NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Jon Wassink, QB – Western Michigan University
3.96 GPA - Accounting
Head Coach: Tim Lester | Athletics Director: Kathy Beauregard
Faculty Athletics Representative: Lisa DeChano-Cook
A team captain who earned his accounting degree while boasting an impressive 3.96 GPA, Jon Wassink becomes Western Michigan’s third NFF National Scholar-Athlete, continuing the legacy set by fellow Bronco quarterbacks Tim Hiller and Zach Terrell, the 2016 Campbell Trophy® recipient.
After graduating summa cum laude in December 2018, Wassink currently carries a 4.0 GPA in pursuit of a master’s degree in accounting. A 2017 Academic All-District selection, he has twice been selected as both an Academic All-MAC honoree and a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. A member of the Dean’s List every semester of his career, Wassink was the recipient of the 2017 WMU John Gill Scholar-Athlete Award for having the highest GPA on the football team.
This season, Wassink has completed 169 passes for 2,273 yards and 16 touchdowns while also rushing for 119 yards and two more scores. His passing yards lead the MAC and rank 11th in the FBS while his passing touchdowns are good for second in the conference. Following the Broncos’ season-opener, Wassink was named the MAC West Division Co-Offensive Player of the Week after completing 20-of-25 passes for 368 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-13 win over Monmouth.
Wassink’s career 5,658 passing yards, 46 passing touchdowns, 444 completions, 718 passing attempts and .62 completion percentage all rank in the top 10 in Western Michigan history. The Grand Rapids, Michigan, native has posted five 300-yard passing games in his career. Named a Third Team All-MAC performer by Phil Steele in 2018 and 2017, Wassink helped the Broncos to an appearance in the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. He was also a member of the 2016 team that played in the 2017 Cotton Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 15 nationally.
A 2019 Wuerffel Trophy nominee, Wassink participated in a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to help repair fences and a community bridge used daily by 100 villagers. A four-year mentor with the “Bronco Buddies” program at the Tree of Life, he also serves as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader, helps feed the homeless with the “Ministry with Community” initiative and is a member of WMU’s Uplifting Athletes chapter.
