Elite Group of College Football Players Honored for Inspiring 'Good Works' by Allstate, American Football Coaches Association

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Elite Group of College Football Players Honored for Inspiring 'Good Works' by Allstate, American Football Coaches Association

Tim Tebow returns to voting panel to select prestigious 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® from 169 Nominees

PR Newswire

NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Across America, many college football players receive praise for their superior performance on the field. Today, however, only a select group of those student-athletes have the honor of being commended for their distinguished accomplishments off the field when Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announce 169 nominees for the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.

Allstate logo. (PRNewsFoto/Allstate Insurance Company) (PRNewsFoto/)

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has been one of the most esteemed honors in college football for more than 25 years. The student-athletes who are nominated for this award not only demonstrate a unique dedication to community service and desire to make a positive impact on the lives around them, but they also show tremendous perseverance as well as the ability to overcome personal struggles and come out victorious against all odds. 

"Each nominee has an inspiring story to tell – often times about how they have prevailed over hardships and adversity only to turn around and pour their hearts into helping others," said David Prendergast, president of the Eastern Territory at Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2018 voting panel. "It is our privilege at Allstate to come together with the AFCA for the 11th consecutive year to shine a light on these exceptional nominees who set the highest standards of community service and serve as role models for generations to come."

The college football players who have been nominated make it a priority to find time in their busy schedules to volunteer in meaningful ways. Of the nominees, many players dedicate time to reading, mentoring and playing sports with disadvantaged children when they are not in the classroom or on the field. Other players make frequent visits to hospitals to spend one-on-one time with ill patients. One student-athlete even went as far as donating bone marrow in order to save the life of a child in need.

A special voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members will review submissions from sports directors across the nation to select the 2018 Good Works Team®. Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® member, will once again headline the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel.

"I've seen the value of this team firsthand since I was selected as a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team my senior year, and I love seeing the influx of players year after year who truly embody everything this program stands for," said Tebow. "These kids have so much character, strength, and honor. To excel on the field, in the classroom and be a leader in community service - that is the ultimate accomplishment."

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® is comprised of 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA and one honorary head coach. To be in consideration by Allstate and the AFCA for a nomination, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.

The final roster of 22 award recipients and honorary head coach will be unveiled in September.

"There are always a lot of great stories that come out every year during the college football season, but none of them compare to the inspiring stories that each of these Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominees live out on a daily basis," Todd Berry, AFCA Executive Director said. "How these student-athletes spend their time helping others should be a motivation to everyone who reads about them to give back. It's an honor to partner with Allstate to publicize the great works these student-athletes achieve each year."

In addition to Tebow and Prendergast, the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® selection panel members includes: former Good Works Team® members Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team) and Wes Counts (Middle Tennessee State, 1999 team); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star) and Paul Myerberg (USA TODAY); Georgetown College head coach Bill Cronin; 2001 AFCA President and current athletic director at Virginia Union University Joe Taylor.

After the final team members are announced in September, college football fans can visit the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® official page on ESPN.com to view profiles and images of the players and honorary head coach, and vote for the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain. Fans are also encouraged to follow along and join in on the conversation by searching and using #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels throughout the season.

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®:

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)


Arizona State University – Manny Wilkins

Kent State University – Matt Bahr 

Auburn University – Derrick Brown 

Louisiana State University – Blake Ferguson

Boston College – Michael Walker

Marshall University – Chase Hancock 

Brigham Young University – Tanner Mangum 

Miami University – James Gardner 

Clemson University – Sean Pollard 

Michigan State University – Khari Willis 

Colorado State University – Adam Prentice 

Middle Tennessee State University – Matt Bonadies 

Duke University – Johnathan Lloyd 

Mississippi State University – Nick Fitzgerald 

East Carolina University – Alex Turner

Northern Illinois University – Max Scharping 

Eastern Michigan University – Jeremy Hickey 

Northern Illinois University – Max Scharping 

Florida State University – Fredrick Jones 

Old Dominion University – Oshane Ximines 

Indiana University – Ricky Brookins 

Penn State University – Nick Scott 

Iowa State University – D'Andre Payne 

Purdue University – David Blough 

Kansas State University – Dalton Risner 

Rutgers University – Zack Heeman 

Southern Methodist University – Jordan Wyatt 

University of Notre Dame – Nic Weishar 

Syracuse University – Kielan Whitner 

University of Oklahoma – Caleb Kelly

TCU – Ben Banogu 

University of Pittsburgh – Darrin Hall

Texas A&M University – Erik McCoy 

University of South Alabama – Sean Grayer 

Texas State University – A.J. Krawczyk 

University of Southern California – Jordan Austin 

Tulane University – Brian Newman 

University of Southern Mississippi – Picasso Nelson Jr.

UCF – Jordan Johnson 

University of Tennessee – Kyle Phillips

UNC-Charlotte – Juwan Foggie 

University of Texas – Chase Moore 

United States Air Force Academy – Brody Bagnall

University of Texas at San Antonio – Jalen Rhodes 

University of Akron – Brian Reinke 

University of Toledo – Cody Thompson 

University of Alabama – Jamey Mosley

University of Tulsa – Willie Wright

University of Arkansas – Hjalte Froholdt

University of Utah – Chase Hansen 

University of California, Berkeley – Patrick Laird 

University of Virginia – Lester Coleman

University of Cincinnati – Garrett Campbell

University of Wisconsin – D'Cota Dixon 

University of Florida – Fred Johnson 

Utah State University – Jacoby Wildman

University of Georgia – Rodrigo Blankenship 

Vanderbilt University – Khari Blasingam 

University of Hawaii – Dakota Torres 

West Virginia University – Will Grier 

University of Illinois – Nick Allegretti 

Western Michigan University – Jamauri Bogan

University of Iowa – Parker Hesse 


University of Kansas – Joe Dineen 


University of Kentucky – C.J. Conrad


University of Louisville – Dae Williams


University of Michigan – Chase Winovich 


University of Minnesota – Emmit Carpenter


University of Missouri – Corey Fatony


University of Nebraska – Freedom Akinmoladun 


University of Nevada – Ty Gangi  


 

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)


Alabama State University – Carl Thompson

Ferris State University – Travis Russell

Alma College – Hunter Hoffman 

Franklin and Marshall College – Tanner Erisman 

Angelo State University – Connor Flanigan 

Frostburg State University – Riley Hartman

Arkansas Tech University – Tremel Glasper

Furman University – Avery Armstrong 

Ashland University – Travis Downing 

Guilford College – Jeremiah Hedrick 

Aurora University – Kurtis Chione 

Harvard University – Jake McIntyre

Bemidji State University – Jared Henning 

Hope College – Mason Dekker 

Berry College – Justen Booket 

Howard University – John Petricca

Bethel University (Minn.) – Kyle Kilgore 

Illinois State University – Jake Kolbe

Black Hills State University – Zane Lindsey 

Jacksonville University – Jake Dempsey 

Butler University – Drew Bevelhimer 

James Madison University – Grant Westbrook 

Capital University – Cory Heeter  

Johns Hopkins University – Luke McFadden 

Carthage College – Jeremy Behnke 

Kennesaw State University – Nicolas Snowden 

Chapman University – Elias Deeb 

Lewis & Clark College – Pete Lahti

Colorado State University-Pueblo – Quinn Vandekoppel

Lindenwood University – Jonathan Harris

Concord University – Brandon Plyler 

Macalester College – Ethan Levin

Concordia University, Nebraska – Vince Beasley 

Manchester University – Brady Nyland 

Dakota State University – Brandon Schmit 

Marist College – Kyle Hamrick

DePauw University – Hunter Sego 

Mercer University – Isaiah Buehler

Drake University – Nathan Clayberg 

Millikin University – Matthew Brown 

East Stroudsburg University – Levi Murphy

Millsaps College – Andrew Cassidy

Eastern Kentucky University – LJ Scott 

Minot State University – Parker Franzen 

Eastern New Mexico University – Wyatt Strand 

Monmouth University – Ryan Wetzel 

Eastern Washington University – Sam McPherson 

Montana State University – Wilson Brott

Montana Tech – Clay Dean 

Moravian College – Nick Zambelli 

Morgan State University – Deontaye White

University of California, Davis – Kooper Richardson 

Morningside College – Trent Solsma 

University of Central Missouri – Austin Miller 

North Carolina Central University – Nick Leverett 

University of Dubuque – Collin Stefanowski 

North Dakota State University – Easton Stick

University of Minnesota-Crookston – Will Cross 

Northern State University – Zach Mohs 

University of Minnesota-Duluth – Trapper Ward

Ohio Dominican University – Cory Contini 

University of Mount Union – Jared Ruth 

Ohio Wesleyan University – Cameron Smith 

University of North Dakota – Brady Oliveira 

Peru State College – Daniel Boshart

University of Pennsylvania – Sam Philippi 

Princeton University – Kurt Holuba 

University of Puget Sound – Dwight Jackson 

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Sean Egan 

University of Sioux Falls – Logan Dykstra 

Rowan University – Kevin Stokes

University of St. Thomas – Jacques Perra 

Saint Augustine's University – Zack Jenkins

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga – Alex Trotter 

Saint John's University (Minn.) – Jackson Erdmann 

University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Mark Johnson 

Samford University – Kevin Marion 

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Elliot Kim 

South Dakota School of Mines – Jake Sullivan 

Upper Iowa University – Tanner Thompson 

South Dakota State University – Taryn Christion 

Utica College – Malcolm Stowe

Southeastern Oklahoma State University – Joel Carlos 

Virginia State University – Shakym Peters 

Southwest Minnesota State University – Jon Dicke

Walsh University – Morgan Trust 

Springfield College – Andrew Papirio 

Wartburg College – Matt Sacia 

Stephen F. Austin State University – Cody Williams 

Washington University in St. Louis – Jason Singer 

Stevenson University – Dan Williams 

Wayne State University – Deiontae Nicholas 

Stony Brook University – Marc Nolan 

Westminster College (Pa.) – Bryson Paulinellie 

Texas A&M University-Commerce – Chris Smith

Wingate University – Adam Riley 

Texas A&M University-Kingsville – Sean Landez 

Youngstown State University – Tevin McCaster

The College of Wooster – Hunter Coia 


About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field.  AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need.  Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

The SEC leads all conferences with 71 selections to the Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 37 selections and the Big 12 Conference with 30 selections. Georgia is in first place with 18 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. ® The Bulldogs are followed by Kentucky and Nebraska with 14 honorees. Super Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams®, respectively.

About AFCA
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."

 

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SOURCE Allstate

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