ATLANTA – Texas A&M safety Marcus Ratcliffe was named to the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list, as announced by the Wuerffel Foundation on Tuesday. The trophy is college football’s premier award for community service, recognizing the player who best combines community work, academic success and athletic performance.
Ratcliffe, a native of Chula Vista, California, was named a captain ahead of the 2026 campaign and appeared in all 13 games last season, making 12 starts. He ranked second on the team with 65 tackles, while also totaling 3.0 tackles for loss and three pass breakups. Throughout two seasons in Aggieland, Ratcliffe has compiled 113 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and three interceptions. Ratcliffe has recorded five or more tackles in 12 games in the Maroon & White, including three games with a personal-best eight stops.
Off the field, Ratcliffe created Mission 3:12, a charity program founded to support World War II veterans. For each turnover recovered by the Aggie defense, Ratcliffe donates $312 to the Walk Among Heroes charity that sponsors World War II veterans on trips back to Normandy for the annual D-Day anniversary. Additionally, Ratcliffe volunteers throughout the Brazos Valley community through the AlphaBEST after-school program at Bonham Elementary School, Habitat for Humanity and Next Level Youth Flag Football. He also gives back through his home church, Rock Church in San Diego, California, where he has participated in multiple community outreach initiatives.
The Allstate 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 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy embodies Wuerffel's commitment to being a humanitarian, while honoring student-athletes who are inspired to serve others and make a positive impact on society. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the trophy's founding.
The 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists and recipient will be selected by a national selection committee, with input from a fan vote. The recipient will also serve as captain of the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show Dec. 11.
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