Wake Forest Athletics

Gatkuoth Named Finalist for the Cornish Trophy
12/15/2025 5:23:00 PM | Football
The Jon Cornish Trophy is awarded annually to the Canadian student-athlete selected as the most outstanding player in NCAA Football.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest football redshirt junior defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth was named a finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy as announced in conjunction by the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Created in 2017 by Jim Mullin and L. David Dube, the Jon Cornish Trophy is awarded annually to the Canadian student-athlete selected as the most outstanding player in NCAA Football.
Gatkuoth, a redshirt junior from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada., made 37 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, eight quarterback hurries, one interception and one forced fumble.
Additionally, Gatkuoth had six sacks in the last seven games he has played in this season while also recording his interception during that streak in a win at Oregon State.
The winner is chosen by voters comprising the Trustees of the award, media, and panellists from the TSN Krown Gridiron Nation TV program.
The award is named after Jon Cornish, a former high school football player from British Columbia, a college standout running back at the University of Kansas. Cornish later went on to win three Most Outstanding Canadian awards and a 2013 Most Outstanding Player award in the CFL as a member of the Calgary Stampeders. His 2013 season was capped off by winning the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top athlete.
The trophy is presented at and in conjunction with the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario, on an annual basis and is on permanent display there.
Created in 2017 by Jim Mullin and L. David Dube, the Jon Cornish Trophy is awarded annually to the Canadian student-athlete selected as the most outstanding player in NCAA Football.
Gatkuoth, a redshirt junior from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada., made 37 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, eight quarterback hurries, one interception and one forced fumble.
Additionally, Gatkuoth had six sacks in the last seven games he has played in this season while also recording his interception during that streak in a win at Oregon State.
The winner is chosen by voters comprising the Trustees of the award, media, and panellists from the TSN Krown Gridiron Nation TV program.
The award is named after Jon Cornish, a former high school football player from British Columbia, a college standout running back at the University of Kansas. Cornish later went on to win three Most Outstanding Canadian awards and a 2013 Most Outstanding Player award in the CFL as a member of the Calgary Stampeders. His 2013 season was capped off by winning the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top athlete.
The trophy is presented at and in conjunction with the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario, on an annual basis and is on permanent display there.
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