Wake Forest Athletics
Jurgens Listed on the Lombardi Watch List
8/15/2023 1:00:00 PM | Football
The third-year captain was one of 78 players named to the initial watch list.
HOUSTON – Wake Forest redshirt senior offensive lineman Michael Jurgens was named to the Lombardi Watch List, as announced in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Houston Tuesday afternoon.
A compilation of standout linemen from across college football, this list is meticulously assembled by a subcommittee of the Lombardi Award committee, with a keen eye on players' previous performances and potential for the upcoming 2023 college football season. Athletes must have participated in at least one NCAA Division I college or university game to merit inclusion.
This marks the first year that Jurgens has been named to the watch list while also being on multiple preseason All-ACC teams by various outlets. He also marks the fifth Demon Deacon to be listed on a national watch list along with Donavon Greene who was on the Maxwell Award Watch List, Ivan Mora who was on the Ray Guy Award Watch List, Jaylen Hudson who was on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List and Justice Ellison who was placed on the Doak Walker Award Watch List.
More on Jurgens
Jurgens enters the 2023 season at Wake Forest as a three-time captain already having anchored an offensive line that has paved the way to the seven-straight bowl appearances, the Atlantic Coast Conference's second-longest active streak. A Demon Deacon graduate with distinction in Mathematical Business, Jurgens completed his MBA in the Wake Forest School of Business in the spring.
He is a six-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll member and 2021 and 2022 All-ACC Academic Team honoree.
On the field, he was named as an 2021 and 2022 All-ACC team member while also being named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week following Wake Forest's key win a season ago over then-No. 16 NC State, helping cap off a perfect 6-0 record in home games in 2021. For his efforts, Jurgens was named a Rimington Award Watch List member ahead of the last three seasons and added preseason second-team honors from Lindy's Sports, Athlon and Phil Steele ahead of the 2022 season as well as additional preseason accolades ahead of the 2023 season.
Over the course of his career, Jurgens has started 34 career games with all 34 coming at the center position before a position change to guard for the 2023 season. Over the last three seasons at Wake Forest, he has played 2,541 snaps, the most out of any returning player for the Deacs.
Off the field and outside of the classroom, Jurgens has participated in 14 different service commitments in his time at Wake Forest, totaling nearly 22 hours on campus and in the Winston-Salem community. Some of these community service acts include Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R), Freedom School, Juneteenth Annual Kickball Tournament, Wake Forest Victory Day, Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston Salem among others.
