Five Bobcats Named To The Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football.

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – Five members of the Texas State football team are listed on The Wuerffel Trophy’s  2017 preseason watch list that was released on Tuesday. The five Bobcats are Gabe Loyd, Tryston Mizerak, Gabe Schrade, James Sherman and Tyler Watts.

Each of the five Bobcats served the San Marcos community by helping prepare a community garden that services local food banks, participating in a beautification project for the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, visiting local elementary and middle schools, assisting with local football camps, and organizing a Valentine’s Dance at a senior citizen center.

The Wuerffel Trophy is named after the 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, and awarded to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

Loyd served as team captain last season and earned an Oak Farms Dairy “Cream of the Crop” award after maintaining a 4.0 GPA during a semester in 2016-17. He joined the team in the 2016 spring semester from Fort Scott Community College.

Mizerak started the first nine games last season at right tackle before suffering a season-ending injury. He received an Oak Farms Dairy academic achievement award and was on the Dean’s List in 2016-17.

Schrade was a team captain and starting tight end for the Bobcats who became one of first three Texas State students to earn the LBJ Civic Leadership Award in 2017. He also received an Oak Farms Dairy “Cream of the Crop” award.

Sherman was a kicker and punter on special teams and earned an Oak Farms Dairy “Cream of the Crop” award in 2017.  

Watts led the Bobcats with 43 receptions for 364 yards and touchdown last season and earned an Oak Farms Dairy academic achievement award last spring.

Each year, a National Selection Committee consisting of college football television and print media, industry notables and former head coaches select a winner The Wuerffel Trophy. This year’s watch list includes a record 109 football players who were nominated by their respective universities’ Sports Information Departments.

Semifinalists for the award are announced on Nov. 2 and finalists will be named on November 22. The formal announcement of the 2017 recipient will be at the National Football Foundation’s press conference in New York City on December 5.

The presentation of the 2017 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 49th Annual All Sports Association Awards Banquet on February 16, 2018 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 23 awards boast more than 800 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more about our story.