Nov. 11, 2013
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FORT WALTON BEACH, Florida — University of Iowa senior linebacker James Morris has been named a finalist for the 2013 Wuerffel Trophy. The All Sports Association and the Wuerffel Trophy announced the 12 finalists Monday. The winner of the 2013 Wuerffel Trophy will be announced Tuesday, Dec. 10.
The Wuerffel Trophy is named in honor of former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who led Florida to the 1996 national title before playing in the NFL for six years. The trophy is presented each year to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
Morris, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior from Solon, Iowa, has been in the Hawkeye starting lineup since playing as a true freshman in 2010. He ranks seventh in career tackles (374) and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following wins over Minnesota and Northwestern. Morris leads the Hawkeyes in sacks (5) and shares the team lead in tackles for loss (10) and interceptions (3).
Morris is one of 16 college football players to be named a National Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation. The 16 National Scholar-Athletes comprise the list of finalists for the 2013 William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes the best scholar-athlete in the nation.
Morris is also one of 20 quarterfinalists for the annual Lott IMPACT Trophy, and was named to preseason Watch Lists for the Butkus, Bednarik and Nagurski awards. He was a permanent team captain as a junior and has twice earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition.
Morris has been an academic standout at Iowa, earning District VI Academic All-America honors as a junior and senior, while twice being named Academic All-Big Ten. He is a political science major with a 3.84 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale). He was honored last spring by the UI political science department as the recipient of the Third House Scholar Award. He is in his fourth year as a member of the UI Leadership Group.
Iowa (6-4, 3-3) is idle this weekend. The Hawkeyes host Michigan in their final home game on Saturday, Nov. 23 and close the regular season at Nebraska on Friday, Nov. 29. Iowa is bowl eligible for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons.
Tickets remain on sale for the home finale against the Wolverines. Tickets can be purchased at hawkeyesports.com, by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS, or in person at the UI athletics ticket office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.