ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Navy senior striker Xavier McDonald has been named as a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service.  The Wuerffel Trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 19986 Heisman Trophy winning quarter from Florida who parlayed his success on the football field into a lifetime of service. The Wuerffel Trophy honors a student-athlete who inspired to serve others and make a positive impact on society.
 
McDonald overcame an enormously challenging childhood to become a high achiever in both academics and athletics in high school, while working 30 to 35 hours a week and taking care of four younger siblings.
 
McDonald took on that heavy responsibility as a freshman in high school after both his parents were incarcerated simultaneously. To help support himself and his siblings, McDonald got a job as a cashier at Winn-Dixie.
 
Despite the dire situation, McDonald made it to the United States Naval Academy where he is an operations major. He has played in 31 games in his career at Navy, including every game this season, while also completing over 50 hours of community service over the last year.  
 
McDonald has had a standout senior campaign, starting all six games, recording 29 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks, forcing 3 fumbles and recovering a fumble. He is tied for third in the country in forced fumbles per game for a defense that has two shutouts in its first 6 games.
 
Navy (3-3) takes on #22 Air Force (6-0) at a sold-out Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 12 noon. The game will be televised nationally by CBS with Rich Waltz, Aaron Taylor and Amanda Guerra on the call.  Pete Medhurst, Joe Miller, Keith Mills and Scott Wykoff will have the call on the Navy Radio Network starting at 11:00 AM.