University of Houston Athletics
Photo by: Wilf Thorne/Wilf Thorne Photography
Marcus Jones Selected to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
7/29/2021 9:15:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON – Houston Football senior defensive back Marcus Jones was selected to the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List on Thursday.
Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Florida, Danny Wuerffel, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented in February annually in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The trophy exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society, and inspire greater service in the world.
The honor marks the third preseason watch list selection for Jones. The senior has also been named to the Bednarik Award and the Jim Thorpe Award Watch Lists.
Jones was also recently selected by Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine as the best defensive back in Texas and was tabbed as a first-team cornerback by the publication. Jones was also honored as a preseason first-team All-American by Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports and the Walter Camp Foundation as a return specialist.
Last season as a cornerback, Jones made seven starts, finishing with 24 tackles (18 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups. The Enterprise, Ala., native was also a 2020 PFF All-America Fourth Team as a defensive back.
Jones was also a first-team All-America pick by Phil Steele Magazine, the FWAA and CBS/247 Sports as a return specialist in 2020. He led the FBS in punt return average in 2020 and was the only player in the FBS to have two games with at least 100 punt return yards.
Jones enters the 2021 season with five career return touchdowns (four kickoff + one punt) and has recorded 1,565 kickoff return yards in his three-year career to go along with 507 punt return yards.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments and will close on Oct. 15. An up to date list of nominees can be found at www.wuerffeltrophy.org beginning on Aug. 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 2 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 22.
The formal announcement of the 2021 recipient will be made on Dec. 9 and the presentation of the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy will occur in Feb. 2022 in Fort Walton Beach.
Past recipients of the award are: Rudy Niswanger - Louisiana State University - 2005; Joel Penton - Ohio State University - 2006; Paul Smith - University of Tulsa - 2008; Tim Tebow - University of Florida - 2008; Tim Hiller - Western Michigan University - 2009; Sam Acho - University of Texas - 2010; Barrett Jones - University of Alabama - 2011; Matt Barkley - University of Southern California - 2012; Gabe Ikard - University of Oklahoma - 2013; Deterrian Shackelford - University of Mississippi - 2014; Ty Darlington - University of Oklahoma - 2015; Trevor Knight - Texas A&M University - 2016; Courtney Love - University of Kentucky; 2017; Drue Tranquill - University of Notre Dame; 2018; Jon Wassink - Western Michigan University - 2019; Teton Saltes - University of New Mexico - 2020.
The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast more than 800 recipients, dating back to 1935. The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watch lists over a two-week period this month. Sixteen of the association's 25 awards select a preseason watch list and the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. For the complete 2021 preseason watch list calendar, please click HERE.
The Cougars return 17 starters from last year's squad and open the 2021 season on Sept. 4 inside NRG Stadium for the Texas Kickoff against Texas Tech.
2021 TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for the 2021 Houston Football season start as low as $100 for six games including the Sept. 4 Texas Kickoff against Texas Tech at NRG Stadium.
Fans can click here to purchase their 2021 season tickets today. Mini-plan options are also available for the 2021 season and are available for purchase here.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Florida, Danny Wuerffel, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented in February annually in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The trophy exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society, and inspire greater service in the world.
The honor marks the third preseason watch list selection for Jones. The senior has also been named to the Bednarik Award and the Jim Thorpe Award Watch Lists.
Jones was also recently selected by Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine as the best defensive back in Texas and was tabbed as a first-team cornerback by the publication. Jones was also honored as a preseason first-team All-American by Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports and the Walter Camp Foundation as a return specialist.
Last season as a cornerback, Jones made seven starts, finishing with 24 tackles (18 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups. The Enterprise, Ala., native was also a 2020 PFF All-America Fourth Team as a defensive back.
Jones was also a first-team All-America pick by Phil Steele Magazine, the FWAA and CBS/247 Sports as a return specialist in 2020. He led the FBS in punt return average in 2020 and was the only player in the FBS to have two games with at least 100 punt return yards.
Jones enters the 2021 season with five career return touchdowns (four kickoff + one punt) and has recorded 1,565 kickoff return yards in his three-year career to go along with 507 punt return yards.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments and will close on Oct. 15. An up to date list of nominees can be found at www.wuerffeltrophy.org beginning on Aug. 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 2 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 22.
The formal announcement of the 2021 recipient will be made on Dec. 9 and the presentation of the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy will occur in Feb. 2022 in Fort Walton Beach.
Past recipients of the award are: Rudy Niswanger - Louisiana State University - 2005; Joel Penton - Ohio State University - 2006; Paul Smith - University of Tulsa - 2008; Tim Tebow - University of Florida - 2008; Tim Hiller - Western Michigan University - 2009; Sam Acho - University of Texas - 2010; Barrett Jones - University of Alabama - 2011; Matt Barkley - University of Southern California - 2012; Gabe Ikard - University of Oklahoma - 2013; Deterrian Shackelford - University of Mississippi - 2014; Ty Darlington - University of Oklahoma - 2015; Trevor Knight - Texas A&M University - 2016; Courtney Love - University of Kentucky; 2017; Drue Tranquill - University of Notre Dame; 2018; Jon Wassink - Western Michigan University - 2019; Teton Saltes - University of New Mexico - 2020.
The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast more than 800 recipients, dating back to 1935. The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watch lists over a two-week period this month. Sixteen of the association's 25 awards select a preseason watch list and the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. For the complete 2021 preseason watch list calendar, please click HERE.
The Cougars return 17 starters from last year's squad and open the 2021 season on Sept. 4 inside NRG Stadium for the Texas Kickoff against Texas Tech.
2021 TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for the 2021 Houston Football season start as low as $100 for six games including the Sept. 4 Texas Kickoff against Texas Tech at NRG Stadium.
Fans can click here to purchase their 2021 season tickets today. Mini-plan options are also available for the 2021 season and are available for purchase here.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
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