North Carolina State University Athletics
Cole Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
7/17/2017 2:46:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State junior punter A.J. Cole III has been named to the watch list for the 2017 Wuerffel Trophy, which honors college football's "top community servant." Cole has also been nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and is on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award.
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Cole has been a standout performer on and off the field for the Wolfpack, starting at punter in all 26 games of his career. He enters his junior campaign with the fourth-best career punting average in school history at 41.5 yards per kick. His 4,854 punting yards rank 11th in the career record books, while his 117 punts tie as the 15th-most in school history.
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Off the field, Cole has been just as dynamic. A two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection, he has been one of the team's top volunteers in the community. In addition to frequent visits to schools and other service initiatives, he has spent the past three spring breaks in Nakuru, Kenya, ministering to the children at Mountain Park Academy with a group from the FCA.
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Each year, he has recruited more and more of his teammates to raise the funds and travel with him (in 2017, five current and former NC State players spent their spring breaks there). He has gathered clothing and other items to take with him, sponsors a young man to attend school there and has solicited others to sponsor other children, resulting in at least 10 children now being able to attend school without their parents having to pay.Â
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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 Florida. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
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Cole has been a standout performer on and off the field for the Wolfpack, starting at punter in all 26 games of his career. He enters his junior campaign with the fourth-best career punting average in school history at 41.5 yards per kick. His 4,854 punting yards rank 11th in the career record books, while his 117 punts tie as the 15th-most in school history.
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Off the field, Cole has been just as dynamic. A two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection, he has been one of the team's top volunteers in the community. In addition to frequent visits to schools and other service initiatives, he has spent the past three spring breaks in Nakuru, Kenya, ministering to the children at Mountain Park Academy with a group from the FCA.
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Each year, he has recruited more and more of his teammates to raise the funds and travel with him (in 2017, five current and former NC State players spent their spring breaks there). He has gathered clothing and other items to take with him, sponsors a young man to attend school there and has solicited others to sponsor other children, resulting in at least 10 children now being able to attend school without their parents having to pay.Â
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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 Florida. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Players Mentioned
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