Buchanan a Wuerffel Award Finalist – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 10, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior punter Ben Buchanan, a strategic communications major from Westerville, Ohio, has been named a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented by the All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The award is presented to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Buchanan, who ranks second nationally with 11 punts inside the 10-yard line, seventh nationally with 20 inside the 20 and averages 41.3 yards per punt, is actively involved in the community. His community involvement predates his enrolling at Ohio State, and it has remained impressive since he’s been at Ohio State.
- He has been a part of three medical missions to Honduras, Central America.
- His most recent was after his freshman year at Ohio State, when in the summer of 2009 he spent a week in Honduras with a team of doctors and volunteers building a dental clinic, seeing patients and filling prescriptions.
- While a Buckeye, Buchanan has also engaged in efforts with Athletes in Action, the 2nd and 7 Foundation, the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, the Ohio State Medical Center, the Westerville Youth Football Camp and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
- His volunteer activities include serving meals at the YMCA homeless shelter and at the Bryden House, and packing Thanksgiving food bags for the food pantry.
- He was Ohio State’s football representative to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital “Putt for Hope” in Central Ohio, benefitting cancer research.
Buchanan, a three-year starter, is also one of three representatives to Ohio State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board.
There have been only six prior Wuerffel Trophy winners and Ohio State is proud to have one honoree on that select list: Joel Penton, a defensive tackle from Van Wert, Ohio, was the second person to win the Wuerffel Trophy, in 2006.
Past Wuerffel Trophy Winners
2010 – Sam Acho, University of Texas
2009 – Tim Hiller, Western Michigan University
2008 – Tim Tebow, University of Florida
2007 – Paul Smith, University of Tulsa
2006 – Joel Penton, The Ohio State University
2005 – Rudy Niswanger, Louisiana State University
