REcipients
DILLAN GIBBONS
Wuerffel Trophy 2022
Florida State University
Gibbons, who has started all 12 games at left guard this season and 23 over his two-year FSU career, carries a 3.53 cumulative GPA, while he is pursuing his MBA. He was named honorable mention All-ACC in 2021, as well as earning All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Honor Roll distinction last year. Prior to FSU, he earned his bachelor’s degree in management and consulting from the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame. He was recently named as the 2022 recipient of the Jim Tatum Award (ACC’s top football scholar-athlete), as well as being named to the 2022 Allstate Good Works Team.
Isaiah Sanders
Wuerffel Trophy 2021
Stanford University
Sanders, a sixth-year senior from Aurora, Colorado, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2019 with a BS in Systems Engineering, and later earned a MS in Management Science and Engineering. During that time, he was named a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, was named a Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete, and in 2019 was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy.
Teton Saltes
Wuerffel Trophy 2020
University of New Mexico
Saltes, a senior from Valley High School in Albuquerque, graduated with an undergraduate degree in political science and is currently enrolled in Law School. His academic honors include being named three-time Lobo Scholar Athlete and two-time Mountain West All-Academic.
A three-year starter on the offensive line for the Lobos, Saltes was named Honorable Mention all MWC in 2019 and was named to the 2020 Outland Trophy Watch list.
Jon Wassink
Wuerffel Trophy 2019
Western Michigan University
Wassink was named 2019 Preseason Second All-MAC by both Athlon and Phil Steele’s College Football Preview. He volunteers his time locally as a leader at Tree of Life (youth mentoring) while carrying a 3.95 GPA, leading weekly FCA, volunteering with Uplifting Athletes, feeding the homeless and is a regular mentor at a local elementary school. Wassink served on a Dominican Republic mission trip, building and repairing infrastructure for a small community of 100 people.
Drue Tranquill
Wuerffel Trophy 2018
University of Notre Dame
Tranquill volunteers his time locally with Lifeworks Ministry, AWP Sports, as an ambassador for Dream Teams, with the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, the Center for the Homeless and South Bend Boys and Girls Clubs, just to name a few. Also, he has served on three mission trips to the Dominican Republic as a team leader with Here for Kids International
Courtney Love
Wuerffel Trophy 2017
University of Kentucky
Love volunteers his time with Amachi Central Kentucky, mentoring area youth especially those living in a one-parent household or children who have parents who are incarcerated. His community service efforts also include visiting patients at UK Children’s Hospital, Read Across America, Special Olympics, mentoring and Picadome Elementary School, Big Brothers/Big Sisters along with serving in mission work in Ethiopia.
Trevor Knight
Wuerffel Trophy 2016
Texas A&M University
After leading three mission trips to Haiti while at OU, Knight was the driving force to set up a similar mission trip at A&M this year. Additionally he has participated in countless local community service efforts with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, local churches, schools and other organizations in Norman, Oklahoma and College Station, Texas. Knight is a two-time Wuerffel Trophy nominee.
Ty Darlington
Wuerffel Trophy 2015
University of Oklahoma
Darlington led the Oklahoma’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. Darlington twice visited Haiti as part of the Mission of Hope program, repairing damage caused by a massive earthquake. He also represented the Big 12 at the 2015 NCAA Convention and at the conference’s “State of College Athletics” Forum.
DETERRIAN SHACKLEFORD
Wuerffel Trophy 2014
University of Mississippi
Shackleford has helped lead two mission trips to Haiti and Panama while also mentoring local Oxford youth. He has been actively involved in the Oxford, MS community, helping lead efforts to fight hunger and raise funds for cancer research. He is also a highly sought-after speaker for school, community and church groups and is a dedicated member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
GABE IKARD
Wuerffel Trophy 2013
University of Oklahoma
Ikard serves on the OU leadership team for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was lauded by the school for his leadership in responding to the tragic Oklahoma City tornado disaster earlier this year and made a life-changing relief trip to earthquake-stricken Haiti in 2012.
Matt Barkley
Wuerffel Trophy 2012
University of Southern California
A fixture in Los Angeles, Barkley has worked with children from 17 local elementary schools around USC. He has volunteered with S.C.O.R.E (Service, Community, Outreach, Responsibility and Education, based out of USC), helping to encourage inner-city kids with pursuing their education.
Barkley also made an impact abroad. In May of 2012, Matt helped spearhead a trip with his family and 15 teammates for a week working in Sous Savanne, Haiti, building four houses for underprivileged families.
Barrett Jones
Wuerffel Trophy 2011
University of Alabama
Jones has made two mission trips to Haiti to help people struggling with daily life and to help build a school and orphanage. He has actively participated in tornado cleanup in Tuscaloosa and worked with countless other community organizations in his time at Alabama. “I think being a student athlete is a lot about time management,” Jones said. “You really have to learn how to balance your time and prioritize the things you think are important. Personally, I think community service and things of that nature are things I put very high on that list. I think that’s something my parents instilled in me.”
Sam Acho
Wuerffel Trophy 2010
University of Texas
>Along with dedicating countless hours to community efforts in Texas, Acho and his family have made several medical mission trips to his father’s and mother’s native country of Nigeria. Once there, they provide free medical care to a small village that has extremely limited access to doctors, and Acho called it “hands-down the most fun and most meaningful piece of community work that I do.”
Tim Hiller
Wuerffel Trophy 2009
Western Michigan University
Hiller joined 23 other college students on a faith-based mission to Trinidad where, among other things, he visited youth prisons and drug clinics and witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of poverty on a nation.
Tim Tebow
Wuerffel Trophy 2008
University of Florida
Through his involvement with the University of Florida’s “Goodwill Gators” program, he has made many hospital visits and attended numerous community service functions. He spent his 2008 spring break as a missionary in the Philippines as part of the Bob Tebow Evangelical Association. In April 2008, Tebow organized a flag football tournament to raise awareness for orphans in Gainesville and around the world, was invited by the International Mission Board (IMB) to speak to missionaries in South Asia, and spent time speaking at several prisons across the state of Florida.
Paul Smith
Wuerffel Trophy 2007
University of Tulsa
In the community, Smith led talks and visits to local elementary schools and hospitals on behalf of his church and served in leadership and speaking positions for FCA. He has been named to Dean’s List seven of eight semesters.
Joel PEnton
Wuerffel Trophy 2006
Ohio State University
Joel is active in FCA, Athletes in Action and Campus Crusade for Christ, volunteering time to local high school chapters. Penton planned and launched the “Main Event” outreach meeting. He gained commitments from 300 students to volunteer for the event along with members of the OSU Marching Band and Cheerleading Squad. The event drew over 13,000 people.
Rudy Niswanger
Wuerffel Trophy 2005
Louisiana State University
"It’s inspiring. It’s all about the nominees, the great work they are doing for others each and every day, using their platform to positively impact the world.”
Danny Wuerffel
NEWS & MEDIA
Sam Acho – Let The World See You – PODCAST EXCLUSIVE
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Jon Wassink Wins 2019 Wuerffel Trophy
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A “Cool Day” on the Ice at WMU Hockey
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Jon Wassink of Western Michigan Selected as 2019 Wuerffel Trophy Recipient
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Acho Signs As A Free Agent With Buffalo Bills
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Deterrian “D.T.” Shackelford – From Decatur to Doctorate – PODCAST EXCLUSIVE
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Courtney Love Named UK Football Director of Player Development
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Shackelford Attends NFF Campbell Trophy Summit
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Courtney Love’s Pro Day at University of Kentucky
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Courtney Love Accepts 2017 Wuerffel Trophy
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Front and Center – Coach Darlington
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2016 Wuerffel Trophy Announcement
Photos and video from the announcement in New York, NY that Trevor Knight of Texas A&M University has been named 2016 Wuerffel Trophy recipient.
Trevor Knight Named 2016 Wuerffel Trophy Recipient
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Ty Darlington Claims 2016 Wuerffel Trophy
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Ty Darlington – NYC and Atlanta
Photos and video from Ty Darlington of University of Oklahoma being named 2015 Wuerffel Trophy recipient.
Shackelford Lends A Hand To Storm Victims
By Michael Wetzel – DecaturDaily.com Some people have hired laborers to cut trees that damaged their homes in Tuesday night’s storm. Some recruited the help …
Gabe Ikard named 2013 Wuerffel Trophy Recipient
Congratulations to Gabe Ikard, offensive lineman for the University of Oklahoma Sooners, the 2014 and ninth recipient of The Wuerffel Trophy. The Wuerffel Trophy recognizes …