BOONE, N.C. — The preseason watch list for the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy, which is given to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement, includes Appalachian State senior defensive tackle MyQuon Stout.
Stout's 41 tackles last season rank first among the Sun Belt Conference's returning interior linemen, and he'll enter 2018 as a third-year starter who has been named a preseason All-Sun Belt second-team selection by the league's coaches and media. Revered by coaches for his leadership and selflessness in filling a blue-collar role in the middle of App State's defensive line, he was named a team captain as a junior.
In the last year, Stout also volunteered time for Operation Christmas Child from Samaritan's Purse, a read-along program from the Children's Council of Watauga County, the completion of a Habitat for Humanity home project in Watauga County, a soap and shampoo drive for the Global Brigade, the Health and Hunger Coalition, the Humane Society of Watauga County and the Omar Carter Foundation.
A native of Salisbury, N.C., Stout carries a strong GPA and has produced some of his best on-field performances against App State's toughest competition. He had six tackles last season against eventual FBS runner-up Georgia and three tackles, one stop for a loss and one quarterback hurry in the 2016 opener at Tennessee.
Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually at the All Sports Association's Awards Banquet in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Semifinalists will be announced Nov. 1, and finalists will be announced Nov. 19.
The formal announcement of the 2018 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's press conference in New York on Dec. 4, and the presentation will occur Feb. 15 in Fort Walton Beach.
JONESBORO, Ark. – Arkansas State seniors Justice Hansen and Justin Clifton have been selected as preseason candidates for the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy.
The pair have been active in several community service projects since coming to Jonesboro and have been leaders in organizing events for fellow teammates. They have also participated in charity events such as a “Feed the Children” project at the 2016 AutoNation Cure Bowl as well as Special Olympics and reading programs in the Jonesboro area.
On the field, Hansen is coming off his best season as the A-State quarterback which saw him throw for 6,686 yards, run for 553 yards and toss 56 touchdown passes. He was named the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and has also been named to the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Award Watch Lists.
Clifton started every game a nickel cornerback in 2017 and posted multiple tackles in all 12 of A-State’s games. He finished third on the team with 63 tackles and also added 4.5 tackles for loss, while breaking up a career-high 13 passes. He named the best overall defensive player in the Sun Belt by SB Nation and was a 2018 All-SBC Preseason First-Team selection. Earlier this year he was named to the Thorpe Award and Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists.
This marks the first time in A-State history that is has placed two athletes on the Wuerffel Trophy List. Most recently, Blaise Taylor, was a semifinalist for the award 2017, while former quarterback Fredi Knighten appeared on the list in 2015.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented annually at the All Sports Association’s Awards Banquet in Fort Walton Beach. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Season tickets for the Red Wolves' 2018 football campaign, which includes six home games, are available for purchase.
Tickets may be purchased through the A-State Ticket Office, located at the Convocation Center's lower red entrance, in person, by phone at 870-972-2781 or online by visiting AStateRedWolves.com/Tickets.
STATESBORO - Georgia Southern senior running back Wesley Fields his second preseason watch list nod after being named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, as the National College Football Awards Association announced Thursday.
Fields, a sport management major, is one of 106 players being considered for this award.
The Americus, Georgia, native is also on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top collegiate running back. As a junior, Fields was an honorable mention All-Sun Belt selection after leading the team with 811 rushing yards on the season and scoring five touchdowns. He also had 11 catches for 71 yards and a score. Fields is also heavily involved in the community and made the President's List in the spring for a perfect 4.0 GPA.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented annually by the All Sports Association in Fort Walton Beach Florida. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
The formal announcement of the 2018 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's press conference in New York City on Dec. 4. The presentation of the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 50th All Sports Association Awards Banquet on Feb. 15, 2019 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – University of South Alabama senior defensive end Sean Grayer is a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy after the organization released its 2018 Watch List on Thursday.
Known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," the Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually at the All Sports Association's Awards Banquet in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
It's the second award the resident of Green Cove Springs, Fla., is under consideration for this fall as he is also a candidate for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.
Grayer's community service efforts since coming to South include volunteering three times at the Wilmer Hall Children's Home pancake breakfast fundraiser and twice at both local Special Olympics meets and USA's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Dodge Ball Tournament. A member of Campus Outreach since he was a freshman, he has contributed to the Jaguar football team's Thanksgiving dinner donation as well.
A two-year starter at defensive end for the Jaguars, Grayer has posted 43 tackles in his career with that total including four stops for loss with 1½ sacks. Last fall, he recorded 20 total stops — a career-high figure — with an interception and a blocked field goal that led to a touchdown in the team's shutout victory over Alabama A&M in the opening month of the season. Grayer equaled a career-best with three tackles highlighted by one for a four-year loss to help South defeat Troy in the annual "Battle For The Belt," and after collecting two stops including a sack and picking off a pass in a victory over Arkansas State on Senior Day he received the coaches' defensive line award.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - - The Wuerffel Trophy announced Thursday that Texas State wide receiver Tyler Watts is on its 2018 Preseason Watch List.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented annually in Fort Walton Beach. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Watts' community service includes installing equipment for a dog park and washing dogs at an animal shelter, cleaning up a local hiking trail in a river-flooded area, helping coach peewee football players in a local football camp and reading at local elementary schools as part of a reading program.
He also earned a bachelor's degree in management in December 2017 after receiving Texas State Academic Achievement Certificates in 2014 and 2016.
Watts enters this fall as Texas State's top returning receiver after catching 40 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns in 2017. He also had a 76-yard touchdown run in 2017 after recording 43 catches for 364 yards and one TD in 2016.
This year's watch list includes 106 players from college football's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), including 21 players who return from the 2017 Watch List. The current list of nominees can be found on the Wuerffel Trophy's website,
www.wuerffeltrophy.org. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 1 and finalists will be announced on November 19.
The formal announcement of the 2018 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's press conference in New York City on December 4. The presentation of the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 50th All Sports Association Awards Banquet on February 15, 2019 in Fort Walton Beach.
Past winners of the award are: Rudy Niswanger - LSU - 2005; Joel Penton - Ohio State - 2006; Paul Smith - Tulsa - 2008; Tim Tebow - Florida - 2008; Tim Hiller - Western Michigan - 2009; Sam Acho - Texas - 2010; Barrett Jones - Alabama - 2011; Matt Barkley - USC - 2012; Gabe Ikard - Oklahoma - 2013; Deterrian Shackelford - Ole Miss - 2014; Ty Darlington - Oklahoma - 2015; Trevor Knight - Texas A&M - 2016; Courtney Love - Kentucky - 2017.
The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 24 awards boast more than 800 years of tradition-selection excellence. The Wuerffel Trophy is supported by its corporate partners, Dart Container Corporation/Solo Cup and Herff Jones.
TROY, Ala. – Troy senior wide receiver Damion Willis has been named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, the Wuerffel Trophy announced Thursday. The award is known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service."
Willis, a member of the Troy Football Core Leadership Team, has been involved in numerous community service activities during his career with the Trojans including visits to local elementary schools, Bench Out Breast Cancer and mentoring at the Boys and Girls Club. A member of the Sun Belt Conference Honor Roll, Willis as serves a Big Brother Mentor for the incoming freshman players into the football program.
On the field, Willis tied the New Orleans Bowl record with 11 catches as he finished with 136 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns in Troy's 50-30 victory over North Texas in 2017 R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. He finished the season with 42 catches for 620 yards and three touchdowns.
Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
The formal announcement of the 2018 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's press conference in New York City on December 4. The presentation of the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 50th All Sports Association Awards Banquet on February 15, 2019 in Fort Walton Beach.
2018 Sun Belt Wuerffel Trophy Watch List Selections
MyQuon Stout, Appalachian State
Justin Clifton, Arkansas State
Justice Hansen, Arkansas State
Wesley Fields, Georgia Southern
Deuce Wallace, Louisiana
Sean Grayer, South Alabama
Tyler Watts, Texas State
Damion Willis, Troy