Nov. 2, 2017
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – University of Notre Dame senior linebacker Drue Tranquill has been selected as a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, recognizing community service among Football Bowl Subdivision players.
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 13th year, is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Danny Wuerffel, from the University of Florida.
Tranquill, a 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American, is involved in numerous off-the-field community service programs. He serves as a mentor for the Core Leadership Team for Lifeworks Ministry, is a member of Notre Dame Christian Athletes, Team Fellowship, AWP Sports in his native Fort Wayne, and is an athlete ambassador for Dream Teams. He is a also member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and Rosenthal Leadership Academy.
Last season, Tranquill launched the “5th Quarter” post-game event, giving him the opportunity to share his story of perseverance with the South Bend community at the Granger Oasis Church.
On the field, the linebacker has started all eight games this season and is third on the team with 48 tackles. He leads the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. Tranquill has added 1.5 sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
About The Wuerffel Trophy
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective university Sports Information departments and closed on Oct. 13, 2017. Finalists will be announced on Nov. 22, 2017. The formal announcement of the 2017 Wuerffel Trophy recipient will be on Dec. 5, 2017, at the National Football Foundation’s press conference in New York City.
The 2017 Wuerffel Trophy winner will be invited to attend “The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show” on ESPNU and ESPN3 on Dec. 7, 2017, 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 2017 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 49th Annual All Sports Association Awards Banquet on Feb. 16, 2018, in Fort Walton Beach.
Past winners of the Wuerffel Trophy are: 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 a member of the National College Football Awards Association, which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 23 awards boast more than 700 years of tradition-selection excellence. For more information, go to www.NCFAA.org.
The Wuerffel Trophy is supported by its corporate partners, Dart Container Corporation/Solo Cup Company and Herff Jones.
For more information on the Wuerffel Trophy, visit www.wuerffeltrophy.org.
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