The Wuerffel Foundation announced on Thursday that UCLA's Chase Griffin has been named to The Wuerffel Trophy watch list for the 2023 season, consisting of 110 players from college football's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). College football's premier award for community service, The Wuerffel Trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida who parlayed his success on the football field into a lifetime of service.
Griffin was a finalist for the 2023 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year award after being recognized as the sport winner for football. The senior quarterback has earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA in public affairs and a graduate degree in transformative coaching and leadership. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in legal studies. In 2022, Griffin was chosen as the NIL Male Athlete of the Year at the annual NIL Summit. His numerous community service endeavors include experiences with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the Boost Mobile Holiday event, LA After School All-Stars, Be the Match Marrow Donor Registry and the LA Unified Schools.
Griffin, from Round Rock, Texas, took snaps at quarterback in relief versus Alabama State and at Colorado during the 2022 season. He debuted in 2020, completing 40 of 62 passes for 451 yards and six touchdowns across four games played. Griffin has started two contests and guided the Bruins to a 2020 victory against Arizona. In the 2020 season finale, he tossed four touchdowns versus Stanford. Griffin has been a frequent contributor to the scout team throughout his career.
In the classroom, Griffin has made the UCLA Athletic Director's Honor Roll 12 times for holding a GPA of at least 3.0 while passing at least 12 quarter units. He is a two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll member, eclipsing a 3.3 GPA in Fall 2022 and Fall 2020. He was also the winner of the UCLA Athletics Academic & Student Services Success Award in 2021.
Griffin has been active serving the UCLA community, in and out of the athletic department. Recipient of the UCLA Chancellor's Service Award and UCLA Athletics Bruin Leadership Award in 2021, he is the football program's representative in the Bruin Athletic Council leadership group and been an integral part of the Pac-12's Student-Athlete Leadership Team. Griffin was also the football team's volunteer representative for the Voting Matters Initiative, which focuses on voter education and voter registration within the Bruin student-athlete population. He has also collaborated with UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital through the Starlight Children's Foundation.
A portion of Griffin's Name, Image and Likeness proceeds go directly to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank's BackPack Program, which benefits children who rely on school meals to not go hungry. Griffin and his Be11eve Brand have donated more than 60,000 meals and won the GoFundMe College Charity Challenge for the work accomplished with Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
This is the latest honor recognizing Griffin for his achievements on and off the field of play. He was named UCLA's nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, rewarding "exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field," in 2022. He was also tabbed to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, in 2022. Griffin is now a three-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar and first-time finalist.
Griffin was a finalist for the 2023 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year award after being recognized as the sport winner for football. The senior quarterback has earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA in public affairs and a graduate degree in transformative coaching and leadership. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in legal studies. In 2022, Griffin was chosen as the NIL Male Athlete of the Year at the annual NIL Summit. His numerous community service endeavors include experiences with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the Boost Mobile Holiday event, LA After School All-Stars, Be the Match Marrow Donor Registry and the LA Unified Schools.
Griffin, from Round Rock, Texas, took snaps at quarterback in relief versus Alabama State and at Colorado during the 2022 season. He debuted in 2020, completing 40 of 62 passes for 451 yards and six touchdowns across four games played. Griffin has started two contests and guided the Bruins to a 2020 victory against Arizona. In the 2020 season finale, he tossed four touchdowns versus Stanford. Griffin has been a frequent contributor to the scout team throughout his career.
In the classroom, Griffin has made the UCLA Athletic Director's Honor Roll 12 times for holding a GPA of at least 3.0 while passing at least 12 quarter units. He is a two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll member, eclipsing a 3.3 GPA in Fall 2022 and Fall 2020. He was also the winner of the UCLA Athletics Academic & Student Services Success Award in 2021.
Griffin has been active serving the UCLA community, in and out of the athletic department. Recipient of the UCLA Chancellor's Service Award and UCLA Athletics Bruin Leadership Award in 2021, he is the football program's representative in the Bruin Athletic Council leadership group and been an integral part of the Pac-12's Student-Athlete Leadership Team. Griffin was also the football team's volunteer representative for the Voting Matters Initiative, which focuses on voter education and voter registration within the Bruin student-athlete population. He has also collaborated with UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital through the Starlight Children's Foundation.
A portion of Griffin's Name, Image and Likeness proceeds go directly to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank's BackPack Program, which benefits children who rely on school meals to not go hungry. Griffin and his Be11eve Brand have donated more than 60,000 meals and won the GoFundMe College Charity Challenge for the work accomplished with Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
This is the latest honor recognizing Griffin for his achievements on and off the field of play. He was named UCLA's nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, rewarding "exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field," in 2022. He was also tabbed to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, in 2022. Griffin is now a three-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar and first-time finalist.