BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech linebacker Matt Johnson was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, an award that honors a student-athlete's commitment to serving his community. He is also a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which recognizes FBS student-athletes for their academics and service efforts in the community.
The Wuerffel Trophy, the premier award in college football for community service, is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
The award honors its namesake, Danny Wuerffel, who won the Heisman in 1996 as the quarterback for the Florida Gators.
Johnson (6-0, 226) missed the 2022 season with a knee injury. During his time at Tech, the Richmond, Virginia native has positively impacted the New River Valley. He has been an active participant with Micah's Backpack, a program providing food assistance for students experiencing food insecurities in 10 local schools.
The redshirt senior also took part in a Planting Progress project at Auburn Elementary School in Riner earlier this year. Johnson and other Tech student-athletes planted a community garden to educate students on the benefits of growing your own food and making healthy lifestyle choices.
Among his many other community outreach efforts, he has served alongside Kroger and the Feeding Southwest Virginia Food Bank, packing and delivering holiday boxes for those in need. Johnson also helped conduct a youth football clinic at Blacksburg High School and is often a fixture at Virginia Tech's Child Development Center, participating in various activities with children, including pumpkin painting at Halloween.
The Wuerffel Trophy recipient will be announced in December.
Tech opened fall camp Wednesday, the first of 15 practices in the preseason, and is slated to begin its season against Old Dominion on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can now purchase single-game tickets and choose their preferred seat locations for the season opener.