Wuerffel Trophy Nominees

The Wuerffel Trophy announced its list of nominees, with nine Big Ten players up for consideration for the 2015 award including Fighting Illini junior center Joe Spencer. The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented annually by the All Sports Association in Fort Walton Beach.  Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel, from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

Spencer has been involved in numerous community service and leadership efforts, including serving as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and chapter president of Uplifting Athletes. He was chosen by the coaching staff for the Illini Leadership Academy, takes part in the Freshman Athlete Mentor program, has helped organize events such as the student-athlete variety show that has raised more than $80,000 for charity over the last five years, and is a "Big" at the local Big Brothers Big Sisters. Spencer also spearheaded the Leadership Summit for local middle school students and leads the Illini's Thanksgiving Basketball Program. 

Spencer takes part in all the Illini's team community service events he can be a part of, reaching thousands of people in Central Illinois. He has visited nearly every elementary school in Champaign-Urbana and has made serveral visits to the pediatric unit of the local hospital and nursing homes in the area. He has also volunteered at places such as Boys & Girls Club and the Special Olympics, among others. 

Voting for the Wuerffel Trophy is performed by a National Selection Committee that includes college football television and print media, industry notables, former head coaches and prior Wuerffel Trophy recipients. 

Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 3, 2015, and finalists announced on Nov. 24, 2015. The formal announcement of the 2015 Wuerffel Trophy recipient will be on Dec. 8, 2015, at the National Football Foundation's press conference in New York City.

The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association, which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 22 awards boast more than 700 years of tradition-selection excellence. For more information, go to www.NCFAA.org. For more information on the Wuerffel Trophy, visit www.wuerffeltrophy.org.