Jon Wassink

Classroom

Jon Wassink has set himself apart in the classroom, graduating from Western Michigan University in December, 2018, with a degree in accountancy and cumulative GPA of 3.95. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree to help him prepare for life after football. In September of 2019, he was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda.

He is a two-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, two-time Academic All-MAC Football Team honoree, two-time MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week and the 2017 Western Michigan Football John Gill Scholar-Athlete Award winner.

To be selected as a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, is to be chosen by the faculty athletic representatives as the ‘best of the best’ of the Academic All-MAC Teams with a 3.50 GPA or higher. Wassink earned his spot on the Academic All-MAC team by owning at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and participating in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport.

Wassink has been named to the WMU Dean’s List every semester on campus. In the fall of 2017, Wassink also earned a place on the CoSIDA Academic All-District squad.

Character

A constant presence in the lives of his teammates, Wassink serves as a leader both on and off the field. As the vocal leader of the offense and quarterback, Wassink is the unquestioned voice of the Broncos and a member of the team’s leadership council.

Off the field, he is heavily involved with the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, leading a weekly Bible study for WMU collegiate student-athletes since August of 2016.

Wassink has served as a classic example of selflessness needed to make a football program thrive. He arrived at Western Michigan in the fall of 2015, but did not experience game action until the 2017 campaign, playing in and starting eight games before his season-ending injury. It has been an inspiration to his teammates how he has handled the adversity and rehab from both setbacks. Wassink has thrived as a leader of the Broncos’ quarterback unit, sharing with teammates after seeing how important it is to take advantage of every opportunity.

He has also demonstrated numerous times his sense of responsibility to the team and program by completing media interviews throughout the season. He has always made time to complete such tasks while balancing out other football, academic and community responsibilities.

Community

Wassink has embodied the best of what Western Michigan football student-athletes stand for by excelling on the field, in the classroom and in the community. He has taken on a variety of leadership roles within the team, been a starting quarterback for two years and already received his undergraduate degree.

Off the field, Wassink is part of the “Bronco Buddies” program at the Tree of Life, a school that provides a Christ-centered education to all children regardless of socio-economic status. Has been a four-year member of the program, taking part in its once-a-month activities on Sundays. Events include trips to go swimming, bowling or visit the zoo. During the spring of 2016, Wassink traveled to the Dominican Republic and helped build a basketball court for a village of 100 people. He also helped repair fences for a community bridge used by villagers daily and gained perspective and purpose through his work.

Wassink has visited the Bronson Children’s Hospital with other team leaders to uplift spirits. Ministry with Community in downtown Kalamazoo has also benefited from Wassink’s time as he has served food to the homeless on multiple occasions. Along with teammates this summer, Wassink paired with Uplifting Athletes, a nonprofit organization that inspires the rare disease community with hope through the power of sport, for the Western Michigan Lift for Life.

Competition

In 21 career games (21 starts), Wassink has completed 356-of-566 (.629) pass attempts for 4,607 yards and 39 TDs against 13 interceptions while rushing 105 times for 291 yards (3.77) and 10 TDs. He has compiled 4,898 yards of total offense and holds a career TD responsibility total of 49.

Wassink has accounted for multiple TDs in 12 career games and four or more scores four times, versus Monmouth (2019; 5 pass), Miami (2018; 5 pass & 1 rush), Syracuse (2018; 3 pass & 1 rush) and Buffalo (2017; 5 pass & 1 rush). So far in 2019, he ranks eighth nationally in passing yards (1,222) and 10th in yards per completion (15.09).

As a junior in 2018, Wassink stood sixth in the MAC in touchdown passes with 16 and eighth in passing yards with 1,994. A year earlier, in 2017, he led the MAC in completion percentage (.642) and ranked second for pass efficiency (145.4) at the time of his season-ending injury in game eight.

An undeniable impact to the team, WMU owns a 13-7 record when he completes the game and just 2-7 in nine games not played.

Wassink has helped Western Michigan reach bowl eligibility for a program-record fifth straight season and claim the 2018 Michigan MAC Trophy by defeating Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan for the first time since 2016.

This preseason, Wassink is an All-MAC selection by Athlon (2nd) and Phil Steele’s College Football Preview (2nd) after receiving third team all-league accolades from Phil Steele in 2017 and 2018.