Texas Tech University Athletics
Roberts recognized on Wuerffel Trophy watch list
August 11, 2026 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech's Ben Roberts was announced Tuesday as a nominee for the 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy by the Wuerffel Foundation. The award honors Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players who lead through community service while excelling in the classroom and on the field.
Roberts is one of 113 nominees from across the FBS recognized for using their platforms to serve others and make a positive impact in their communities.
The Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service, is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winner and former Florida quarterback. The award reflects Wuerffel's lifelong commitment to leadership, service and unity.
"It's an honor to recognize these student-athletes for the difference they are making in the lives of others," Wuerffel said. "Their commitment to service demonstrates the powerful impact college athletes can have both on and off the field."
For the third consecutive year, the Wuerffel Foundation is partnering with Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to unite college football's top community service honors with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. In September, 11 student-athletes from the Watch List will be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and become semifinalists for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists will be selected by the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy National Selection Committee, with input from a fan vote. The 2026 recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 11 and will also serve as captain of the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The 2026 recipient and finalists will be invited to join Wuerffel in New York City for Heisman Trophy events, including the Wuerffel Foundation's Picklebowl: Heisman Edition. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala will follow in February 2027 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Past recipients of the Wuerffel Trophy
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 – Southern California – 2012; Gabe Ikard – Oklahoma – 2013; Deterrian Shackelford – Mississippi – 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; Dillan Gibbons – Florida State – 2022; Ladd McConkey – Georgia – 2023; Nick Dawkins – Penn State – 2024; and Michael Taaffe – Texas – 2025.
About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy/NCFAA
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), is college football's premier award for community service. The NCFAA encompasses college football's most prestigious awards and includes 16 members unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
Roberts is one of 113 nominees from across the FBS recognized for using their platforms to serve others and make a positive impact in their communities.
The Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service, is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winner and former Florida quarterback. The award reflects Wuerffel's lifelong commitment to leadership, service and unity.
"It's an honor to recognize these student-athletes for the difference they are making in the lives of others," Wuerffel said. "Their commitment to service demonstrates the powerful impact college athletes can have both on and off the field."
For the third consecutive year, the Wuerffel Foundation is partnering with Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to unite college football's top community service honors with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. In September, 11 student-athletes from the Watch List will be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and become semifinalists for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists will be selected by the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy National Selection Committee, with input from a fan vote. The 2026 recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 11 and will also serve as captain of the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The 2026 recipient and finalists will be invited to join Wuerffel in New York City for Heisman Trophy events, including the Wuerffel Foundation's Picklebowl: Heisman Edition. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala will follow in February 2027 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Past recipients of the Wuerffel Trophy
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 – Southern California – 2012; Gabe Ikard – Oklahoma – 2013; Deterrian Shackelford – Mississippi – 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; Dillan Gibbons – Florida State – 2022; Ladd McConkey – Georgia – 2023; Nick Dawkins – Penn State – 2024; and Michael Taaffe – Texas – 2025.
About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy/NCFAA
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), is college football's premier award for community service. The NCFAA encompasses college football's most prestigious awards and includes 16 members unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
- Wed., Aug. 12: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
- Thu., Aug. 13: Butkus Award
- Fri., Aug. 14: Ray Guy Award
- Mon., Aug. 17: Walter Camp Award
- Tue., Aug. 18: Doak Walker Award
- Wed., Aug. 19: Biletnikoff Award
- Thu., Aug. 20: Davey O'Brien Award
- Fri., Aug. 21: Bednarik Award
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballSaturday, August 08
Friday, August 07
Thursday, August 06
Thursday, August 06