Amid the crush of college football award watch lists is one that is concerned with off-field production as well as play on the field: The Wuerffel Trophy. Given annually to the nation's top community servant, four players from the Mountain West have earned preseason recognition for this relatively new and prestigious honor.
Boise State's Shane Williams-Rhodes, who was also nominated for the Hornung Award last week, has been a do-it-all weapon for the Broncos. Last year he averaged nearly 12 yards per rushing attempt and finished second on the team with 68 catches and 585 yards while leading with seven touchdowns. More importantly, he has become a prominent figure in the Boise community by, among other thing, speaking to at-risk youth through the Optimist Youth Football program and to school assemblies across the city.
Colorado State safety Trent Matthews led the Rams with three interceptions and eight pass breakups in 2014. Off the field, Matthews also supervises youth football camps in the city of Fort Collins and, like Williams-Rhodes, takes the initiative to speak to young students in town.
The other two nominees are Don Jackson, who led the Nevada Wolf Pack running attack with 957 yards and seven touchdowns last season, and Utah State's Chuckie Keeton. No MWC athlete made the finalist cut last year, and the award was won by Ole Miss linebacker Deterrian Shackelford.