Blough is the epitome of a student-athlete and citizen. The native of Carrollton, Texas, is a team captain, held in high esteem at Purdue and the Greater Lafayette community for his citizenship and unselfishness. He has volunteered for seven mission trips to South Africa with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Blough is enjoying his best season as a Boilermaker, having completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 2,350 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. He ranks second in the Big Ten Conference with an average of 293.8 passing yards per game. On Sept. 15, against Missouri, Blough set the Purdue game passing yards record (572) and the Big Ten game total offense mark (590). In the Boilermakers' 49-20 win over second-ranked and undefeated Ohio State on Oct. 20, Blough completed 25 of 43 passes for 378 yards with three touchdowns.
Blough was enjoying a solid 2017 season when it came to a crashing halt Nov. 4, the result of a horrific right ankle dislocation. The consummate team player, he was captured giving a thumbs up to his teammates, coaches and fans while being placed in an ambulance. Blough vowed to return, better than ever, and be ready for spring practice this season. To the surprise of no one, he did just that.
On the Purdue career lists, Blough currently ranks fourth in completion percentage (.600) and fifth in passing attempts (1,246), completions (748), passing yards (8,379), passing touchdowns (57) and total offense (8,644). He is tied for fifth among signal-callers with 12 rushing touchdowns. Blough has started 32 games at quarterback, also tied for the fifth-most in school annals.
Blough is pursuing a master's degree in health and kinesiology after earning his bachelor's in organizational leadership.
The list of semifinalists:
Matt Bahr, Kent State, Sr., LB
David Blough, Purdue, Sr., QB
Noah Borden, Hawaii, Sr., LS
A.J. Cole, III, North Carolina State, Sr., P
Bryce Crawford, San Jose State, Sr., P-K
D'Cota Dixon, Wisconsin, Sr., DB
Marcus McMaryion, Fresno State, Sr., QB
Dalton Risner, Kansas State, Sr., OL
Brett Rypien, Boise State, Sr., QB
Max Scharping, Northern Illinois, Sr., OL
Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame, Sr., LB
Kielan Whitner, Syracuse, Sr., LB
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy were made by the sports Information departments of FBS universities and closed Oct. 12. Three finalists will be announced Nov. 18, and the formal announcement of the recipient is scheduled to be made Dec. 4 in New York.
The 2018 Wuerffel Trophy winner will be invited to attend the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on Dec. 6. The presentation of the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy will take place at the 50th-annual All Sports Association Awards Banquet on Feb. 15, 2019, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.