Travis Russell Recognized As Ferris State's Willie Bouyer Leadership Award Recipient

Note: This is the second of four major FSU Athletics Awards that will be presented between now and Friday for the 2019-20 campaign.

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University football's Travis Russell (Grand Rapids/West Catholic), who wrapped up his collegiate career by leading FSU to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals last fall, has been chosen as the recipient of Ferris State University Athletics' prestigious Willie Bouyer Leadership Award for the 2019-20 campaign.

A 2020 Wooden Citizenship Cup National Semifinalist, Russell returned for his senior campaign this past fall after graduating from FSU and became the Bulldogs' starting quarterback and team leader on its run to a third D2 National Semifinal appearance in the past four years.

The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious of the FSU Athletics Department's four annual major honors, is named in memory of Ferris State's first All-America football student-athlete Willie Bouyer. Bouyer was tragically killed in his hometown of Detroit in 1977. The recipient is chosen by a FSU Athletics Department committee.

Candidates for the award are judged on their strong inspirational leadership and dedication to fellow Ferris State student-athletes. The nominees also should be involved outside of athletics in other college and community activities along with participating on a varsity athletics team for at least two years. The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award was reinstated upon the conclusion of the 2002-03 season following a seven-year absence.

"Travis Russell is an outstanding choice of this leadership award that bears the name of the late Willie Bouyer," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "As a team captain, he set a wonderful example for his teammates both on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

"He was not only a great leader and ambassador for Ferris State University, but also a tremendous role model for younger teammates and fans," he added. "Travis accepted whatever role he was asked to play for a championship program and he certainly played a key role in all the success Bulldog Football achieved over the course of his career."

The senior standout compiled a 13-2 mark as a starter for FSU in his career and helped FSU to a 62-8 record in his five seasons in the program. The four-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree was the NCAA's Elite 90 Award recipient for holding the highest grade point average in the 2018 national championship game and was highly-involved in various community service initiatives and organizations in his collegiate career, including taking part in two different spring break mission trips to South Carolina to serve people whose homes had been destroyed due to hurricanes. He was a two-time nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team and was a GLIAC Commissioner's Award honoree for excellence both on and off the field.

"Travis is extremely deserving of this award and has been an outstanding representative of our program both on and off the field throughout his collegiate career," said FSU head coach Tony Annese. "He was as good of a person as there was in college football and returned for his senior year this past fall after graduating because he cared so much and wanted to be around his teammates one more year. We're elated to see him recognized and he's a very deserving person."

This past fall, Russell was also a candidate for the 2019 Campbell Trophy awarded to the nation's top football scholar-athlete and tabbed as a National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society member. He completed 86 of 160 passes for 1,503 yards and six scores while running for nearly 300 yards and three TD's in his senior campaign. He was also previously chosen as the recipient of the GLIAC's Jack H. McAvoy Award, which is presented annually to a GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

Off the field, he was also a member of the Newman Center catholic outreach group, active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and participated in "March Is Reading Month" at local elementary schools the past four years in addition to his other civic activities. Russell also assisted with "Angels In Action" serving children who are hungry.

Russell is the seventh-ever Bulldog Football student-athlete in school history to receive the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award.

The other 2019-20 finalists for the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award included strong leaders and representatives such as Riley Blair (women's basketball), Allyson Faulkner (track & field/cross country) and Greg Williams (men's basketball).

Willie Bouyer Leadership Award Recipients
2019-20 - Travis Russell (Football)
2018-19 - Carley Dubbert (Women's Soccer)
2017-18 - Noah King (Men's Basketball)
2016-17 - Anthony Darkangelo (Football) and Jenna Way (Volleyball)
2015-16 - Alexis Huntey (Volleyball/Women's Basketball)
2014-15 - Drew Lehman (Men's Basketball)
2013-14 – Simon Denis (Men's Ice Hockey)
2012-13 – Samantha Fordyce (Volleyball)
2011-12 – Ashley Huntey (Volleyball)
2010-11 – Matt DeHart (Men's Basketball)
2009-10 – Casey Haines (Men's Ice Hockey) and Kurt Valley (Men's Golf)
2008-09 – Holly Bruntjens (Softball)
2007-08 – Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf) and Katie Kraai (Softball)
2006-07 – Danielle Baucher (Women's Volleyball) and Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf)
2005-06 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Jeffrey Shanahan (Men's Basketball)
2004-05 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Navreet Gill (Softball)
2003-04 – Melissa Worsley (Softball) and Derrick McIver (Men's Ice Hockey)
2002-03 – Steve Picucci (Mens' Cross Country and Men's Track & Field)
1995-96 – Benny Roe (Football)
1994-95 – Tim Christian (Men's Ice Hockey)
1993-94 – Jere Getzinger (Wrestling and Football)
1992-93 – Dave Morin (Baseball)
1991-92 – Erica Thomas (Women's Basketball)
1990-91 – Mark Kamppinen (Baseball)
1989-90 – Doug Mooney (Wrestling) and Jody Johnson (Softball)
1988-89 – Jim Beson (Football and Wrestling)
1987-88 – Sam Sweet (Men's Track and Field)
1986-87 – Paul Surmont (Cheerleading – Bulldog Mascot)
1985-86 – Kurt Stevens (Men's Basketball)
1984-85 – Steve Piotraczk (Football), Katy Kelley (Women's Basketball)
1980-81 – Fred Kirkland (Football and Men's Track & Field)