TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona freshman quarterback Zach Werlinger was named one of five National Football Foundation National High School Scholar-Athlete honorees, it was announced on Thursday. Werlinger is a 2014 graduate of Basha High School and joined the Wildcats in the summer of 2014.
A three-year starter at quarterback, Werlinger set Basha High School records for career passing touchdowns (53) and yards (6,015), and he also established the season record for passing touchdowns (30) in his junior year. He earned first-team all-state honors in his final season, and he was twice named first-team All-Division 1 Section 2. He served as team captain his junior and senior seasons. Werlinger led the Arizona Football Coaches Association team to a 27-21 victory in the Canyon-Coast All-Star Game against the Southern California Interscholastic Football Coaches Association squad.
Boasting a 4.56 weighted GPA, Werlinger was named first-team all-academic all-state his senior year. He served as president of the National Honor Society at Basha, and he made the Honor Roll all four years. Werlinger received the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete Award, the Associated Press Scholar Award, the Basha Gridiron Club Academic Award and the Distinguished High School Scholar Award.
An active member in his community, Werlinger served as chairman of “Smiles for Christmas,” participated in the Make-A-Wish foundation at the Chandler City Center for Arts and accumulated more than 100 hours of community service.
The five scholar-athletes will travel to New York, N.Y. to be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour, on Tues., Dec. 9 at the Waldorf Astoria. Criteria for the award include academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement.
Arizona returns to the field on Sat., Oct. 11 to host to USC in what will be the Cats' first Pac-12 South contest of the season. Slated for 7:30 p.m. MST, the game will be televised by ESPN2 and carried on the Arizona IMG Sports Radio Network.
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