AUBURN, Ala. – Senior linebacker Chandler Wooten has become a force on the field for Auburn, but it's the impact Wooten has made off the field that landed him on the watch list for the 2020 Wuerffel Trophy on Thursday.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service" exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society and inspire greater service in the world. It's named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel.
"It is so inspiring to see this record number of athletes being submitted for the award," Wuerffel said of the 114 nominees. "These young men truly represent college football's most impactful community service leaders. We are proud to honor them."
Wooten, who graduated with a bachelor's degree from the College of Liberal Arts last December and is currently working toward a second bachelor's degree, has been an active voice in the Auburn community in recent months when it comes to race and social injustice. Earlier this month, he was selected as a member of the Auburn Athletics task force on inclusion and race relations.
Last summer, Wooten received the Hard-Fighting Soldier Award from Auburn's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter for his FCA leadership and perseverance amid aversity.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments and will close on Oct. 15. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 3, and finalists will be announced on Nov. 23. The formal announcement of the 2020 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's festivities in New York City on Dec. 8.
The presentation of the 2020 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 52nd All Sports Association Awards Banquet on Feb. 19, 2021 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
Auburn has had a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy in each of the past two years with Derrick Brown in 2019 and Daniel Carlson in 2018. Of the 15 winners going back to 2005, six have come from the SEC.