Irving, Texas----- Jackson Burrill's San Jose State University football career could be summarized as "special."
Beyond playing on the first Spartan football team to win a conference championship in 30 years, he was one of San Jose State's major contributors to special teams play during his four seasons from 2017 through 2020.
Think about the Shamar Garrett kickoff return for a third-quarter touchdown igniting a Spartan comeback against Nevada in the decisive game leading to a berth in the Mountain West championship against Boise State. Garrett took the kickoff return up the middle through an area regularly occupied by Burrill in the team's return formation. Instead, the senior from San Jose had cleared the way for Garrett to break into the open field and score.
Though there isn't recognition for all-conference awards in football for special teams players other than kickers and return specialists, Burrill did earn Academic All-Mountain West honors four times as a Spartan.
And, the hospitality management major from San Jose can add one more award connected with his San Jose State football career – induction into the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society. Each year, the National Football Foundation recognizes graduating seniors from all NCAA and NAIA football playing institutions who maintained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or higher.
The invitation to join the Hampshire Honor Society is based on a football student-athlete completing one's final season of eligibility, meeting all requirements towards an undergraduate degree, being a significant contributor to a team in one's final season, and possessing a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 on a 4.00 scale.
More than 900 players from 255 schools were invited into the Hampshire Honor Society this year. In the 15 years of the program, more than 13,000 players were recognized.
San Jose State University Hampshire Honor Society members
| 2021 | Jackson Burrill, TE/FB |
| 2020 | Brett Foley, TE; Chandler Hawkins, DB; Josh Love, QB; Deano Motes, OL; DeJon Packer, RB |
| 2019 | Michael Carrillo, QB; Bryce Crawford, PK; Harrison Hoffman, LS |
| 2018 | Nate Velichko, OL |
| 2017 | Mark Amann, LB; Tim Crawley, WR |
| 2015 | Wes Schweitzer, OL |
| 2014 | Vince Buhagiar, LB |
| 2013 | Nicholas Kaspar, OG; Jon Meyer, OT |
| 2012 | Travis Johnson, DE |