103 Players Considered for College Football’s Top Community Service Award
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – Oct. 22, 2018 – The Wuerffel Trophy, presented by the Chick-fil-A Foundation®, announces that 103 college Football Bowl Subdivision player nominees for consideration of the 2018 trophy that recognizes community service.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service,” is presented annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. The Wuerffel Trophy, now in its 14th year, is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Danny Wuerffel, from the University of Florida.
“It’s so exciting to see that we’ve received 103 nominations for the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy,” said Danny Wuerffel. ” Our country is filled with high quality, high character young men playing college football, and our mission is to shine the spotlight on them and all the great work they do in their communities and, in some cases, around the world.”
Voting for the Wuerffel Trophy is performed by a national selection committee that includes college football television and print media, industry notables, former head coaches and prior Wuerffel Trophy recipients.
The 2018 Wuerffel Trophy nominees are listed alphabetically by university:
MyQuon Stout, Appalachian State University, senior, defensive line
Manny Wilkins, Arizona State University, senior, quarterback
Justice Hansen, Arkansas State University, senior, quarterback
Derrick Brown, Auburn University, junior, defensive line
Riley Neal, Ball State University, junior, quarterback
Brett Rypien, Boise State University, senior, quarterback
Zach Allen, Boston College, senior, defensive line
Gabe Skrobot, Bowling Green State University, sophomore, long snapper
Adam Pulsipher, Brigham Young University, senior, linebacker
Sean Pollard, Clemson University, junior, offensive line
Adam Prentice, Colorado State University, sophomore, running back
Johnathan Lloyd, Duke University, senior, wide receiver
Garrett Blaine McGhin, East Carolina University, senior, offensive line
Jeremy Hickey, Eastern Michigan University, senior, offensive line
Gerald Hearns, Florida Atlantic University, senior, running back/special teams
James Morgan, Florida International University, junior, quarterback
Alec Eberle, Florida State University, senior, offensive line
Marcus McMaryion, Fresno State University, senior, quarterback
Penny Hart, Georgia State University, senior, wide receiver
Brad Stewart, Georgia Tech University, senior, wide receiver
Ricky Brookins, Indiana University, senior, running back
Dalton Risner, Kansas State University, senior, offensive line
Matt Bahr, Kent State University, senior, linebacker
Blake Ferguson, Louisiana State University, junior, long snapper
Shane Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University, senior, offensive line
Chase Hancock, Marshall University, senior, linebacker
Khari Willis, Michigan State University, senior, defensive back
Brent Stockstill, Middle Tennessee State University, senior, quarterback
Gerri Green, Mississippi State, senior, defensive line
A.J. Cole, III, North Carolina State University, senior, punter
Max Scharping, Northern Illinois University, senior, offensive line
Tommy Doles, Northwestern University, junior, offensive line
Jordan Fuller, Ohio State University, junior, defensive back
Javon Hagan, Ohio University, junior, defensive back
Oshane Ximines, Old Dominion University, senior, defensive line
Trevon Bradford, Oregon State University, sophomore, wide receiver
Trace McSorley, Pennsylvania State University, senior, quarterback
David Blough, Purdue University, senior, quarterback
Jack Fox, Rice University, senior, punter/kicker
Ron Smith, San Diego State University, junior, defensive back
Bryce Crawford, San Jose State University, senior, punter/kicker
Jordan Wyatt, Southern Methodist University, senior, defensive back
Alameen Murphy, Stanford University, senior, defensive back
Kielan Whitner, Syracuse University, senior, linebacker
Frank Nutile, Temple University, senior, quarterback
Riley Garner, Texas A&M University, senior, linebacker
Ben Banogu, Texas Christian University, senior, defensive line
Tyler Watts, Texas State University, senior, wide receiver
Dakota Allen, Texas Tech University, senior, linebacker
Damion Willis, Troy University, senior, wide receiver
John Leglue, Tulane University, senior, offensive line
Andrew Wood, United States Naval Academy, senior, offensive line
Hale Hentges, University of Alabama, senior, tight end
Craig Kanyangarara, University of Alabama Birmingham, senior, linebacker
Malcolm Holland, University of Arizona, junior, defensive back
Hjaite Froholdt, University of Arkansas, senior, offensive line
James O’Hagan, University of Buffalo, senior, offensive line
Patrick Laird, University of California, senior, running back
Juwan Foggie, University of Charlotte, senior, linebacker
Garrett Campbell, University of Cincinnati, senior, offensive line
Nick Fisher, University of Colorado, senior, defensive back
Matt Peart, University of Connecticut, junior, offensive line
Fred Johnson, University of Florida, senior, offensive line
Rodrigo Blankenship, University of Georgia, junior, kicker
Noah Borden, University of Hawaii, senior, long snapper
Mulbah Car, University of Houston, junior, running back
Nick Allegretti, University of Illinois, senior, offensive line
Parker Hesse, University of Iowa, senior, defensive line
Joe Dineen, Jr., University of Kansas, senior, linebacker
C.J. Conrad, University of Kentucky, senior, tight end
Patrick Taylor, University of Memphis, junior, running back
Demetrius Jackson, University of Miami, senior, defensive line
Karan Higdon, University of Michigan, senior, running back
Emmit Carpenter, University of Minnesota, senior, kicker
Javon Patterson, University of Mississippi, senior, offensive line
Corey Fatony, University of Missouri, senior, punter
Freedom Akinmoladun, University of Nebraska, senior, offensive line
Ty Gangi, University of Nevada, senior, quarterback
Darren Woods, Jr., University of Nevada Las Vegas, junior, wide receiver
Kyle Murphy, University of North Carolina, senior, long snapper
Quinn Shanbour, University of North Texas, senior, quarterback
Drue Tranquill, University of Notre Dame, senior, linebacker
Caleb Kelly, University of Oklahoma, junior, linebacker
Justin Herbert, University of Oregon, junior, quarterback
Darrin Hall, University of Pittsburgh, senior, running back
Sean Grayer, University of South Alabama, senior, defensive line
T.J. Brunson, University of South Carolina, junior, linebacker
Jaymon Thomas, University of South Florida, senior, defensive back
Jake Olson, University of Southern California, junior, long snapper
Picasso Nelson, Jr., University of Southern Mississippi senior, defensive back
Kyle Phillips, University of Tennessee, senior, defensive line
Collin Johnson, University of Texas, junior, wide receiver
Kalaii Griffin, University of Texas El Paso, junior, linebacker
Jalen Rhodes, University of Texas San Antonio, senior, running back
Cody Thompson, University of Toledo, senior, wide receiver
Willie Wright, University of Tulsa, senior, offensive line
Chase Hansen, University of Utah, senior, linebacker
Tevis Bartlett, University of Washington, senior, linebacker
D’Cota Dixon, University of Wisconsin, senior, defensive back
Jacoby Wildman, Utah State University, junior, defensive line
Ricky Walker, Virginia Tech University, senior, defensive line
Peyton Pelluer, Washington State University, senior, linebacker
Will Grier, West Virginia University, senior, quarterback
Julien Lewis, Western Kentucky University, senior, defensive line
Jamauri Bogan, Western Michigan University, senior, running back
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective university Sports Information departments and closed on Oct. 12, 2018. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 1, 2018, and finalists announced on Nov. 19, 2018. The formal announcement of the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy recipient is scheduled to be made on Dec. 4, 2018 at the National Football Foundation’s press conference in New York City.
The 2018 Wuerffel Trophy winner will be invited to attend The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU and ESPN3 on Dec. 6, 2018, airing at 6 p.m. EST/5 p.m. CST, featuring interviews with award winners and finalists as they approach The Home Depot College Football Awards Show, the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The presentation of the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 50th Annual All Sports Association Awards Banquet on Feb. 15, 2019, in Fort Walton Beach.
Past winners of the Wuerffel Trophy are: 2017 Courtney Love, University of Kentucky; 2016 Trevor Knight, Texas A&M University; 2015 Ty Darlington, University of Oklahoma; 2014 Deterrian Shackelford, University of Mississippi; 2013 Gabe Ikard, University of Oklahoma; 2012 Matt Barkley, University of Southern California; 2011 Barrett Jones, University of Alabama; 2010 Sam Acho, University of Texas; 2009 Tim Hiller, Western Michigan University; 2008 Tim Tebow, University of Florida; 2007 Paul Smith, University of Tulsa; 2006 Joel Penton, Ohio State University; and 2005 Rudy Niswanger, Louisiana State University.
The Wuerffel Trophy is presented by the Chick-fil-A Foundation®, the corporate foundation of Chick-fil-A, Inc. A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation’s purpose is to lead the company’s commitment to support youth and education in Chick-fil-A’s local communities. The Foundation’s work is focused on developing and educating young people so they can build a positive legacy and become all they can be. For more information, visit http://www.chick-fil-afoundation.org/.
The Wuerffel Trophy is also supported by its corporate partners, Dart Container Corporation/Solo Cup Company and Herff Jones.
The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association, which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 24 awards boast more than 700 years of tradition-selection excellence. For more information, go to www.NCFAA.org.
For more information on the Wuerffel Trophy, visit www.wuerffeltrophy.org.
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Contact: Tom Brassell, tombrassell@wuerffeltrophy.org, 850-585-5512
