HAMPTON, Va. -- Former Hampton University football standout Marcus Dixon has been named to the 2008 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge, an ESPN Regional Television (ERT) owned-and-operated event, announced Tuesday the creation of the Walter Payton Achievement Award in honor of the NFL football legend known as "Sweetness."  Like Payton, who starred at Jackson State from 1971 to '74 and earned his bachelor's degree in communications, award winners are high achievers in the classroom and on the football field.  The award will be given annually to a player from each of the schools participating in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney at the event's Kick-Off Banquet, which this year, will take place in Orlando on Friday, Aug. 29. Doug Williams, former Washington Redskins quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, will be the banquet's keynote speaker.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Former Hampton University football player Jason Thomas will play in the divisional round of the Arena Football League playoffs, as his San Jose SaberCats will play host to the Colorado Crush on Saturday, July 5.