News Release: Zach Brumfield Named Draddy Trophy Semifinalist

Wittenberg Football Standout Zach Brumfield Named
Semifinalist For Prestigious Draddy Award

Zach Brumfield

Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University football standout Zach Brumfield, class of 2009 from Springfield, Ohio, is more than just the key defensive back and special teams player on the team picked to win the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) before the season by the media and the league's coaches.

He is an outstanding student and a community member who contributes more than tackles and textbooks. In recognition of that fact, Brumfield has been selected as one of 164 semifinalists for the prestigious Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, an award presented annually by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF).

The Draddy Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. As a semifinalist for the Draddy, established in honor of former NFF Chairman Vincent DePaul Draddy, Brumfield also automatically becomes a candidate for the NFF 2008 National Scholar-Athlete Awards. He is the second Wittenberg player to be a Draddy semifinalist in the last three years, joining Tristan Murray in 2006.

After earning varsity letters in each of the last two seasons in recognition of his contributions as a special teams player, Brumfield has appeared in all three games as a safety and on special teams so far in 2008. He has two solo tackles and three assists for a defense that has allowed just 40 points in helping the Tigers to a 2-1 start.

Brumfield, whose twin brother Matt is the Tigers' starting quarterback and older brother Joe was a two-year starting cornerback on the team before graduating in 2007, carries a lofty grade point average while majoring in management. Despite his extensive time commitments as a football player, Brumfield is vice president of WittInvest, a club that manages a stock portfolio and recently was profiled by The Street.com for its investing acumen.

In addition, Brumfield is a member of the Pre-Law Association and president of the Tau Pi Phi Honor Society. He is a recipient of the Dove Pre-Law Scholarship from Wittenberg and the Earl F. Morris Pre-Law Scholarship from the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC). Morris, a longtime trustee and volunteer for OFIC and founding partner of the Columbus-based law firm, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, was a 1930 Wittenberg graduate.

The NFF Awards Committee, comprised of former coaches, Hall of Famers and college administrators, will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 29. The winner, also selected by the committee, will be announced at the NFF Awards Dinner on Dec. 9 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Each finalist will also be recognized that night as part of the 2008 National Scholar-Athlete Class, receiving a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.

Written By: Ryan Maurer