The Wuerffel Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to inspire greater service and unity in our communities, today announced JD Bertrand of Notre Dame, Blake Corum of Michigan and Ladd McConkey of Georgia as the three finalists for The Wuerffel Trophy.
McConkey is a native of Chatsworth and a North Murray High School graduate.
College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service, and one of the most meaningful awards in collegiate sports, The Wuerffel Trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida who pivoted his success on the football field into a lifetime of service. The Wuerffel Trophy embodies Danny’s commitment to being a humanitarian, while honoring student-athletes who serve others and make a positive impact on society.
Ladd McConkey, Georgia
While winning back-to-back National Championships and scoring 2 touchdownss in the 2022 national title game is the pinnacle of a student-athlete’s career accomplishments, what Ladd McConkey does off the field is just as impressive. From supporting Georgia DFCS and Elks Aidmore Therapeutic Care who provide therapeutic services and other resources for foster children, he supports kids being treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Georgia, is in the UGA Leadership Education and Development program, connects children with the joy of reading and regularly assists programs that support food insecurity in underserved communities, among other community initiatives.
JD Bertrand, Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time team captain, JD Bertrand started volunteering when he was 3 years old for Must Ministries, as his family was instrumental in packing lunches at a church for those in need. His commitment to service never stopped, as Bertrand is serving his second term as chapter president of Uplifting Athletes, an organization that provides experiences for children with rare diseases. Due to his leadership, the chapter has raised over $100,000 for children served. He visits his local Ronald McDonald House each Friday before home football games, is an Eagle Scout, and leverages his NIL deals to support these organizations in need.
Blake Corum, Michigan
A unanimous First-Team All-American in 2022, Corum says, “Football is my passion, but giving back is my purpose.” Highlights of his community service include leadership of his annual Give Back 2 Thanks event, a Thanksgiving drive that provided 600 turkey meals in 2023 and over 1000 meals during his Michigan career; he hosts an annual BC2 Youth Football Camp in his hometown in Virginia and is always a leader of community service projects when the team is on the road. Corum leverages NIL deals to support kids in underserved communities and was the recipient of the Bank of Ann Arbor Community Award for his efforts to support families in need in neighboring Ypsilanti.
“Congratulations to Ladd, Blake, and JD for being named 2023 Wuerffel Trophy finalists. These amazing student-athletes are true servant leaders, and I am proud of the impact they have had serving their communities,” remarked Wuerffel. “We are honored to invite the final recipient to the Heisman Ceremony and Gala in New York City. Special thanks to our selection committee, who succeed each year at the challenging task of narrowing our list of 100+ FBS nominees to three finalists.”
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy were made by the respective universities’ Sports Information Departments. The formal announcement of the 2023 recipient is scheduled to be made on December 8th live, during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN, and the formal presentation of the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy will take place February 17, 2024, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Past recipients of the Wuerffel Trophy include Rudy Niswanger – LSU – 2005; Joel Penton – Ohio State – 2006; Paul Smith – Tulsa – 2007; Tim Tebow – Florida – 2008; Tim Hiller – Western Michigan – 2009; Sam Acho – Texas – 2010; Barrett Jones – Alabama – 2011; Matt Barkley – USC – 2012; Gabe Ikard – Oklahoma – 2013; Deterrian Shackelford – Ole Miss – 2014; Ty
Darlington – Oklahoma – 2015; Trevor Knight – Texas A&M – 2016; Courtney Love – Kentucky – 2017; Drue Tranquill – Notre Dame – 2018; Jon Wassink – Western Michigan – 2019; Teton Saltes – New Mexico – 2020; Isaiah Sanders – Stanford– 2021 and Dillan Gibbons – Florida State – 2022.
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 24 awards now boast more than 900 recipients, dating back to 1935. For more information on the NCFAA, visit NCFAA.org.
The Wuerffel Trophy is supported by its corporate partners Dart Container Corporation/Solo Cup and Herff Jones.