July 18, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Junior quarterback Trace McSorley (Ashburn, Va.) is among the 108 candidates on the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, which is known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service." This is McSorley's second watch list appearance this summer with a berth on the Maxwell Award charts.
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 Florida. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
McSorley was also a second-team All-Big Ten choice by the conference's coaches and media, while also being named the Big Ten's Breakout Player of the Year by Athlon Sports and the Maxwell Football Club's Bryan Westbrook Tri-State Player of the Year. He earned the Grange-Griffin Most Valuable Player award as MVP of the Big Ten Championship game after throwing for a Big Ten Championship game-record 384 yards and four touchdowns. McSorley turned in one of the top quarterback campaigns in program history, breaking the Penn State season record for passing yards (3,614), passing touchdowns (29) and total offense records (3,979). McSorley threw TD passes to 10 different receivers, marking the first time since 1971 a Penn State quarterback found 10-plus pass catchers for scores. He has thrown a touchdown in a school-record 15 consecutive games.
Eight different Nittany Lions have been named to preseason watch lists. They include: junior running back Saquon Barkley ââ'¬" Maxwell Award (National Player of the Year); junior quarterback Trace McSorley ââ'¬" Maxwell Award (National Player of the Year), Wuerffel Trophy (college football's premier award for community service); senior safety Marcus Allen ââ'¬" Lott IMPACT Trophy (National Defensive of the Year on and off the field), Bednarik Award (National Defensive of the Year), Nagurski Trophy (National Defensive of the Year), Thorpe Award (top defensive back); senior linebacker Jason Cabinda ââ'¬" Lott IMPACT Trophy (National Defensive of the Year on and off the field), Bednarik Award (National Defensive of the Year), Nagurski Trophy (National Defensive of the Year), Butkus Award (top linebacker); senior tight end Mike Gesicki ââ'¬"Mackey Award (top tight end); senior linebacker Brandon Smith ââ'¬" Allstate AFCA Good Works; senior kicker Tyler Davis ââ'¬" Lou Groza Award (top kicker); sophomore punter Blake Gillikin ââ'¬" Ray Guy Award (top punter).
The Nittany Lions' home schedule features a trio of non-conference games, including Pitt's first visit to Beaver Stadium since 1999. The Nittany Lions open the season against Akron (Sept. 2; noon) and face Pitt (Sept. 9; 3:30 p.m.) and Georgia State (Sept. 16) to close out a three-game homestand to start the year. In Big Ten play, Penn State welcomes Indiana (Sept. 30), Michigan (Oct. 21), Rutgers (Nov. 11; noon - Homecoming) and Nebraska (Nov. 18) to Happy Valley. Nearly 8,900 new season tickets have been sold for the 2017 Penn State football season presented by PSECU. The public single-game ticket sale opens Tuesday, July 11. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2017 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.