MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University football redshirt senior and Heisman Trophy Award candidate quarterback
Will Grier was named to the Wuerffel Award Watch List, and junior wide receiver and return specialist
Marcus Simms was named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch list, today, as announced by the organizations associated with the awards.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented annually at the All Sports Association's Awards Banquet in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Grier is passionate about WVU Medicine Children's and has supported the children with numerous visits with his teammates. Being a husband, along with being a father to a young child, Grier feels a connection with the parents and the children at the hospital and loves to visit and give encouragement as much as he can. Last week, the West Virginia Black Bears named Grier a "Hometown Hero" for his service to WVU Medicine Children's.
Grier, the 2018 Big 12 Offensive Preseason Player of the Year and a consensus preseason All-America selection, was the 2017 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and an All-Big 12 Conference performer. He already has been named to the Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien Award Watch Lists.
In 2017, he passed for 3,490 yards and 34 touchdowns before his season ended against Texas when he sustained a season-ending hand injury in the first quarter. His 34 touchdowns were second most in WVU history and he threw for 300 or more yards in nine games, setting a school record. He also recorded multiple touchdowns in 10 games and set the school record for throwing five touchdowns in back-to-back games.
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, now in its ninth season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission, and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award Banquet presented by KentuckyOne Health, to be held at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville in March 2019.
In 2017, Simms was an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree as a kickoff/punt returner after leading the Mountaineers with 1,577 all-purpose yards, ranking No. 27 nationally. He was No. 2 in the league and No. 13 nationally in kickoff returns average with 31 returns for 816 yards, averaging 26.3 yards per return. He also was No. 4 in punt return average, finishing with 17 returns for a 5.8-yard return average. He was fourth on the team in receiving with 35 catches for 663 yards and five touchdowns.
