Football | November 01, 2016

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan quarterback Zach Terrell has been named a 2016 National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete, the Foundation announced today. Terrell is one of 12 athletes from across all divisions of college athletics chosen out of a group of 156, who will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship as part of the NFF Scholar-Athlete Class.

Described by head coach P.J. Fleck as "the best young man I've ever been around," Terrell graduated cum laude in 3.5 years while leading one of the MAC's best offenses. Terrell is currently pursuing his MBA after graduating with a 3.66 GPA in finance last December. A two-time Academic All-MAC selection, he was twice named a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, and he is a six-time member of the Dean's List. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native was the 2015 recipient of the John Gill Scholar-Athlete Award.

On the field, the two-time All-MAC quarterback earned Third Team honors in 2015 and Second Team laurels in 2014. Western Michigan's all-time leader in career completion percentage, Terrell led the Broncos to consecutive bowl berths, including the first bowl victory in school history at the 2015 Bahamas Bowl. Boasting the top two single-season completion percentages in Western Michigan history, he ranks third in school annals for career passing yards (10,566), passing touchdowns (83) and completions (796). As a junior, Terrell was seventh in the FBS and second in the MAC in quarterback efficiency, and he led the MAC in completion percentage as a sophomore.

This season, Terrell leads the MAC's No. 1 scoring offense (44.4 points per game), which currently ranks sixth in the FBS, and he has guided the Broncos to their first-ever ranking in the AP Poll. His 20 touchdown passes are 14th in the FBS, and he is second in the MAC in passing efficiency (183.1). Terrell has twice been named the MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week in 2016.

A stalwart in the community, Terrell was named to the 2016 AFCA Good Works Team. He has received multiple awards for his service, including the 2014-15 WMU Community Service Award, 2014 Idaho Potato Bowl Humanitarian Award and 2014 WMU Coxswain Spring Leadership Award. Terrell led a mission trip to the Dominican Republic; serves as a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; and mentors students at Tree of Life. A Special Olympics volunteer, he has volunteered for MLK day of service; visited kids at Bronson Children's Hospital; and participated in the Project Incentive Christmas program. Terrell has also served food at shelters; volunteered at football camps; and donated his time as a guest speaker for various organizations

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.