USF cornerback KJ Sails named to Wuerffel Trophy watch list

Absent from many preseason award watch lists, USF found itself represented on one of the most universally admired ones Thursday.

Senior cornerback KJ Sails is among 114 players on the preseason watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, named in honor of the Gators’ 1996 Heisman-winning quarterback and presented annually to a player who serves others and has a positive impact on society.

Sails, father of a 2-year-old son, led dozens of Bulls teammates, coaches, administrators and fellow USF student-athletes on a “unity walk” from downtown Tampa to the fringe of Ybor City in mid-June, as protests over racial injustice and police brutality were starting to percolate nationally.

“These young men (on the watch list) truly represent college football’s most impactful community service leaders,” Danny Wuerffel said in a news release. “We are proud to honor them.”

Sails’ selection to the watch list comes a day after new Bulls kicker Jared Sackett, a two-time Groza Award semifinalist while at Texas-San Antonio, was named to the 2020 Groza watch list. An Arkansas transfer who didn’t play for the Razorbacks last season, Sackett is 33-for-41 on career field-goal tries, including a 13-for-20 effort from 40 or more yards.