Eason-Riddle Nominated for Wuerffel Trophy
Linebacker Considered for College Football’s Top Community Servant Award
University of South Carolina senior linebacker Spencer Eason-Riddle is one of 90 players under consideration for the Wuerffel Trophy, which honors college football’s top community servant, it was announced today.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service,” is presented each February in Northwest Florida. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida, Danny Wuerffel, the Wuerffel Trophy exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society, and inspire greater service in the world.
Eason-Riddle, a 6-0, 230-pounder from Raleigh, N.C., has been a regular at the Dorn VA Medical Center and the oncology center of the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital among other community service endeavors. He founded and developed the “Sandstorm Buddies Program” which matches student-athletes with cancer patients and their families, where they can serve in a mentor capacity. He also spearheaded a shoe drive in 2021, asking fellow student-athletes and staff to donate lightly worn shoes and cleats to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands so they can be used by area middle or high school students.
Earlier this year, Eason-Riddle was named one of 30 candidates for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award, and he is also a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy. He owns two degrees from the University of South Carolina, graduating in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in public health and in May 2021 with a master’s degree in health services policy and management.
“It never ceases to amaze me how many of today’s student athletes continue to humbly serve others in their communities, and in some instances, around the world, said Wuerffel. “Congratulations to these inspirational young men that make up our 2021 class of Wuerffel Trophy nominees.”
For a complete list of 2021 Wuerffel Trophy nominations, please click HERE or visit https://wuerffeltrophy.org/nominees/.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities’ Sports Information departments and closed on October 15. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 3 and finalists will be announced on November 23.
The formal announcement of the 2021 recipient will be made on December 9 on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN and the presentation of the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy will occur on February 25, 2022 at the 53rd All Sports Association Awards Banquet in Fort Walton Beach.
ABOUT THE WUERFFEL TROPHY
Established in 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy honors college football players who serve others, celebrate their impact, and inspire greater service in the world. A member of the National College Football Awards Association, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. It is the first major award honoring the character of service to others.
The Wuerffel Trophy is named after Heisman Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Famer, former NFL quarterback, and renowned humanitarian Danny Wuerffel, whose life mission is to inspire greater service in the world. Wuerffel led the University of Florida to four SEC Championships and the Gators’ first National Football Championship as the team’s star quarterback. The 1996 Heisman Trophy winner set 17 NCAA and Florida records and won a myriad of other awards including the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, and The William V. Campbell Trophy, presented to the nation’s top scholar-athlete. As a nationally recognized humanitarian, Wuerffel inspires leaders to use their influence to make a positive impact.
