Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

San Jose State senior Bryce Crawford not only gets his kicks in as the Spartans’ record-setting placekicker, he’s also a Dean’s Scholar student who contributes to the good of the local community.

Crawford, a Frisco, Texas native, is one of 106 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players named to the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy watch list, which was named after former University of Florida and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel. The award is presented annually to a football player that best exemplifies community service with athletics and academics.

The 6-foot-3 player has a wide range of community service activities in his three-plus years as a San Jose State student. He offers his time to youngsters through annual Easter egg hunts and after school reading programs, to senior citizens at local care facilities, to recording public service announcements, thanking U.S. service men and women on Veterans’ Day, and participating in the annual local Walk A Mile In Her Shoes initiative to raise awareness against domestic violence towards females.

Academically, Crawford is a three-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete and a two-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree to go along with his Dean’s Scholar status at San Jose State.

Crawford heads into the 2018 season on the Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicking Award watch list. He shared the national lead last year for kicking five field goals of 50 or more yards and was 14-of-17 overall as a field goal kicker. In three seasons, he’s 31-of-37 as a field goal kicker, which equals a 83.8% conversion rate.

Semifinalists will be announced on November 1. Finalists will be revealed on November 19. The winner will be named on December 4 at the National Football Foundation’s New York City news conference and honored at an awards banquet scheduled for February 15, 2019.