Emerich Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – Syracuse redshirt senior center Jason Emerich has been named to the preseason watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy. The award is presented annually by the All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

Emerich is one of a record 88 FBS players on this year's watch list, including 15 from the ACC to lead all conferences.

On the field, Emerich is a member of the 2016 Rimington Trophy Watch List, presented to the nation's best center. He's played in 26 career games with 12 starts. Last season, Emerich moved into the starting lineup in Week 3 against Central Michigan and started the last 10 games. He recorded five knockdown blocks and graded out the highest of any Orange lineman in Syracuse's matchup against No. 8 LSU. He also helped Syracuse rush for 242 yards against top-ranked Clemson, the most rushing yards allowed by the Tigers in 2015.

Off the field, Emerich is president of the Syracuse University chapter of Uplifting Athletes, which is a nonprofit organization made up of a national network of chapters dedicated to inspiring the rare disease community through the power of sport. In his role as president, Emerich organized the 2015 "Lift for Life," which raised more than $11,000 for rare disease research. He is also currently coordinating this year's "Lift for Life" event, which will be held Wednesday, July 20 at Manley Field House.

In addition to his work with Uplifting Athletes, Emerich is a two-time ACC Honor Roll selection and was voted to the 2015 All-ACC Academic Football Team. Emerich has been named to the SU Athletic Director's Honor Roll (min. 3.0 GPA) six times and he will represent the Orange at next week's ACC Kickoff media event in Charlotte, N.C.

The Wuerffel Trophy is named in honor of former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel. It is the only major college football award that places the majority of its voting emphasis on community service. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 3 and finalists will be announced on Nov. 23. The formal announcement of the 2016 recipient will be made Dec. 6 at the National Football Foundation's press conference in New York City.

Syracuse opens the 2016 season at home on Friday, Sept. 2 against Colgate. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Carrier Dome.

Season tickets for Orange football are on sale now online, by phone (888-DOMETIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Tickets start at $99 ($16.50 per game) with lower-level seats in the end zones available for as little as $125.

Single-game tickets for all home games except Florida State are also on sale. Tickets start at $20 for non-conference games against Colgate and USF, $25 for the Louisville and NC State games, and $30 for the Virginia Tech contest. Florida State tickets are tentatively scheduled to go on sale July 26.

Syracuse Players on 2016 NCFAA Watch Lists
Rimington Trophy: Jason Emerich
Lou Groza Award: Cole Murphy
Wuerffel Trophy: Jason Emerich

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Jason Emerich

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