The Wuerffel Trophy is one of the more highly-coveted and humbling awards any college football player can receive. The award is named after former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel and it is given annually to the player that “best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.”
It’s often regarded as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.” This year’s preseason watch list features a trio of players from Michigan-based schools.
Another reason to get fired up for this season! Senior Joe Ostman has been named to the @WuerffelTrophy Watch List! #FireUpChips pic.twitter.com/lrsUfp8FJU
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) July 18, 2017
Central Michigan fifth-year senior Joe Ostman is a two-time All-MAC team member and two-time Academic All-MAC honoree as well in his time with the Chippewas. He started all 13 games for CMU last year after playing in just three games in 2015 and subsequently receiving a medical redshirt.
Ostman is a product of St. Ignace, Michigan and LaSalle High School. His 69 tackles were good for third on the team, and his nine sacks not only led the Chips, but was also second in the conference last year.
#EMUFB DL Jeremiah Harris Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Read more https://t.co/JhDE4jXzNu#EMUFB #EMUEagles #CFBWatchMe #NCFAA pic.twitter.com/L78LervOez
— Eastern Michigan Athletics (@EMUAthletics) July 18, 2017
Like his CMU counterpart Ostman, redshirt junior Jeremiah Harris rebounded from an injury-plagued 2015 campaign and played in all 13 of his team’s games in 2016. He racked up 69 tackles in those games, four of which were good for sacks.
Harris has also been one of the more charitable players not only for the Eagles, but across the entire conference. The Lambertville, MI native has turned in hundreds of hours of community service and has a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete honor under his belt as well.
Congrats to @mauri_ilove_32 on being named to the @WuerffelTrophy Watch List! pic.twitter.com/IdL3ZKT7Nv
— Western Michigan Football (@WMU_Football) July 18, 2017
Redshirt junior tailback Jamauri Bogan is the second Western Michigan player in as many years to be named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list. Former quarterback Zach Terrell was a semifinalist for the award last season.
Bogan has made a big impact both on and off the field since arriving in Kalamazoo. In addition to the near 2,000 rushing yards he’s logged in his first two seasons, he’s done countless things off the field to help better the school and conference, including serve on the MAC Student Athlete Advisory Committee, be a mentor to kids in the local communities and lead bible studies across campus.
Ostman, Harris and Bogan are just three of a record-high 108 players named to the preseason watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy. Regardless of who takes home the honor, all 108 of these players should be recognized for their contributions on and off the field.
