Toledo, OH – Junior long snapper Brad Spelman (Hilliard, OH) was named to the official watch list for the 2016 Wuerffel Trophy. The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented annually by the All Sports Association in Fort Walton Beach. The award is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Florida. It is awarded to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. 

         Spelman was also named a nominee for the All State AFCA Good Works Team, which honors players who are involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.

         Spelman is a two-year starter for the Rockets. He was an Academic All-MAC selection in 2015. Spelman is very involved in numerous community service projects, including the following:
 

• Feed My Starving Children volunteer, 2014, 2015, 2016. Assisted with packing and shipping of food to starving children around the world.
• United Way Free Tax Preparation Program coordinator, 2016. Provided free tax preparation for low-income residents (video link)
• Glass City Marathon Kids Run volunteer, 2015. Hosted and supported children in the Kids Run at the Glass City Marathon.
• Toledo Crash Wheelchair Football volunteer, 2014, 2015, 2016. Part of Toledo football team's annual wheelchair game vs. the Toledo Crash.
• Toledo Football Victory Day volunteer, 2014, 2015. Part of Toledo football team's annual Victory Day which gives physically challenged youngsters a chance to play football at the Glass Bowl fo a day.
• Tent City volunteer, 2014, 2015. Volunteer social coordinator for Tent City, which provides free medical screenings and treatment to the homeless.
• Hospital visits, 2014, 2015. Visited children at Toledo Children's Hospital as part of Toledo Football Team.
• Boys and Girls Club, 2014. Volunteer for two events at Toledo Boys and Girls Club.

 
            Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information departments and will close on October 14.  Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 3 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 23.  The formal announcement of the 2016 recipient will be on Dec. 6 at the National Football Foundation's press conference in New York City. The presentation of the 2016 Wuerffel Trophy will occur at the 48th Annual All Sports Association Awards Banquet on Feb. 10, 2017 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

            Past winners of the Wuerffel Trophy are:  Rudy Niswanger (LSU-2005), Joel Penton (Ohio State-2006), Paul Smith (Tulsa-2007), Tim Tebow (Florida-2008), Tim Hiller (W. Michigan-2009), Sam Acho (Texas-2010), Barrett Jones (Alabama-2011), Matt Barkley (USC-2012), Gabe Ikard (Oklahoma-2013), Deterrian Shackelford (Ole Miss-2014) and Ty Darlington (Oklahoma-2015).

        The All State AFCA Good Works Team  was established in 1992 to recognize a select group of college football players who have made a commitment to service and enriching the lives of others.
 In honor of the 25th anniversary, Allstate and the AFCA will add three additional spots to this year's team and announce a final roster of 25 members in September. For the first time in the award's history, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® will be comprised of 12 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, 12 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA and an honorary head coach.
 
        From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team members and prominent college football media members will select the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.