The Wuerffel Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to inspire greater service and unity in our communities, today announced JD Bertrand, Notre Dame (SR LB), Blake Corum, Michigan (SR RB) and Ladd McConkey, Georgia (JR WR) as the three 2023 finalists for The Wuerffel Trophy.
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.
The 2022 Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Year, Bertrand has led the Irish in total tackles the past three seasons with 101 in 2021, 82 in ‘22 and 75 this season. He has piled up 23 tackles for a loss in his career and ranks second on the 2023 team in quarterback hurries with six (to go along with his 2.5 sacks). A fifth-year player, Bertrand has appeared in 49 games with 34 starts.
A two-year team captain who elevates everyone around him, Bertrand has played a key role in Notre Dame’s 39-11 record the past three seasons, including a No. 18 ranking in 2022 and a win in the Gator Bowl; a No. 8 finish in 2021 and an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl; and a No. 5 ending in 2020 after an appearance in the College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl. The 2023 Fighting Irish enter the postseason with a 9-3 record and No. 16 national ranking.
An Eagle Scout who was selected as a member of the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Bertrand credits his mother for his commitment to community service. He has done extensive work with Uplifting Athletes, serving as the chapter president for two years and earning a spot on the organization’s Rare Disease Champion Team in 2022. After the pandemic, he played a role in staging multiple events for the organization, raising more than $80,000. He donates part of his scholarship check and NIL earnings to charity, and he visits the Ronald McDonald House before every home game.
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, GA.