By MSNsportsNET.com
November 11, 2009

	Reed Williams

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The All Sports Association, Inc., announced today that West Virginia linebacker Reed Williams is one of 12 finalists for the 2009 Wuerffel Trophy, given to the player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.

The award is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who led the Florida Gators to the 1996 national championship, played six years in the National Football League and has received national recognition for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans and around the country.

"The membership of the All Sports Association is excited and proud of the Wuerffel finalists presented in this year's class,” commented All Sports President Robert McEachern. “The process of selecting the finalists was difficult because of the outstanding quality of our nominations. The nominations clearly revealed we have great student/athletes, as well as men of character and service. We are honored to recognize them and how they help reflect upon what is really good in college football."

Williams, who has 40 tackles in eight games played this season, has garnered several accolades for his diligence in the classroom and in the community. Over the last two weeks, he has been named a Campbell Trophy finalist, an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Two First Team recipient and a finast for the Awards and Recognition Association's sportsmanship award.

The 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player of the Game was named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American in 2007. Williams has also made the Athletic Director's Academic Honorol Roll several times, and is a Big East Academic All-Star and a Dean's List recipient.

A finance major from Moorefield, W.Va., Williams is second on the team in pass breakups despite missing one game due to injury. He was tabbed by Phil Steele as a midseason all-Big East first-team member.

A committee that includes the Wuerffel Trophy national directors and selection committee members will vote on the finalists later this month, and the winner will be formally announced on December 8.

“Once again, I’m amazed to see the list of finalists, and in particular, their amazing accomplishments off the field,” said Danny Wuerffel. “Each year it is harder and harder for all of us on the selection committee to try to narrow it down and pick just one”.

The 2009 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented to the winner at the All Sports Association’s 41th Annual Awards Banquet on February 19, 2010.