown Club of Richmond Specialist of the Year honors. He was also named to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team and is a CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll member. He graduated from JMU after double majoring in psychology and public policy & administration is currently pursuing his master's in public administration.
 
Sroba served as JMU's primary punt returner for the past two seasons. During his 2021 campaign, he averaged 6.0 yards per return on 24 attempts, which included a season-long 20-yard return versus Montana in the FCS quarterfinals. He also had two other returns over 15 yards. Sroba was honored off the field as a CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll member as he pursues his degree in marketing.
 
Timming was a two-year starter at center for the Dukes. This past season, the JMU offense ranked third nationally in both completion percentage (.676) and pass efficiency rating (171.0), fifth in scoring (38.3), eighth in fewest interceptions (5), 12th on third down (.444), 14th in the red zone (.885) and 17th in both passing average (276.3) and total offense (435.4). A member of the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and 2020 FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team, Timming graduated from JMU with a bachelor's degree in sport and recreation management. He's currently enrolled in the master's program for sport and recreation leadership.
 
To be eligible for membership into the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, student-athletes must have completed their final year of playing, attained a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade-point average, meet the NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements and have been a starter or significant contributor throughout the 2021 season.