Indiana football redshirt-junior James Bomba was named to his second service-based watch list on Thursday when the Wuerffel Trophy placed him on its preseason list.
The Wuerffel Foundation announced its 2024 watch list, consisting of a record 111 nominees representing players from college football’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service and one of the most meaningful awards in collegiate sports, 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 award embodies Wuerffel’s commitment to being a humanitarian, while honoring student-athletes who are inspired to serve others and make positive impacts on society. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Trophy’s founding, and the Foundation will recognize the first nineteen recipients throughout the fall season.
Along with the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, Bomba was named to the America Football Coach Association (AFCA) Allstate Good Works Team in July.
Of his many volunteer opportunities, Bomba has spent his time on a volunteer mission trip to the Dominican Republic with Indiana football and Score International. He is also active with Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, Hoosier Ticket Project and the program’s Holiday Toy Drive. He has also served as a volunteer coach for football and men’s basketball at Bloomington South High School.
Bomba has also teamed up with GO Bloomington to help the organization promote better mobility options and Stop the Violence Indianapolis, Inc., which acts as a catalyst for social change – empowering people to take action with the greater Indianapolis area to ensure safety, justice, accountability and healing for people whose lives are affected by violence and poverty.
On the field, Bomba redshirted his first season on campus and appeared in 20 games with 10 starts over the last two campaigns. The tight end owns 11 receptions for 75 yards (6.8 ypr) and one touchdown. His first collegiate touchdown came on a 3-yard catch in the third quarter against Michigan State to knot the score at 14-14.
A third-generation Indiana football letterman, Bomba follows in the footsteps of his father, Matt Bomba, a walk-on that earned a scholarship between 1990-92, and both grandfathers, Brad Bomba (1954-56) and Bob VanPelt (1964-66) who were scholarship football student-athletes at IU.
2024 Indiana Football Preseason Accolades
James Bomba – AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
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