Underdogs politely knock on the 2016 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

According to the Wuerffel folks, The Danny Wuerffel Award is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel and is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. How very nice! According to the press release, the list breaks out fairly evenly among the conferences:

The Atlantic Coast Conference led all conferences with 15 players appearing on the 2016 watch list. Following the ACC are the SEC with 12 players, Conference USA with 10 and the Big 10 and Big 12 with 9 players each. The American Athletic followed with 8 players while the Sun Belt added 7*, the PAC 12 submitted 6 and the MAC and Mountain West followed with 4 each. All FBS Conferences are represented on the list, as were Independent representatives BYU and United States Military Academy (Army) with 1 nominee each.

During its brief history (established 2005), two Underdogs have claimed the prize, the last being Western Michigan Bronco Tim Hiller in 2009.  Underdogs, as you know, not only excel on the gridiron, but also where it matters most – in the hearts of our communities. Yes, yes. Let us praise the good works conducted by these fine young men! As aways, I've taken the liberty of extracting the 35 Underdogs from the pack, and I've placed them here for your convenient review.

Underdogs who appear on the 2016 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

Darian Small, Appalachian St. Mountaineers, Senior, DL
Blaise Taylor, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Junior, DB
Andrew King, Army Black Knights, Senior, LB
Mitchell Juergens, BYU Cougars, Senior, WR
Jonny Linehan, BYU Cougars, Senior, P
Jamal Covington, Charlotte 49ers, Senior, OL
Zack Golditch, Colorado State Rams, Junior, OL
Zay Jones, East Carolina Pirates, Senior, WR
Shalom Ogbonda, Florida Atlantic Owls, Senior, DL
Michael Montero, FIU Panthers, Senior, OL
Keith Rucker, Georgia State Panthers, Senior, TE
Greg Ward, Jr., Houston Cougars, Senior, QB
Antwan Dixon, Kent State Golden Flashes, Sophomore, WR
Nick Cuthbert, Kent State Golden Flashes, Senior, LB
Karmichael Dunbar, Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, Senior, DL
Ryan Yurachek, Marshall Thundering Herd, Sophomore, TE
Jake Elliott, Memphis Tigers, Senior, PK
Brent Stockstill, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, Sophomore, QB
Jeremy Maculey, Nevada Wolf Pack, Senior, OL
Drew Hare, Northern Illinois Huskies, Senior, QB
Tyler Compton, Old Dominion Monarchs, Senior, OL
Darik Dillard, Rice Owls, Senior, RB
Daniel Brunskill, San Diego State Aztecs, Senior, TE
Tim Crawley, San Jose State Spartans, Senior, WR
Nick Mullins, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Senior, QB
Brendan McGowan, Temple Owls, Senior, OL
Felix Romero, Texas State Bobcats, Junior, OL
Brad Spelman, Toledo Rockets, Junior, LS
John Johnson, Troy Trojans, Junior, WR
Marshall Wadleigh, Tulane Green Wave, Senior, TE
Dane Evans, Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Senior, QB
Justin Holman, UCF Knights, Senior, QB
Bobby Puyol, Connecticut Huskies, Senior, PK
Travis Seefeldt, Utah State Aggies, Senior, DL
Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Senior, OL
Marcus Ward, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Senior, DB
Zach Terrell, Western Michigan Broncos, Senior, QB

* Press release cites 7 Wuerffel Trophy nominations for the Sun Belt, but only six are listed. Somebody likely thinks Western Kentucky or Middle Tennessee or FIU are still in the Sun Belt.