Running Rock: Cartwright is now Redskins starting back

Veteran began season listed as fourth running back Washington’s depth chart

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University senior linebacker Reed Williams, a graduate of Moorefield High School and former four-time Cumberland Times-News All-Area football selection, has been named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American second-team selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

This marks the second time that Williams has been honored on this prestigious team, as he was a first-team selection as a junior in 2007. It is the 23rd time that a West Virginia football player has been named to the team and the fifth time that a Mountaineer has been named to the team more than once, including Fred Wyant, (1953-54-55), Oliver Luck (1980-81), Eric de Groh (1996-97-98) and Jay Henry (2005-06).

Williams adds this honor to his list of accolades already garnered this season, including being named one of 16 players in all divisions of collegiate football to earn a spot on the National Football Foundation’s National Scholar Athlete Team and was named a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy and the Awards and Recognition Association’s Sportsmanship Award.

Though forced to medically redshirt in 2008, Williams has bounced back with a strong showing in his final WVU season, playing in nine contests and starting eight of them. He is the team’s fifth-leading tackler with 44 total stops, including 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and six pass breakups.

Williams is the force within the Mountaineer defense, having played in 48 career games and recorded 97 unassisted tackles, 229 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. Additionally, he maintains a 3.86 grade-point average, while pursing a second degree in marketing after already earning a finance degree.

A member of four consecutive bowl-winning teams, Williams had a breakout performance in the Mountaineers’ 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl win, earning the game’s defensive MVP honor and CollegeFootbalNews.com’s all-Bowl Team accolades. He has twice been named the “Ideal Mountaineer Man” by his teammates and the coaching staff.

Off the field, Williams is an eight-time member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Golden Key National Honor Society, and has frequented both the WVU Dean’s List and the Big East Academic all-Star team. He has also been chosen as member of the Huntington Bank Junior Board of Directors and volunteers with both the Boys and Girls Club and the Special Olympics.

In Fort Walton Beach, Fla., The All Sports Association, Inc., announced Williams to be one of the 12 finalists for the 2009 Wuerffel Trophy, the national award that honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.

The award is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who led the Florida Gators to the 1996 national championship, played six years in the National Football League and has received national recognition for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans and around the country.

"The membership of the All Sports Association is excited and proud of the Wuerffel finalists presented in this year's class,” commented All Sports President Robert McEachern. “The process of selecting the finalists was difficult because of the outstanding quality of our nominations. The nominations clearly revealed we have great student-athletes, as well as men of character and service. We are honored to recognize them and how they help reflect upon what is really good in college football."

The finalists, who were nominated by their schools’ sports information directors or football liaisons, are (listed alphabetically by university) Mike Nixon, senior linebacker, Arizona State; Dan LeFevour, senior quarterback, Central Michigan; Christian Ponder, junior quarterback, Florida State; Zoltan Mesko, senior punter, Michigan; Blair White, senior wide receiver, Michigan State; Andrew Brewer, senior wide Receiver, Northwestern; Andrew Sendejo, senior safety, Rice; Dominique Harris, senior defensive back, Temple; Jordan Shipley, senior wide receiver, Texas; Zane Beadles, senior offensive lineman, Utah; Williams, senior linebacker, West Virginia; and Tim Hiller, senior quarterback, Western Michigan.

A committee that includes the Wuerffel Trophy national directors and selection committee members will vote on the finalists, and the winner will be formally announced on Dec. 8.

“Once again, I’m amazed to see the list of finalists, and in particular, their amazing accomplishments off the field,” said Danny Wuerffel. “Each year it is harder and harder for all of us on the selection committee to try to narrow it down and pick just one”.

The 2009 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented to the winner at the All Sports Association’s 41th Annual Awards Banquet on Feb. 19, 2010.