Mahomes receives preseason accolades for good works
Texas Tech quarterback Pat Mahomes continues to garner recognition for his performance as both a student and athlete after earning a pair of preseason honors on Wednesday.
Mahomes was nominated for both the Wuerffel Trophy and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, following senior defensive back Justis Nelson in 2015, after being named to the Maxwell Award watch list last week.
Nelson earned nominations for both achievements after earning an honorable mention selection in 2014 and serving in several charitable roles, including volunteer guest reader at Guadalupe Elementary School and Slaton Middle School, according to Texas Tech athletics.
The Wuerffel Trophy is presented to “the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement."
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each student-athlete must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.
As an honor-roll student in Tech’s renowned Rawls College of Business, Mahomes, a marketing major, was a member of the 2015 Academic All-Big 12 first team and has appeared regularly on the Texas Tech President’s and Dean’s list as a student per Tech athletics.
Mahomes has amassed more than 6,000 passing yards in 17 starts with Texas Tech, including 13 300-yard performances. He currently trails former quarterback Seth Doege by fewer than 3,000 yards for third place among Texas Tech’s all-time leading passers heading into his junior campaign.
The Good Works Team, in its 25th season, is presented annually by the American Football Coaches Association and recognizes a select group of college football student-athletes.
The current list of 165 nominees will be trimmed to its exclusive 25-member roster in September.
Elsewhere, Mahomes will join Nelson, Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury and senior offensive lineman Baylen Brown on Monday at the Omni Hotel in Dallas for Big 12 Media Days.
