FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. --San Diego State junior cornerback Ron Smith has been named a Wuerffel Trophy nominee, presented by the Chick-fil-A Foundation in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Smith is one of 104 players on the list, which goes out to FBS players that best combine exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Smith has started the last 26 games at cornerback for the Aztecs. On the season, Smith has 29 tackles (18 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup in seven games. Over his career, Smith, who has played in all 34 games the last two-plus seasons, has 148 tackles (94 solo), three tackles for loss, five interceptions, 19 pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
A two-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete (2016-17) and two-time MW Fall All-Academic Team member (2016-17), Smith has also won the Malik Award at SDSU (highest GPA in a semester) and been a recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award, which is presented to student-athletes of color who exhibit academic excellence and community activism.
Smith has spent extensive time volunteering with the community since his arrival on The Mesa, including working with Feeding America and Feeding San Diego, being panelists for various conferences and participating in walks for ALS and Martin Luther King.
Deemed the "College Football's Premier Award to Community Service," the Wuerffel Trophy is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the Univ. of Florida. Voting for the Trophy is performed by a national selection committee that includes college football television and print media, industry notables, former head coaches and prior Wuerffel Trophy recipients.
Receiving votes in the latest AP poll and the Amway Coaches Poll, San Diego State (6-1, 3-0 MW) has won six consecutive games since falling in the opener at No. 13/13 Stanford. The Aztecs are one of just four FBS teams to have at least a six-game winning streak in each of the last four seasons (2015-18) (also Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State).
SDSU plays at Nevada (4-4, 2-2 MW) at 7:30 p.m. PT Saturday in Reno, Nev.