NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt senior linebacker Elijah McAllister has earned a spot on the Wuerffel Trophy watch list.
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, Florida. The trophy exists to honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society and inspire greater service in the world.
Earlier this month, McAllister was named a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. To be on the AFCA squad, a student-athlete must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.
On Vanderbilt’s campus, McAllister is the co-founder and co-president of the Black Student-Athlete Group (BSAG). During the fall of 2020, the BSAG paired with Vandy Votes, Vanderbilt Athletics and the Dean of Students Office to host a voter registration drive Sept. 22 at Vanderbilt Stadium. McAllister and volunteers helped participants register to vote that day.
Beginning in 2019, McAllister helped form and continues to work with Turner’s Heroes which was created in honor of former football teammate Turner Cockrell. The organization provides patients at children’s hospitals a means of escape and enjoyment, as well as opportunities for engagement, through superhero-themed events and to raise funds for pediatric cancer research.
Dancing Dores is another of McAllister’s points of involvement as he raised more than $1,000 for it in 2019. The event, which he took over as the captain of in the spring of 2021, is the Vanderbilt Athletics area of the Vanderbilt University Dance Marathon, an annual event raising funds and support for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
McAllister has also been involved with the Vanderbilt Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Nashville tornado relief outreach, Project Safe and Second Spoon.
The Rumson, New Jersey, native missed the 2020 season due to injury, but played in all 12 games during the 2019 season, booking 26 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and three quarterback hurries.
Semifinalists for the Wuerffel Trophy will be announced Nov. 2 and finalists Nov. 22.
The formal announcement of the 2021 recipient will be made Dec. 9 and the presentation of the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy will occur in February in Fort Walton Beach.
The Commodores are set to kick off the 2021 season by hosting East Tennessee State at 7 p.m. on Sept. 4. Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets are available through the Vanderbilt ticket office.
Vanderbilt Student-Athletes on 2021 NCFAA Watch Lists
Bednarik Award: Anfernee Orji
Doak Walker Award: Re’Mahn Davis
Butkus Award: Anfernee Orji
Wuerffel Award: Elijah McAllister
