University of Utah senior long snapper Keegan Markgraf has been named one of 30 student-athletes across FBS football as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Candidates must show excellence in community, classroom, character and competition.
Markgraf, an economics major from Hamilton, Ontario, has landed on the University of Utah Dean's List three times and to the Athletics Director's Honor Roll six times. He is a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic pick, and was tabbed CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team in 2019. Most recently, he was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is presented to the top scholar-athlete across all of college football.
The former walk-on earned a scholarship in Fall 2019 and ultimately went on to be named a Patrick Mannelly Award semifinalist (2020) and special teams captain (2021). He has appeared in 37 games as a Ute since 2018 and was named Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention last season. In his Utah career, Markgraf has provided 197 snaps (81 punt, 31 FG, 85 PAT).
Among his 37 snaps in the current season, Markgraf's aid has set up two made field goals of 43 and 47 yards, with placekicker Jadon Redding's 47-yarder (Sept. 11 at BYU) coming in the pouring rain. At the time, it was the longest make in the Pac-12 this year. Markgraf also has snapped for freshman punter Cameron Peasley, who is averaging 42.9 yards per punt along with three 50-plus yard attempts, four fair catches and a touchback. Four of Peasley's punts have been downed to date.
Markgraf's long list of community service includes participating in the Ute Academy, a program designed to help Utah student-athletes become well-rounded as they transition from the U into the next chapter of their lives. Markgraf additionally contributes to Utah Athletics' "Trunk or Treat" event each year, providing local families and children a safe environment to trick-or-treat.
Across Salt Lake City and beyond, Markgraf is a leading ambassador for Utah football and the greater university. He has partnered with Backman Elementary School in the Fairpark neighborhood of SLC, making appearances to read to students. He has volunteered annually with the Spina Bifida Walk, and during the 2020-21 academic year, Markgraf also led a Zoom Q&A session with youth football teams across his native Canada.
The 30 Senior CLASS Award candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. The winner will be announced during bowl season in December.
