The community outreach work of Kansas University football players Jordan Shelley-Smith and Fish Smithson earned the two Jayhawks spots on The Wuerffel Trophy watch list, unveiled Wednesday.

Named after Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy, the award goes to a Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines community service with athletic and academic achievement. Shelley-Smith, a junior offensive lineman, and Smithson, a junior safety, are two of 80 players on the preseason list.

Shelley-Smith coordinates KU football’s weekly strength and conditioning workouts with local Special Olympians and participates in all of the Jayhawks’ other community service projects. Additionally, he is a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Athletics Directors Honor Roll, while majoring in management and leadership.

Kansas offensive lineman Jordan Shelley-Smith stretches out with his teammates during practice on Monday, April 7, 2015. Shelley-Smith is making the transition from tight end to offensive line.

Kansas safety Fish Smithson catches a pass during warmups prior to the Jayhawks' kickoff against Duke on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

Smithson took a lead role in KU’s Train Like a Jayhawk Clinic for elementary students, and participated as KU teamed up with Just Foods to feed the homeless over Easter Weekend. Smithson has visited Lawrence elementary schools to read to the students and has taken part in KU football’s clinics with Special Olympians. In the classroom, Smithson was recently named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Athletics Director’s Honor Roll for the spring 2015 semester, while working toward a degree in sports management.

Shelley-Smith, from Waco, Texas, moved to the offensive line from tight end during 2014 fall camp. He saw action in all 12 games for KU in 2014, and started at right tackle in KU’s win over Iowa State.

Smithson, from Baltimore, Maryland, is KU’s leading returning tackler (49 in 2014), and he contributed 2.5 tackles-for-loss and one pass breakup from the secondary.

Voting for the Wuerffel Trophy is performed by a National Selection Committee that includes college football media members, industry notables, former head coaches and prior Wuerffel Trophy recipients. It is presented by the All Sports Association in Fort Walton Beach Florida.