ATLANTA – Nine Conference USA student-athletes have been selected to the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy Preseason Watch List, which is presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. FIU redshirt junior DL Jeramy Passmore, Liberty senior OL X’Zauvea Gadlin, Louisiana Tech graduate student OL Abraham Delfin, Middle Tennessee redshirt senior DB Teldrick Ross, New Mexico State redshirt junior OL Canaan Yarro, Sam Houston graduate student LB Trevor Williams, and a trio from WKU – senior QB Austin Reed, junior WR Malachi Corley and junior DE JaQues Evans all represent CUSA on the watch list, the Wuerffel Foundation announced Thursday.
Passmore started all 12 games in 2022 for the Panthers, recording 43 total tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and blocked a kick. The Miami native was also one of two FIU student-athlete representatives at the 2023 CUSA Football Kickoff in Arlington, Texas, on July 25.
Gadlin, also a member of the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, started all 13 games for the Flames in 2022 at right tackle, but flexed his versatility throughout the season playing each position on the offensive line, except for center. The Grand Prairie, Texas, native played all 932 offensive snaps during the 2022 campaign according to Pro Football Focus. Gadlin was the team’s highest-graded offensive lineman by PFF and was instrumental in leading Liberty to a 27.5 points per game pace offensively and nearly 400-yards of total offense per game (389.4) last season.
Delfin appeared in three games in 2022 for the Bulldogs before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. The Plaquemine, Louisiana, native has been a fixture on the CUSA Commissioner’s Medal list and has been a member of the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll over the past five seasons during his time in Ruston.
Ross was just one of six Blue Raiders to start all 13 games for MTSU in 2022, finishing with a career-best 77 total tackles, three tackles for loss, a pair of interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a program-record 20 pass break-ups. The Macon, Georgia, native’s 22 passes defended ranked second in the nation and recorded seven or more tackles in a game on six occasions, helping lead the Blue Raiders to an easypost Hawai’i Bowl victory over San Diego State.
Yarro appeared in 11 games last year for the Aggies, helping pace the offensive line for a team that won seven games in 2022, including the Quick Lane Bowl over Bowling Green. The Provo, Utah, native was also selected as the academic representative on CUSA’s Preseason Watch List.
Williams was one of several Bearkats that redshirted in 2022 as Sam Houston played a transitional year in FCS prior to joining CUSA ahead of the 2023 season. The College Station, Texas, native appeared in four games last year, recording 32 total tackles, a half tackle for loss and a forced fumble for the Bearkats. The graduate student was also one of two Sam Houston student-athlete representatives at the 2023 CUSA Football Kickoff in Arlington, Texas, on July 25.
Reed, the 2023 CUSA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and member of the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List, is coming off a 2022 season in which he was the leading passer in all of college football with 4,746 yards. The Florida native also tossed 40 touchdowns, while rushing for an additional eight. Reed's biggest performance of the season came in WKU's win over South Alabama in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl when he threw for 497 yards and four touchdowns, which led to him being named the bowl game's MVP. Reed was also named Conference USA's Newcomer of the Year at the end of the season.
Corley, a preseason All-American selection by several publications (Athlon – fourth team, Phil Steele – fourth team and College Football News – honorable mention) and member of the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List, is the nation’s leading returning receiver. The Orange City, Florida, native caught 101 passes for 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, making him one of the top receivers in the country. He also led college football in yards after catch with 975 and missed tackles forced with 40.
Evans, also a member of the Bronko Nagurski Preseason Watch List, was WKU's leading tackler in 2022 with 106 total stops, including 14.0 tackles for loss and nine sacks. The Dublin, Georgia, native also broke up four passes, hurried the quarterback eight times and recovered two fumbles. In WKU's bowl-clinching victory against Rice, Evans returned a fumble for a touchdown, one of the WKU defense's six touchdowns on the season, which led all of college football. Evans and the Hilltopper defense also forced 32 turnovers on the season, which was the best mark in the country. He hit double-digit tackles on three occasions throughout the year, his season-high being 15 against North Texas. Evans was named to CUSA's First Team at season's end for his big year.
An award presented to its winner for commitment to community service, The Wuerffel Trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida who parlayed his success on the football field into a lifetime of service. The Wuerffel Trophy embodies Danny’s commitment to being a humanitarian, while honoring student-athletes who are inspired to serve others and make positive impacts on society.
“The life changing impact of thinking of others before ourselves is so rewarding, and it’s truly inspiring to see so many student-athletes recognize this, and use their platform for good,” said Danny Wuerffel. “College Football players across the country are making a difference in their communities, and I’m excited to see so many incredible stories associated with the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy candidates.”
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities’ Sports Information Departments and will close on October 16. An up-to-date list of nominees can be found at wuerffeltrophy.org. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 2, and finalists will be announced on November 28. The formal announcement of the 2023 recipient is scheduled to be made on December 7, or 8, during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN, and the presentation of the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy will take place on February 17, 2024, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
The 2023 recipient will be invited to join Wuerffel in New York City to attend the Heisman Trophy ceremonies, including the press conference, televised announcement show, and the gala.
ABOUT THE WUERFFEL TROPHY
Established in 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy honors college football players who serve others, celebrates their impact, and inspires greater service across the nation. A member of the National College Football Awards Association, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. It is the first major award honoring the character of service to others. The Wuerffel Trophy is named after Heisman Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Famer, former NFL quarterback, and renowned humanitarian Danny Wuerffel, whose life mission is to inspire greater service in the world. Wuerffel led the University of Florida to four SEC Championships and the Gators’ first National Football Championship as the team’s star quarterback. The 1996 Heisman Trophy winner set 17 NCAA and Florida records and won a myriad of other awards including the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, and The William V. Campbell Trophy, presented to the nation’s top scholar-athlete. As a nationally recognized humanitarian, Wuerffel inspires leaders to use their influence to make a positive impact and currently serves as President of the Wuerffel Foundation.
ABOUT THE NCFAA
The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.