Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Michael Cordano
Football's Hennessy Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
7.25.19 | Football
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – The Wuerffel Trophy, presented by Chick-fil-A Foundation® announced its Watch List today of 91 players from college football's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) which included Temple graduate center Matt Hennessy.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented each February 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 that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
A star both on and off the field, Matt Hennessy is a two-year starter at center and has been on the Rimington Award Watch List each season. He is the unquestioned leader for a strong group of young offensive linemen and has started all 23 games that he played in the last two years. Hennessy was the highest graded center in FBS football in 2018 for those playing at least 475 snaps. Hennessy allowed zero sacks and zero QB hits, and just two hurries in 738 snaps.
Hennessy is an annual Athletic Director Honor Roll student and earned Temple's Owl Club Academic Award in 2019. In just three years, he earned a degree in finance with a 3.69 GPA, and will complete his last two years of eligibility as a graduate student. He also participated in two week-long trips - to Japan in 2018 and Rome in 2019 – as part of Temple's STHM (Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management) program.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 5, and finalists will be announced on November 18. The formal announcement of the 2019 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's festivities in New York City on December 10. The presentation of the 2019 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 51st All Sports Association Awards Banquet on February 14, 2020, in Fort Walton Beach.
The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast more than 800 recipients, dating back to 1935. Visit www.ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.
Hennessy, who was named to the Rimington Award Watch List last week, joins Temple LB Shaun Bradley (Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy), OL Jovahn Fair (Outland Trophy), LB Chapelle Russell (Butkus Award), QB Anthony Russo (Maxwell Award), WR/RS Isaiah Wright (Hornung Award), and TE Kenny Yeboah (Mackey Award) as Owls who have earned Watch List selections in 2019.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented each February 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 that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
A star both on and off the field, Matt Hennessy is a two-year starter at center and has been on the Rimington Award Watch List each season. He is the unquestioned leader for a strong group of young offensive linemen and has started all 23 games that he played in the last two years. Hennessy was the highest graded center in FBS football in 2018 for those playing at least 475 snaps. Hennessy allowed zero sacks and zero QB hits, and just two hurries in 738 snaps.
Hennessy is an annual Athletic Director Honor Roll student and earned Temple's Owl Club Academic Award in 2019. In just three years, he earned a degree in finance with a 3.69 GPA, and will complete his last two years of eligibility as a graduate student. He also participated in two week-long trips - to Japan in 2018 and Rome in 2019 – as part of Temple's STHM (Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management) program.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 5, and finalists will be announced on November 18. The formal announcement of the 2019 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's festivities in New York City on December 10. The presentation of the 2019 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 51st All Sports Association Awards Banquet on February 14, 2020, in Fort Walton Beach.
The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast more than 800 recipients, dating back to 1935. Visit www.ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.
Hennessy, who was named to the Rimington Award Watch List last week, joins Temple LB Shaun Bradley (Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy), OL Jovahn Fair (Outland Trophy), LB Chapelle Russell (Butkus Award), QB Anthony Russo (Maxwell Award), WR/RS Isaiah Wright (Hornung Award), and TE Kenny Yeboah (Mackey Award) as Owls who have earned Watch List selections in 2019.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TE
/ FootballEp. 6: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Field Hockey's Peyton Rieger
Tuesday, September 23
Evan Simon, 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21
Eric Stuart, 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21
K.C. Keeler, 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21
