Bradford named semifinalist for Wuerffel Trophy

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior defensive lineman Tony Bradford Jr. was named a semifinalist Tuesday for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is college football's premier award for community service.

Bradford is one of 12 semifinalists and the lone representative from the Big 12 Conference to still be considered for the award, which exists to "honor college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society and inspire greater service in the world."

That might be a fitting description of Bradford's efforts since his arrival on campus as he has been a vocal proponent in making the Red Raiders active in the Lubbock community on a regular basis and also seeking positive change throughout West Texas. His efforts have already earned him a place on the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team that was announced in September.

Bradford is the driving force behind a Texas Tech football program that has committed more than 2,000 hours of community service the past two years alone, contributing to visits to local elementary and junior high schools, the Ronald McDonald House, the Texas Boys Ranch, South Plains Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Burgers and Badges and area children's homes.

Possibly his biggest impact has been felt on the youth of tomorrow as Bradford regularly meets with local youth athletes to encourage them to be a positive example for their community. Following the murder of George Floyd, Bradford helped organize community cleanups and voter registration drives in East Lubbock not far from the Texas Tech campus. While there, he was able to encourage and ultimately brighten the day of many underserved youth in East Lubbock through pick-up basketball games and various other activities. Bradford also helped organize peace walks on the Texas Tech campus and in East Lubbock to promote injustice issues and the need for peace in communities.

In addition to his role in the community, Bradford has taken steps to advance his future career in law enforcement by serving as a security guard with the Texas Tech Police Department. Bradford, who lists becoming a police chief as his career goal after football, has worked with the police department each of the past three springs to gain valuable knowledge of the profession. Thus, during the spring, Bradford will often go from a morning workout, to a class to potentially riding along with a member of the Texas Tech police department to protect his peers on campus.

He regularly worked Texas Tech's home basketball events, assisting with traffic control and in-venue security. His future work in law enforcement stems from his desire to not only help others but also to "be the change in the community." In his words, for society to change for the better, it will take leaders like himself to be part of that positive change.

The respect Bradford has gained off the field has led to a bigger voice for important topics on campus and within the Big 12 Conference. Bradford is a longtime member of the Texas Tech Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was selected this year to represent the university as part of the Big 12 Champions for Life campaign. With that, he was able to attend the Big 12's annual meetings this May as a student-athlete voice and to also be recognized for his work in the community. Bradford was previously selected this past fall as one of two Big 12 representatives on the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connection Group.

Bradford was previously a nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy as a junior in 2012 but is listed as a semifinalist for the first time in his career. The Wuerffel Trophy will trim its semifinalists down to a select group of finalists Nov. 29 ahead of its scheduled announcement of the 2022 award recipient Dec. 8. The Wuerffel Trophy will be formally presented Feb. 24 at the All Sports Association Award Banquet in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Texas Tech University Athletics

Bradford named semifinalist for Wuerffel Trophy

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