Eastern Michigan Athletics
Speights Placed On Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
7/29/2021 10:00:00 AM | Football
The Valencia, Calif. native has been at the forefront of numerous activities on campus
Complete Watch List.
FORT WALTON, Beach, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University senior linebacker Tariq Speights (Valencia, Calif.-Valencia-College of the Canyons) has added another preseason honor, as he was named as one of 91 student-athletes nationwide under consideration for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service.
Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Florida, Danny Wuerffel, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented in February annually in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The trophy exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society, and inspire greater service in the world.
Notable returnees to the Watch List include 2020 semifinalists Michael Saffell (University of California), Mac Brown (University of Mississippi) and Mike Caliendo (Western Michigan University), along with Isaiah Sanders (Stanford University) who was a 2019 finalist at the United States Air Force Academy.
Speights was also recently selected as one of 109 student-athletes nationwide eligible for the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.
Last season for EMU, Speights earned academic honors from the Mid-American Conference after appearing in all six games for the team, five of which were starts. He finished the season with a career-high 52 tackles (25 solo, 27 assisted), and recorded two TFLs. The Valencia, Calif. native had a season-best 12 stops against Central Michigan (Nov. 27) while recording 11-or-more tackles in three contests.
Off the field, Speights helped organize a voter registration drive at EMU to get students out to vote in 2020. The goal was to challenge every eligible member of Eastern's 18 varsity sports to be registered to vote. Additionally, he helped organize a Black Lives Matter rally that involved both athletic departments of EMU and Michigan. The rally was about student-athletes using their platform as college athletes, opening eyes, sharing a cause, and bringing awareness to racial inequality in this country. He also hosted a MLK Day March for student-athletes in Ypsilanti. The celebration consisted of both an in-person march and a virtual panel discussion.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments and will close on Oct. 15. An up to date list of nominees can be found at www.wuerffeltrophy.org beginning on Aug. 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 2 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 22.
The formal announcement of the 2021 recipient will be made on Dec. 9 and the presentation of the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy will occur in February 2022 in Fort Walton Beach.
Past recipients of the award are: Rudy Niswanger – Louisiana State University - 2005; Joel Penton - Ohio State University - 2006; Paul Smith – University of Tulsa - 2008; Tim Tebow – University of Florida - 2008; Tim Hiller - Western Michigan University - 2009; Sam Acho – University of Texas - 2010; Barrett Jones – University of Alabama - 2011; Matt Barkley – University of Southern California - 2012; Gabe Ikard – University of Oklahoma - 2013; Deterrian Shackelford – University of Mississippi - 2014; Ty Darlington – University of Oklahoma - 2015; Trevor Knight - Texas A&M University - 2016; Courtney Love – University of Kentucky; 2017; Drue Tranquill - University of Notre Dame; 2018; Jon Wassink - Western Michigan University – 2019; Teton Saltes – University of New Mexico - 2020.
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. The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watch lists over a two-week period this month. Sixteen of the association's 25 awards select a preseason watch list and the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates.
The Wuerffel Trophy is supported by its corporate partners Dart Container Corporation/Solo Cup and Herff Jones.
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.
FORT WALTON, Beach, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University senior linebacker Tariq Speights (Valencia, Calif.-Valencia-College of the Canyons) has added another preseason honor, as he was named as one of 91 student-athletes nationwide under consideration for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service.
Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Florida, Danny Wuerffel, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented in February annually in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The trophy exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society, and inspire greater service in the world.
Notable returnees to the Watch List include 2020 semifinalists Michael Saffell (University of California), Mac Brown (University of Mississippi) and Mike Caliendo (Western Michigan University), along with Isaiah Sanders (Stanford University) who was a 2019 finalist at the United States Air Force Academy.
Speights was also recently selected as one of 109 student-athletes nationwide eligible for the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.
Last season for EMU, Speights earned academic honors from the Mid-American Conference after appearing in all six games for the team, five of which were starts. He finished the season with a career-high 52 tackles (25 solo, 27 assisted), and recorded two TFLs. The Valencia, Calif. native had a season-best 12 stops against Central Michigan (Nov. 27) while recording 11-or-more tackles in three contests.
Off the field, Speights helped organize a voter registration drive at EMU to get students out to vote in 2020. The goal was to challenge every eligible member of Eastern's 18 varsity sports to be registered to vote. Additionally, he helped organize a Black Lives Matter rally that involved both athletic departments of EMU and Michigan. The rally was about student-athletes using their platform as college athletes, opening eyes, sharing a cause, and bringing awareness to racial inequality in this country. He also hosted a MLK Day March for student-athletes in Ypsilanti. The celebration consisted of both an in-person march and a virtual panel discussion.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments and will close on Oct. 15. An up to date list of nominees can be found at www.wuerffeltrophy.org beginning on Aug. 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 2 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 22.
The formal announcement of the 2021 recipient will be made on Dec. 9 and the presentation of the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy will occur in February 2022 in Fort Walton Beach.
Past recipients of the award are: Rudy Niswanger – Louisiana State University - 2005; Joel Penton - Ohio State University - 2006; Paul Smith – University of Tulsa - 2008; Tim Tebow – University of Florida - 2008; Tim Hiller - Western Michigan University - 2009; Sam Acho – University of Texas - 2010; Barrett Jones – University of Alabama - 2011; Matt Barkley – University of Southern California - 2012; Gabe Ikard – University of Oklahoma - 2013; Deterrian Shackelford – University of Mississippi - 2014; Ty Darlington – University of Oklahoma - 2015; Trevor Knight - Texas A&M University - 2016; Courtney Love – University of Kentucky; 2017; Drue Tranquill - University of Notre Dame; 2018; Jon Wassink - Western Michigan University – 2019; Teton Saltes – University of New Mexico - 2020.
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. The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watch lists over a two-week period this month. Sixteen of the association's 25 awards select a preseason watch list and the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates.
The Wuerffel Trophy is supported by its corporate partners Dart Container Corporation/Solo Cup and Herff Jones.
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.
Players Mentioned
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