Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Football’s Graham-Mobley Earns Wuerffel Trophy Watch List Honors
7.23.20 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - The Wuerffel Trophy announced its Watch List of 114 players from college football's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The number is a record for the award since it first began releasing a watch list in 2015. Linebacker Isaiah Graham-Mobley is Temple Football's nominee.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented each February. 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.
Graham-Mobley has been one of the most productive Temple players both on and off the field. He was the team's third leading tackler in 2018 with 70 stops and was among the team leaders again in 2019 before missing the final five games with an injury. He reached these marks despite not starting a single game. He was the first non-starter in school history to earn a single-digit jersey – an honor reserved for Temple's toughest players.
Currently a graduate student with a bachelor's degree in Media Studies and Production, the Upper Merion, Pa., native is engaged in nearly every activity that the team has trumpeted but more importantly, used his influence as team leader to recruit more players to participate and represent Temple in the community. This includes MLK Day where TU student-athletes refurbish nearby churches and schools; WalkTU which focuses on raising awareness for domestic abuse; Huddle Up for Autism – an NFL initiative assisting the Philadelphia Eagles with running a one-day camp for autistic children; and Be The Match, a bone marrow drive registration. Nowhere was his influence more evident than organizing a peaceful Black Lives Matter march by nearly 100 Temple student-athletes and staff members on the first Saturday in June, 2020. The group marched a couple of miles to join protesters outside of City Hall in Philadelphia.
"It is so inspiring to see this record number of athletes being submitted for the award," said Wuerffel. "These young men truly represent college football's most impactful community service leaders. We are proud to honor them."
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments and will close on October 15. A current list of nominees can be found at www.wuerffeltrophy.org beginning on August 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 3 and finalists will be announced on November 23.
The formal announcement of the 2020 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's festivities in New York City on December 8. The presentation of the 2020 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 52nd All Sports Association Awards Banquet on February 19, 2021, in Fort Walton Beach.
Past recipients of the award are: Rudy Niswanger - LSU - 2005; Joel Penton - Ohio State - 2006; Paul Smith - Tulsa - 2008; Tim Tebow - Florida - 2008; Tim Hiller – Western Michigan - 2009; Sam Acho - Texas - 2010; Barrett Jones - Alabama - 2011; Matt Barkley - USC - 2012; Gabe Ikard - Oklahoma - 2013; Deterrian Shackelford - Ole Miss - 2014; Ty Darlington - Oklahoma - 2015; Trevor Knight - Texas A&M - 2016; Courtney Love - Kentucky – 2017; Drue Tranquill – Notre Dame – 2018; Jon Wassink – Western Michigan - 2019.
The Wuerffel Trophy is presented by Chick-fil-A® and is also supported by its corporate partners Dart Container Corporation/Solo Cup and Herff Jones.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented each February. 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.
Graham-Mobley has been one of the most productive Temple players both on and off the field. He was the team's third leading tackler in 2018 with 70 stops and was among the team leaders again in 2019 before missing the final five games with an injury. He reached these marks despite not starting a single game. He was the first non-starter in school history to earn a single-digit jersey – an honor reserved for Temple's toughest players.
Currently a graduate student with a bachelor's degree in Media Studies and Production, the Upper Merion, Pa., native is engaged in nearly every activity that the team has trumpeted but more importantly, used his influence as team leader to recruit more players to participate and represent Temple in the community. This includes MLK Day where TU student-athletes refurbish nearby churches and schools; WalkTU which focuses on raising awareness for domestic abuse; Huddle Up for Autism – an NFL initiative assisting the Philadelphia Eagles with running a one-day camp for autistic children; and Be The Match, a bone marrow drive registration. Nowhere was his influence more evident than organizing a peaceful Black Lives Matter march by nearly 100 Temple student-athletes and staff members on the first Saturday in June, 2020. The group marched a couple of miles to join protesters outside of City Hall in Philadelphia.
"It is so inspiring to see this record number of athletes being submitted for the award," said Wuerffel. "These young men truly represent college football's most impactful community service leaders. We are proud to honor them."
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments and will close on October 15. A current list of nominees can be found at www.wuerffeltrophy.org beginning on August 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 3 and finalists will be announced on November 23.
The formal announcement of the 2020 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's festivities in New York City on December 8. The presentation of the 2020 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 52nd All Sports Association Awards Banquet on February 19, 2021, in Fort Walton Beach.
Past recipients of the award are: Rudy Niswanger - LSU - 2005; Joel Penton - Ohio State - 2006; Paul Smith - Tulsa - 2008; Tim Tebow - Florida - 2008; Tim Hiller – Western Michigan - 2009; Sam Acho - Texas - 2010; Barrett Jones - Alabama - 2011; Matt Barkley - USC - 2012; Gabe Ikard - Oklahoma - 2013; Deterrian Shackelford - Ole Miss - 2014; Ty Darlington - Oklahoma - 2015; Trevor Knight - Texas A&M - 2016; Courtney Love - Kentucky – 2017; Drue Tranquill – Notre Dame – 2018; Jon Wassink – Western Michigan - 2019.
The Wuerffel Trophy is presented by Chick-fil-A® and is also supported by its corporate partners Dart Container Corporation/Solo Cup and Herff Jones.
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