ORLANDO – After receiving a nomination for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team earlier this month, UCF football offensive lineman Paul Rubelt has been named to the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.
Rubelt is one of a record 116 nominees to the watch list. Widely regarded as college football’s premier award for community service, the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy celebrates student-athletes who use their platforms to serve others and create positive change. 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 21st anniversary of the trophy’s founding.
Rubelt fits the bill of the award, exemplifying community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement. He’s been heavily involved in the community, putting in more than 50 hours of community service over the past year while helping SAAC achieve 914 hours as a unit and the football team to 979 hours.
Some of Rubelt’s community involvement includes delivering food to the homeless and working food drives, wrapping gifts for underprivileged children, working with Team Impact and helping the UCF community get signed up to vote. He also was a part of visiting patients at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, helping them design UCF helmet logos for the 2024 spring game and eventually UCF’s Sep. 7, 2024 game against Sam Houston State to recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Last season, Rubelt graded out at 78.7% in pass blocking, second best among starters. He helped UCF finish fifth nationally in rushing offense, leading the Big 12 at 248.1 yards per game. He also paved the way for a Knights offense that was second in the conference and 14th in the nation in total offense, averaging 447.8 yards per contest.
The 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists and recipient will be selected by a national voting committee, with input from a fan vote. The 2025 recipient will also serve as Captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 12th, airing on ESPN. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala will follow on January 31, 2026, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
About UCF Athletics
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.