Shackelford wins 2014 Wuerffel Trophy
The Wuerffel Trophy will be presented to Shackelford Feb. 13 in Fort Walton Beach, FL.
Ole Miss linebacker Deterrian Shackelford is the 2014 winner of the Danny Wuerffel Trophy.
The All Sports Association awards the Wuerffel Trophy to: “the FBS football player that best combines exemplary community service with academic and athletic achievement.”
As any Ole Miss fan can tell you, there is no more-deserving player than Deterrian Shackelford.
The Decatur, Ala., native is a sixth-year senior who also happens to be the Rebels’ only two-time Chucky Mullins Award winner, a high honor given to the Ole Miss football player who best exemplifies Mullins’ spirit and character.
Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winner at Florida, announced Deterrian as the winner today during the National Football Foundation (NFF) morning press conference, as part of the festivities surrounding the NFF Annual Awards Dinner to be held in New York City this evening.
In naming Shackelford the winner, Wuerffel said:
“It’s hard for me to express how excited I am to announce Deterrian Shackelford as the 2014 Wuerffel Trophy winner. This young man truly exemplifies not only all that is good about football, but the important and positive aspects of life.” –– Danny Wuerffel
Deterrian Shackelford celebrates a win over State in his last home game. (Photo credit: Michael Bedgood)
Shackelford has two degrees from Ole Miss, a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in higher education, and has been named five times to the SEC Academic Honor Roll: 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14.
A prior nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy in 2010 and 2013, Shackelford participates in many community service activities. He has been involved with raising funds for cancer research, volunteering to help with anti-hunger campaigns and reading to children in local schools.
Shackelford has also led two different groups of Ole Miss football players on spring break mission trips to Panama and Haiti.
A leader on and off the field, Rebel linebacker Deterrian Shackelford throws up a landshark against State. (Photo credit: Bentley Breland)
Shackelford ranks third on the Ole Miss team with 63 tackles this year and was able to play following approval by the NCAA of a sixth year of eligibility. The NCAA granted the additional year after he missed two seasons with knee injuries earlier in his Rebel career.
The Wuerffel Trophy will be presented at the All Sports Association’s 46th Annual Awards Banquet on Feb. 13 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
