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Brandner Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
7/18/2017 10:15:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke redshirt senior offensive tackle Gabe Brandner has been named to the preseason watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy. The award, known as “College Football's Premier Award for Community Service,” is presented annually by the All Sports Association in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Brandner, a 6-6, 285-pound Blythewood, S.C., is a preseason All-ACC selection by Lindy's Sports (3rd team) and Athlon Sports (4th team). In 29 career games (24 starts), Brandner has played 1,923 snaps. In addition to his candidacy for the Wuerffel Trophy, Brandner is Duke's nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for excellence in community service.
Last fall, Brandner started the first 11 games of the season at left tackle before suffering a season-ending fractured ankle at Pittsburgh. He was part of a Blue Devil offensive line that helped Duke finish the season as one of four ACC schools to complete at least 62 percent of its pass attempts along with a 2:1 TD-to-INT ratio, joining Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. Brandner and the offensive line helped produce four 200-200 performances as the Blue Devils posted 200+ rushing and 200+ passing yards versus N.C. Central, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
Brandner helped Duke's offensive unit become the lone ACC squad to have zero turnovers in the red zone in league action. His protection contributed to the success of redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Jones, who finished second in the balloting for ACC Rookie of the Year honors after setting or matching 23 school records including most total offensive yards by a freshman (3,322). Brandner also helped open holes for running backs Jela Duncan and Shaun Wilson, who combined to rush for 1,073 yards and 10 TDs while averaging 4.49 yards per carry.
In the classroom, Brandner graduated from Duke in May, 2017 with a degree in evolutionary anthropology and a minor in chemistry and a final grade point average of 3.637. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in liberal studies.
Brandner, a recipient of a 2017 ACC Top 6 for Service honor for excellence in community service, has been extremely involved with the local community, serving with the Lideres Unidos Futbol Club, National Inclusion Project, Habitat for Humanity and Kid's Club in Oxford Manor.
Duke season tickets are available online at www.GoDuke.com/FootballTix or by calling the Duke Athletic Ticket Office at 919-681-2583.
Duke Players on 2017 NCFAA Watch Lists
Bednarik Award: Ben Humphreys
Maxwell Award: Daniel Jones
Mackey Award: Daniel Helm
Rimington Trophy: Austin Davis
Outland Trophy: Austin Davis and Evan Lisle
Paul Hornung Award: Shaun Wilson
Biletnikoff Award: T.J. Rahming
Wuerffel Trophy: Gabe Brandner
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