WASHINGTON (Military Bowl/3M/SMU) – Mustang kicker/punter Brendan Hall has been recognized as SMU's representative in the Military Bowl 3M STEM Scholar-Athlete Program. The program recognizes some of the brightest minds taking the football field in the American Athletic and Atlantic Coast Conferences.

The Military Bowl 3M STEM Scholar-Athlete Program honors one football player at each university that is a member of the ACC and the American Athletic Conference – the two conferences that are represented in the Military Bowl college football game. These players are studying STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) subjects and/or aspire to STEM careers.

Hall is a pre-major in Mechanical Engineering, boasting a 3.492 grade point average.

"Brendan is a model student and has shown great drive and promise within engineering," said academic counselor Mary Derrett. "He has done extremely well in his first year in the program and continues to work hard towards his goals."
 
The Mustang kickoff specialist has played in all 11 games this season and has 72 kickoffs for 4,371 yards including 42 touchbacks.
 
In two seasons on the Hilltop, Hall has played in 23 games. As a freshman, he registered 82 kickoffs for 5,048 yards with 49 touchbacks and 36 punts for 1,502 yards with a long of 67, nine inside the 20 and five of 50+. He was a member of the Ray Guy Award Watch List and was an American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team selection.
 
This year's Military Bowl presented by Peraton, benefiting the USO, matches teams from the ACC and the American Athletic Conference on Dec. 28, kicking off at 1 p.m. CT and televised on ESPN. Proceeds from the Bowl benefit the USO and Patriot Point, the Military Bowl Foundation's retreat for wounded, ill and injured service members, their families and caregivers.