Longhorns’ offensive tackle Christian Jones selected to Wuerffel Trophy watch list
Texas sixth-year senior offensive tackle Christian Jones has been selected to the preseason Wuerffel Trophy watch list, the award committee announced on Thursday in Atlanta. The Wuerffel Trophy is award annually to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with academic and athletic achievement.
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Texas defensive lineman Sam Acho was honored with award in 2010. The Wuerffel Trophy is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who set 17 NCAA and University of Florida records, led the nation in touchdown passes, and earned the SEC Player of the Year title in 1996.
Wuerffel also won the Campbell Award (presented to the nation’s top scholar athlete) in 1996 and is one of only two athletes to earn both the Heisman and the Campbell Award.
Jones has played in 48 games with 35 starts in his five seasons on the 40 Acres. Last season, the Cypress, Texas native played in and started all 13 games at right tackle for Texas and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.
Off the field, Jones is extremely active and a mainstay on the team in service to the community. He has spoken at Kid’s Day at the George Washington Carver Museum in Austin, participated in Habitat for Humanity building projects, and assisted with cleanup efforts following Hurricane Harvey. He has also made visits to Dell Children’s Medical Center, took part in the Children’s, Inc. Parade and the Austin ISD KidsFest Festival.
Last season, Jones was part of an offensive line that blocked for unanimous All-American and Doak Walker Award-winning running back Bijan Robinson, who in 2022 rushed for 1,580 yards on 258 carries and 18 touchdowns, and quarterback Quinn Ewers, who passed for 2,177 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, the fourth-most in a season for a Longhorn freshman.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy can be made by the respective universities’ Sports Information Departments through Oct. 16. Semifinalists for the award will be announced Nov. 2, and finalists will be revealed on Nov. 28.
The formal announcement of the 2023 recipient will made on Dec. 7 or 8 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN, and the presentation of the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy will take place on Feb. 17 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Longhorn watch list representation
- Quinn Ewers, Xavier Worthy named to Maxwell Award watch list
- Kelvin Banks named to Outland Trophy watch list
- Jaylan Ford named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list
- Ryan Sanborn named to the Ray Guy Award watch list
- Bert Auburn named to Lou Groza Award watch list
- Texas WR Xavier Worthy named to Paul Hornung Award watch list
