NFF National Scholar-Athletes
A walk-on safety at the University of Kentucky, Jeff Zurcher co-captained and led the Wildcats in tackles (88) in 1988, including a school-record 16 solo tackles in a 28-26 loss to Georgia. Kentucky earned a spot in the 1999 Outback Bowl after finishing 7-5, their winningest season since 1984. A First Team Academic All-American and three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Zurcher compiled a perfect 4.0 GPA in English and advertising and received the Host Communications Senior Scholar-Athlete Award. A member of the SEC Good Works Team, he spoke to children about the importance of education and religion, visited children’s hospitals and volunteered at the Hope Center’s Men’s Homeless Shelter. Zurcher received his Doctorate in Education in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan and is currently the executive director of The Arington Foundation, a non-profit organization in Mason, Ohio, that supports youth groups through media, sport and education.
