Robi Stuart Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

By: Greg Hotchkiss
ATLANTA, Ga.—Central Michigan senior defensive lineman Robi Stuart was named to the prestigious Wuerffel Trophy Watch List by the Wuerffel Foundation, announced earlier this week. He is among 108 college football players at the FBS, FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels nominated for the prestigious community service award.
College Football's Premier Award for Community Service, and one of the most meaningful awards in collegiate sports, 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. The Wuerffel Trophy embodies Danny's commitment to being a humanitarian, while honoring student-athletes who are inspired to serve others and make positive impacts on society.
A two-time All-MAC selection and four-time Academic All-MAC selection, Stuart recently earned the Mid-American Conference's Medal of Excellence Award in May, which is the league's most distinguished academic/athletic award. Last year, he was named a semifinalist for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy, awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the nation's top scholar-athlete in college football. He is a three-time Academic All-MAC honoree who holds a bachelor of science degree with a major in neuroscience and minor in psychology. He has a 4.0 grade point average.
He has been named a consensus preseason All-MAC team player by every college football media entity.
Stuart is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in neuroscience and will play one more season of football for the Chippewas in 2023. His career goal is to be in on the research field for head trauma for football players.
In 2021, Stuart received the Michael R. Sadler Division I Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, given by the NFF-Michigan Chapter. The award is named in honor of the late Michigan State punter, a four-time Academic All-American, who was killed in a car accident in 2016. Throughout his career, he has earned various honors including the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District award, NFF Hampshire Honor Society honors, and garnered the MAC Distinguished Scholar-Award award. The Honor Roll student was also listed on the President's List at Central Michigan.
A Saginaw, Mich. native who attended Nouvel Catholic Central High School, Stuart started 10 of CMU's 12 games in 2023 at defensive tackle and contributed 29 tackles (15 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss for 21 yards, one sack, a quarterback hurry, and a forced fumble. In his five-year collegiate career, Stuart has accumulated 104 total tackles, (52 solo), 19.0 tackles for loss for 73 yards, and 6.5 sacks for 42 yards in 50 total games played and 25 starts.
Established in 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy honors college football players who serve others, celebrates their impact, and inspires greater service across the nation. A member of the National College Football Awards Association, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. It is the first major award honoring the character of service to others.