Eastern Michigan Athletics
Odukoya Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
7/23/2020 1:02:00 PM | Football
Odukoya is one of 114 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision named to the list
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University senior tight end Thomas Odukoya (Almere, Netherlands-Helen Parkhurst-Garden City C.C.) has been named to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy. Odukoya is one of 114 players from college football's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) named to the list.
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.
One of seven Mid-American Conference student-athletes named to the list, Odukoya received Academic All-MAC honors in 2019 after appearing in all 13 games that EMU played. The Netherlands-born playmaker earned seven starts for the Eagles. He made a season-high 10-yard catch at Central Michigan (Oct. 5). Most recently, Odukoya and was named a Fourth Team All-MAC Preseason All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele's College Football Preview, July 13.
Earlier this month, he was selected to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List for the second consecutive season. The John Mackey Award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end.
For more information on Eastern Michigan football, follow the team's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/EMUFB, by Facebook at Facebook.com/EasternMichiganFootball, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/EMUFB.
2020 WUERFFEL TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Miller Forristall, Alabama, senior, tight end
Noah Hannon, App State, senior, offensive line
Colin Schooler, Arizona, senior, linebacker
Ethan Long, Arizona State, sophomore, tight end
Andre Harris, Jr., Arkansas State, junior, offensive line
Joe Stephenson, Army, senior, linebacker
Chandler Wooten, Auburn, senior, linebacker
Brandon Martin, Ball State, senior, linebacker
Terrel Bernard, Baylor, junior, linebacker
Donte Harrington, Boise State, senior, offensive line
Max Michel, Buffalo, sophomore, defensive line
Bracken El-Bakri, BYU, senior, defensive line
Michael Saffell, California, senior, offensive line
Tyriq Harris, Charlotte, senior, defensive line
Blake Bacevich, Cincinnati, sophomore, defensive line
Darien Rencher, Clemson, senior, running back
C.J. Brewer, Coastal Carolina, senior, defensive line
Colby Pursell, Colorado, junior, offensive line
Barry Wesley, Colorado State, junior, offensive line
Rakavius Chambers, Duke, senior, offensive line
Holton Ahlers, East Carolina, junior, quarterback
Thomas Odukoya, Eastern Michigan, senior, tight end
Dante Lang, Florida, sophomore, tight end
Jaiden Lars-Woodbey, Florida State, sophomore, defensive back
Eric Stokes, Georgia, junior, defensive back
Shai Werts, Georgia Southern, senior, quarterback
Jack DeFoor, Georgia Tech, senior, offensive line
Hekili Keliiliki, Hawai'i, junior, running back
Payton Turner, Houston, senior, defensive line
Doug Kramer, Illinois, senior, offensive line
Harry Crider, Indiana, senior, offensive line
Brock Purdy, Iowa State, junior, quarterback
Api Mane, Kansas, senior, offensive line
Chris Hughes, Kansas, senior, offensive line
Skylar Thompson, Kansas State, senior, quarterback
Dustin Crum, Kent State, senior, quarterback
Landon Young, Kentucky, senior, offensive line
Luke Fortner, Kentucky, senior, offensive line
Jalen Williams, Louisiana, senior, wide receiver
Joshua Mote, Louisiana Tech, junior, offensive line
Reeves Blankenship, Louisiana Tech, junior, long snapper
JaCoby Stevens, LSU, senior, defensive back
Brenden Knox, Marshall University, junior, running back
Jake Funk, Maryland, senior, running back
Brady White, Memphis, senior, quarterback
Zach McCloud, Miami, senior, linebacker
Jack Sorenson, Miami (Ohio), senior, wide receiver
Adam Shibley, Michigan, senior, linebacker
Asher O'Hara, Middle Tennessee State, junior, quarterback
Tanner Morgan, Minnesota, junior, quarterback
Kobe Jones, Mississippi State, senior, defensive line
Kobie Whiteside, Missouri, senior, defensive line
Cameron Kinley, Navy, senior, defensive back
Ben Stille, Nebraska, senior, defensive line
Lawson Hall, Nevada, senior, linebacker
Teton Saltes, New Mexico, senior, offensive line
Sage Doxtater, New Mexico State, senior, offensive line
Trenton Gill, North Carolina State, junior, punter
Deion Hair-Griffin, North Texas, senior, wide receiver/special teams
Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame, junior, defensive line
Master Teague III, Ohio State, sophomore, running back
Caleb Kelly, Oklahoma, senior, linebacker
Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State, junior, running back
Isaac Weaver, Old Dominion, senior, offensive line
Mac Brown, Ole Miss, senior, punter
Brady Breeze, Oregon, senior, defensive back
Isaac Hodgins, Oregon State, junior, defensive line
Jaydon Grant, Oregon State, junior, defensive back
Sean Clifford, Penn State, junior, quarterback
Patrick Jones II, Pitt, senior, defensive line
Grant Hermanns, Purdue, senior, offensive line
Christian Webb, San José State, senior, linebacker
Shane Buechele, SMU, senior, quarterback
Brian Ankerson, South Alabama, junior, offensive line
Dylan Wonnum, South Carolina, junior, offensive line
Swayze Bozeman, Southern Miss, senior, linebacker
Connor Wedington, Stanford, senior, wide receiver
Isaiah Sanders, Stanford, senior, quarterback
Treyjohn Butler, Stanford, senior, defensive back
Kingsley Jonathan, Syracuse, senior, defensive line
Garret Wallow, TCU, senior, linebacker
Kellton Hollins, TCU, senior, offensive line
Isaiah Graham-Mobley, Temple, senior, linebacker
Trey Smith, Tennessee, senior, offensive line
Sam Ehlinger, Texas, senior, quarterback
Kellen Mond, Texas A&M University, senior, quarterback
Zech McPhearson, Texas Tech, senior, defensive back
Bailey Flint, Toledo, senior, punter
Luke Whittemore, Troy, junior, wide receiver
Sorrell Brown, Tulane, sophomore, wide receiver
Akayleb Evans, Tulsa, junior, defensive back
Chris Paul, Tulsa, junior, offensive line
Wilson Beaverstock, UAB, sophomore, kicker
Samuel Jackson, UCF, junior, offensive line
Brian Keating, UConn, senior, long snapper
Cole McCubrey, UMass, senior, linebacker
Solomon Siskind, UMass, junior, tight end
Daniel Imatorbhebhe, USC, senior, tight end
KJ Sails, USF, senior, defensive back
Devin Lloyd, Utah, junior, linebacker
Justus Te'i, Utah State, senior, defensive line
Solomon Wise, UTSA, senior, linebacker
Andre Mintze, Vanderbilt, senior, linebacker
Dillon Reinkensmeyer, Virginia, senior, offensive line
Terrell Jana, Virginia, senior, wide receiver
Sage Surratt, Wake Forest, junior, wide receiver
Race Porter, Washington, senior, punter
Jarret Doege, West Virginia, junior, quarterback
Sam James, West Virginia, junior, wide receiver
Sean Mahone, West Virginia, senior, defensive back
Devon Key, Western Kentucky, senior, defensive back
Juwuan Jones, Western Kentucky, junior, defensive line
Mike Caliendo, Western Michigan, senior, offensive line
Madison Cone, Wisconsin, senior, defensive back
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 Aug. 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 3 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 23.
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.
One of seven Mid-American Conference student-athletes named to the list, Odukoya received Academic All-MAC honors in 2019 after appearing in all 13 games that EMU played. The Netherlands-born playmaker earned seven starts for the Eagles. He made a season-high 10-yard catch at Central Michigan (Oct. 5). Most recently, Odukoya and was named a Fourth Team All-MAC Preseason All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele's College Football Preview, July 13.
Earlier this month, he was selected to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List for the second consecutive season. The John Mackey Award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end.
For more information on Eastern Michigan football, follow the team's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/EMUFB, by Facebook at Facebook.com/EasternMichiganFootball, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/EMUFB.
2020 WUERFFEL TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Miller Forristall, Alabama, senior, tight end
Noah Hannon, App State, senior, offensive line
Colin Schooler, Arizona, senior, linebacker
Ethan Long, Arizona State, sophomore, tight end
Andre Harris, Jr., Arkansas State, junior, offensive line
Joe Stephenson, Army, senior, linebacker
Chandler Wooten, Auburn, senior, linebacker
Brandon Martin, Ball State, senior, linebacker
Terrel Bernard, Baylor, junior, linebacker
Donte Harrington, Boise State, senior, offensive line
Max Michel, Buffalo, sophomore, defensive line
Bracken El-Bakri, BYU, senior, defensive line
Michael Saffell, California, senior, offensive line
Tyriq Harris, Charlotte, senior, defensive line
Blake Bacevich, Cincinnati, sophomore, defensive line
Darien Rencher, Clemson, senior, running back
C.J. Brewer, Coastal Carolina, senior, defensive line
Colby Pursell, Colorado, junior, offensive line
Barry Wesley, Colorado State, junior, offensive line
Rakavius Chambers, Duke, senior, offensive line
Holton Ahlers, East Carolina, junior, quarterback
Thomas Odukoya, Eastern Michigan, senior, tight end
Dante Lang, Florida, sophomore, tight end
Jaiden Lars-Woodbey, Florida State, sophomore, defensive back
Eric Stokes, Georgia, junior, defensive back
Shai Werts, Georgia Southern, senior, quarterback
Jack DeFoor, Georgia Tech, senior, offensive line
Hekili Keliiliki, Hawai'i, junior, running back
Payton Turner, Houston, senior, defensive line
Doug Kramer, Illinois, senior, offensive line
Harry Crider, Indiana, senior, offensive line
Brock Purdy, Iowa State, junior, quarterback
Api Mane, Kansas, senior, offensive line
Chris Hughes, Kansas, senior, offensive line
Skylar Thompson, Kansas State, senior, quarterback
Dustin Crum, Kent State, senior, quarterback
Landon Young, Kentucky, senior, offensive line
Luke Fortner, Kentucky, senior, offensive line
Jalen Williams, Louisiana, senior, wide receiver
Joshua Mote, Louisiana Tech, junior, offensive line
Reeves Blankenship, Louisiana Tech, junior, long snapper
JaCoby Stevens, LSU, senior, defensive back
Brenden Knox, Marshall University, junior, running back
Jake Funk, Maryland, senior, running back
Brady White, Memphis, senior, quarterback
Zach McCloud, Miami, senior, linebacker
Jack Sorenson, Miami (Ohio), senior, wide receiver
Adam Shibley, Michigan, senior, linebacker
Asher O'Hara, Middle Tennessee State, junior, quarterback
Tanner Morgan, Minnesota, junior, quarterback
Kobe Jones, Mississippi State, senior, defensive line
Kobie Whiteside, Missouri, senior, defensive line
Cameron Kinley, Navy, senior, defensive back
Ben Stille, Nebraska, senior, defensive line
Lawson Hall, Nevada, senior, linebacker
Teton Saltes, New Mexico, senior, offensive line
Sage Doxtater, New Mexico State, senior, offensive line
Trenton Gill, North Carolina State, junior, punter
Deion Hair-Griffin, North Texas, senior, wide receiver/special teams
Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame, junior, defensive line
Master Teague III, Ohio State, sophomore, running back
Caleb Kelly, Oklahoma, senior, linebacker
Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State, junior, running back
Isaac Weaver, Old Dominion, senior, offensive line
Mac Brown, Ole Miss, senior, punter
Brady Breeze, Oregon, senior, defensive back
Isaac Hodgins, Oregon State, junior, defensive line
Jaydon Grant, Oregon State, junior, defensive back
Sean Clifford, Penn State, junior, quarterback
Patrick Jones II, Pitt, senior, defensive line
Grant Hermanns, Purdue, senior, offensive line
Christian Webb, San José State, senior, linebacker
Shane Buechele, SMU, senior, quarterback
Brian Ankerson, South Alabama, junior, offensive line
Dylan Wonnum, South Carolina, junior, offensive line
Swayze Bozeman, Southern Miss, senior, linebacker
Connor Wedington, Stanford, senior, wide receiver
Isaiah Sanders, Stanford, senior, quarterback
Treyjohn Butler, Stanford, senior, defensive back
Kingsley Jonathan, Syracuse, senior, defensive line
Garret Wallow, TCU, senior, linebacker
Kellton Hollins, TCU, senior, offensive line
Isaiah Graham-Mobley, Temple, senior, linebacker
Trey Smith, Tennessee, senior, offensive line
Sam Ehlinger, Texas, senior, quarterback
Kellen Mond, Texas A&M University, senior, quarterback
Zech McPhearson, Texas Tech, senior, defensive back
Bailey Flint, Toledo, senior, punter
Luke Whittemore, Troy, junior, wide receiver
Sorrell Brown, Tulane, sophomore, wide receiver
Akayleb Evans, Tulsa, junior, defensive back
Chris Paul, Tulsa, junior, offensive line
Wilson Beaverstock, UAB, sophomore, kicker
Samuel Jackson, UCF, junior, offensive line
Brian Keating, UConn, senior, long snapper
Cole McCubrey, UMass, senior, linebacker
Solomon Siskind, UMass, junior, tight end
Daniel Imatorbhebhe, USC, senior, tight end
KJ Sails, USF, senior, defensive back
Devin Lloyd, Utah, junior, linebacker
Justus Te'i, Utah State, senior, defensive line
Solomon Wise, UTSA, senior, linebacker
Andre Mintze, Vanderbilt, senior, linebacker
Dillon Reinkensmeyer, Virginia, senior, offensive line
Terrell Jana, Virginia, senior, wide receiver
Sage Surratt, Wake Forest, junior, wide receiver
Race Porter, Washington, senior, punter
Jarret Doege, West Virginia, junior, quarterback
Sam James, West Virginia, junior, wide receiver
Sean Mahone, West Virginia, senior, defensive back
Devon Key, Western Kentucky, senior, defensive back
Juwuan Jones, Western Kentucky, junior, defensive line
Mike Caliendo, Western Michigan, senior, offensive line
Madison Cone, Wisconsin, senior, defensive back
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 Aug. 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 3 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 23.
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