Willie Rodriguez Earns Spot on Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Kentucky tight end Willie Rodriguez has been named one of 113 nominees for the 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, it was announced today.
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, widely regarded as college football’s premier award for community service, recognizes college football players from across the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) who exemplify community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement.
Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winner and University of Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who turned his football success into a lifelong mission of service, the award reflects his legacy of leadership and humanitarianism. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the trophy’s founding.
Rodriguez, a native of Taylor Mill, Kentucky, is a junior management major. The two-year letterwinner has played in 24 career games with 10 starting assignments and has totaled 28 receptions for 310 yards and one score in his Wildcat career.
Rodriguez’s commitment to service began at home, where he has helped care for his younger sister, Gabby, 19, who has Rett syndrome, a rare neurological and developmental disorder that primarily affects girls and impacts the way the brain develops. From an early age, he embraced the responsibilities of helping care for Gabby, assisting with her daily needs while serving as one of her biggest advocates and supporters. Through that experience, Rodriguez developed a deep sense of compassion, patience, and empathy that has shaped his character and inspired his desire to make a positive impact on those around him. The lessons he has learned from Gabby have fueled his passion for serving others, especially children, and have helped mold him into a servant leader who consistently puts the needs of others before his own.
Some of his community service events include volunteering at Golisano Children’s Hospital, volunteering at Easterseals of the Bluegrass, a non-profit in Lexington that supports individuals and families with disabilities, volunteering to help at a shoe drive to benefit Camp Horsin’ Around, a local nonprofit that enriches the lives of children whose health is compromised or who have special needs by collaborating with organized groups to provide an outdoor camp adventure and volunteering at Gabby’s high school, Scott High School, where he played games and spent time with her classmates.
For the third consecutive year, the Wuerffel Foundation is partnering with Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to unite college football’s top community service honors with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. In September, 11 student-athletes from the Watch List will be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and become semifinalists for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists will be selected by the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy National Selection Committee, with input from a fan vote. The 2026 recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 11, and also serve as captain of the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The 2026 recipient and finalists will be invited to join Wuerffel in New York City for Heisman Trophy events, including the Wuerffel Foundation’s Picklebowl: Heisman Edition. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala will follow in February 2027 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
Kentucky’s Courtney Love won the coveted Wuerffel Trophy in 2017.
