Bennett Jr. Named to Wuerffel Trophy Preseason Watch List

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.  –  Virginia defensive end Chico Bennett Jr. was named to the preseason Wuerffel Trophy Watch List on Thursday (Aug. 3) Bennett is one of 16 ACC players to make the 110-person watch list.

The Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service,” is presented each February in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.  Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

Bennett appeared in all 10 games for the Cavaliers in 2022 and started the final nine games. He led the UVA defense with seven sacks, with five of them coming against ACC opponents. He accumulated 34 tackles (17 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries (co-led team), forced two fumbles (co-led team) and recovered a fumble in his first season of action at Virginia after transferring from Georgia Tech. He was a two-time ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, only the ninth UVA defensive linemen ever to win ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week twice in the same season.

Bennett is also a nominee for the 2023 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.

Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 2 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 28.

The formal announcement of the 2023 recipient is scheduled to be made on December 7th or 8th during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN, and the presentation of the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy will take place on February 17, 2024, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, GA.

The Wuerffel Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more.