University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Johnson Named Finalist For The Wuerffel Trophy
11/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 10, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Senior punter Luke Johnson was named one of 13 finalists for the first Wuerffel Trophy today, sponsored by the All Sports Assiciation, INC. The Wuerffel Trophy is a national award that will honor a college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
Johnson has 37 punts for 1,646 yards on the season, averaging 44.5 yards per punt. He ranks No. 2 in Conference USA in punting average (44.1), also ranking No. 12 nationally. Southern Miss' punting unit ranks No. 1 in Conference USA and No. 6 nationally in net punting (39.38).
A native of Soso, Miss., Johnson ranks second in school history with a 42.5-yard per punt average. In his career, Johnson has 183 punts for 7,771 yards in school history.
In 2004, Johnson was named to the American Football Coaches Association's Good Works Team for his outstanding dedication and work in the community. Earlier this season, he was named a semi-finalist for the Draddy Trophy, known as the "Academic" Heisman and a candidate for a National Scholar-Athlete Award, sponsored by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
"There are many awards that honor players for excellence at their particular position or for their skills and there are some academic related awards, but there is no award that honors a player for all-around excellence in athletics, academic achievement and community service," John Watts, president of the All Sports Association said. "We feel strongly that Fort Walton Beach's own Danny Wuerffel has become the epitome of someone who best embodies the combination of all three of these important traits, and that is why our organization is stepping forward to present this trophy in his honor."
A voting committee, which includes 10 prominent Wuerffel Trophy regional directors, will vote on the finalists and the winner will be announced later this month. The Wuerffel Trophy will be presented to the winner at the All Sports Association's Awards Banquet in February.
The award is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who led the Florida Gators to the 1996 national championship. Wuerffel played for six years in the NFL and recently received national recognition for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans.
"You always want to be associated with an award that is done well and respectfully," Wuerffel said. "The way the All Sports Association has embraced this award and worked so diligently to select the finalists makes me proud to be a part of it. The more people hear about this award, the more their enthusiasm grows because it recognizes athletes that care about others."
Wuerffel Trophy Finalists
Grayling Love, OL, Arizona State
Dane Todd, FB, Nebraska
Luke Johnson, P, Southern Miss.
Ryan Neill, DE, Rutgers
Troy Bienemann, TE, Washington St.
David Thomas, TE, Texas
David Justice, LB, North Carolina
Rudy Niswanger, OL, LSU
James Anderson, LB, Virginia Tech
Ed Wenger, OL, Florida International
Brett Basanez, QB, Northwestern
Antoine Huffman, CB, Kentucky
Brandon Hoyte, LB, Notre Dame
