Murray Named A Finalist For 2012 Wuerffel Trophy

FOOTBALL

Georgia junior quarterback Aaron Murray has been named one of eight finalists for the 2012 Wuerffel Trophy, according to an announcement Wednesday from the All Sports Association, Inc.

The Wuerffel Trophy is the national award that honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.

This marks the second consecutive season that the Dawgs have had a finalist in the award’s eight-year history. Punter Drew Butler, who is now starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was included as a finalist in 2011.

A committee that includes the Wuerffel Trophy national directors, selection committee members and past winners, will vote on the finalists later this month, and the winner will be formally announced on December 4th.

The 2012 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented to the winner at the All Sports Association’s 44th Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, February 8, 2013. Murray is one of only two finalists from the Southeastern Conference. Three winners during the award’s seven years have come from the SEC.

Off the field, Murray has been named to the 2011-12 CoSIDA Academic All-District teams. He was recently one of the 11 players nationwide named to 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in May 2012, Murray is now pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. He has been a Dean's List member and on the SEC Academic Honor Roll for three years.

Murray's lengthy ledger of community activities includes volunteering with Home Runs for Hometown Rivals, a softball game at UGA’s Foley Field for Special Olympians; Extra Special People’s “Big Hearts Pageant,” a fundraiser for the organization assisting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families; Wheelchair Football Championships, the state championship organized by the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP); Read Across America, the national program to read a story to young students to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Seuss; and Rolling with the Dawgs, a bowling fundraiser for the Healing Place Of Athens, an Athens-area organization designed to provide their clients encouragement and support while recovering from homelessness and addiction.

He has also volunteered with Camp Sunshine, a camp that provides recreational, educational and support programs for children with cancer and their families; Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer Golf Tournament, an event designed to raise awareness and money for research for a cure to breast cancer; and UGA Catholic Center 5K Human Race, an event that benefits a trio of charities. In addition, Murray has visited local elementary and middle schools and hospitals in Athens, Atlanta and Tampa throughout his Dawg career.

On the field, Murray has developed into one of the nation’s elite at his position. He has been named a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Currently, Murray leads the SEC in passing efficiency at 170.7. In his 25 wins as a starter, Murray has 63 TDs to just 15 INTs. Murray is the SEC’s leading active player in total offensive yards (9,092), completions (628), TD responsibility (93, which is fifth in SEC history), TD passes (83, which is fifth in SEC history) and passing yards (8,854).