ATLANTA – Five Conference USA football student-athletes were among the 113 nominees for the 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, announced Tuesday by Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The award honors Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
players who lead through community service while excelling in the classroom and on the field.
 
The contingent of CUSA players includes Delaware’s Steven Demboski, FIU’s Shamir Sterlin, Liberty’s Jaylin Belford, MTSU’s Cam’ron Lacy and NM State’s Nick Session.
 
Each of them were also nominated for the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which was announced back on July 20.
 
In addition to being a Second Team All-CUSA center, Demboski owns a 3.77 GPA as a management major. Demboski leads Delaware football's UDance fundraising efforts, serves with the B+ Foundation and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and volunteers with local literacy, food pantry and youth football initiatives.
 
Sterlin earned Conference USA All-Freshman and All-CUSA Honorable Mention honors in 2025 after recording 60 tackles and two interceptions and helping FIU reach its first bowl game since 2019. Off the field, he volunteers with E.N.D. IT, Grace Way Village and Pick Up for Cancer, supporting youth, families and cancer research.
 
Belford is entering his fifth season with the Flames and has logged more than 200 hours of community service. The 2026-27 SAAC president and Conference USA SAAC nominee helped lead Liberty's Hop on Pop literacy initiative, recruiting 40-plus teammates and raising more than $2,000. Belford earned his sport management degree in 2026 and is pursuing a master's degree.
 
Lacy led the Blue Raiders with 549 receiving yards on 38 catches while adding three touchdowns in 2025. Off the field, the sport management major (3.4 GPA) has been active in the Murfreesboro community through MTCS Reading Day, Lightning's Reading Club, the Ann Campbell Early Learning Center Annual Fundraiser, Rutherford County Young Leaders and the Special Olympics.
 
Session emerged as a key defensive playmaker for NM State in 2025, starting 10 of 12 games and recording a career-high 61 tackles, including 41 solo stops. He added three pass breakups, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Off the field, Session supports youth camps and serves as the NM State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Male Representative.
 
For the third consecutive year, the Wuerffel Foundation is partnering with Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to unite college football’s top community service honors with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. In September, 11 student-athletes from the Watch List will be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and become semifinalists for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
 
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists will be selected by the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy National Selection Committee, with input from a fan vote. The 2026 recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 11, and also serve as captain of the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
 
The 2026 recipient and finalists will be invited to join Wuerffel in New York City for Heisman Trophy events, including the Wuerffel Foundation’s Picklebowl: Heisman Edition. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala will follow in February 2027 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
 
About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, a member of the National College Football Awards Association, is college football’s premier award for community service. The trophy is presented annually by the Wuerffel Foundation to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. Named after Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer, Danny Wuerffel, the award honors his commitment to inspiring greater service and unity in the world. Established in 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy is celebrating its 22^nd anniversary this year. Wuerffel led the University of Florida to four SEC Championships and the 1996 National Championship. As a humanitarian, he continues to inspire leaders to positively impact their communities. Danny currently serves as President of the Wuerffel Foundation and Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries. An avid pickleball player, he was drafted as a professional within the National Pickleball League and hosts celebrity pro-am “PickleBowl” tournaments.
 
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.