College football’s preeminent community service award recognizes student-athletes for off the field achievements
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Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced an all-time high 197 nominees for the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, the most esteemed off the field honor in college football. For 24 years, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has recognized college football players from across the country who exemplify a superior commitment to community service and volunteerism.
Since its inception in 1992, the award highlights the "good" taking place off the football field. The select group of student-athletes nominated for this award by their respective colleges and universities are able to balance academics and athletics while remaining committed to helping others and bettering their communities.
"For the third year in a row, we have received a record-breaking number of Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominees, an indication that the bar continues to be raised for the character on display in college football," said Jim Haskins, Executive Vice President, Allstate Brand Distribution and a member of the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. "Allstate is proud to join the AFCA in recognizing this amazing group of student-athletes for the positive impact they are making on their communities."
While remarkable on the field performances are praised each weekend, these individuals' off the field accomplishments far exceed touchdowns and tackles. From traveling overseas to support third-world countries to raising thousands of dollars for kidney cancer research, these remarkable student-athletes have utilized their minimal free time in an impactful way, earning them national recognition.
"It's very rewarding to see another record-setting year of nominees for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®," AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff said. "With Allstate's help, this has become one of the most prestigious awards in college football, and one of the most important because it highlights some of the best student-athletes in the country who not only excel on the football field, but in their community service as well."
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, the final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September. From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members will select the 2015 Good Works Team.®
The 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel 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); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Bruce Feldman (Fox Sports), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and University of Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville; 1987 AFCA President and former head coach at Brigham Young University LaVell Edwards; and Jim Haskins, Executive Vice President, Allstate Brand Distribution.
Once the final team members are announced in September, fans are encouraged to visit the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® website on ESPN.com, featuring profiles and images of the players, for the opportunity to vote for the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain.
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.
The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team ®.
Football Bowl Subdivision
Arizona State University – James Johnson
Arkansas State University – Fredi Knighten
Auburn University – Jonathan Wallace
Ball State University – Jacob Richard
Boise State University – Shane Williams-Rhodes
Brigham Young University – Bronson Kaufusi
California State University, Fresno – Justin Northern
Central Michigan University – Nick Beamish
Clemson University – Eric Mac Lain
Colorado State University – Trent Matthews
Duke University – Kelby Brown
Georgia Institute of Technology – D.J. White
Georgia Southern University – Matt Dobson
Georgia State University – Keith Rucker
Indiana University – Nate Sudfeld
Iowa State University – Levi Peters
Kansas State University – Stanton Weber
Kent State University – Jordan Italiano
Louisiana State University – Jamie Keehn
Marshall University – Tyler Williams
Michigan State University – Josiah Price
University of Alabama – O.J. Howard
University of Arizona – Casey Skowron
University of California – Stefan McClure
University of California Los Angeles – Jake Brendel
University of Connecticut – Andreas Knappe
University of Georgia – Malcolm Mitchell
University of Houston – Adrian McDonald
University of Iowa – Jordan Lomax
University of Kentucky – Landon Foster
University of Louisville – James Burgess
University of Maryland – Andrew Zeller
University of Massachusetts – Blake Frohnapfel
University of Memphis – Wynton McManis
University of Miami – Deon Bush
University of Michigan – Joe Bolden
University of Minnesota – Peter Mortell
University of Mississippi – Evan Engram
University of Nebraska – Sam Burtch
University of New Mexico – Garrett Adcock
University of North Carolina – Shakeel Rashad
Middle Tennessee State University – Darius Johnson
Mississippi State University – Taveze Calhoun
North Carolina State University – Mike Rose
Northern Illinois University – Cameron Clinton-Earl
Northwestern University – Max Chapman
Ohio State University – Joshua Perry
Old Dominion University – Tyler Compton
Penn State University – Ben Kline
Rice University – Driphus Jackson
Rutgers University – Quentin Gause
Southern Methodist University – Cameron Smith
Stanford University – Dallas Lloyd
Syracuse University – Hernz Laguerre
Temple University – Hershey Walton
Texas A&M University – Julien Obioha
Texas Christian University – Joey Hunt
Texas Tech University – Justis Nelson
Tulane University – Richard Carthon
U.S. Naval Academy (Navy) – Myer Krah
University of Akron – Christian Allen
University of Notre Dame – Corey Robinson
University of Oklahoma – Nila Kasitati
University of Pittsburgh – James Conner
University of South Alabama – Terrance Timmons
University of South Carolina – Elliott Fry
University of South Florida – Sean Price
University of Southern California – Cody Kessler
University of Tennessee – Joshua Dobbs
University of Texas at El Paso – Aaron Jones
University of Toledo – Alex Zmolik
University of Utah – Kenneth Scott
University of Virginia – Demetrious Nicholson
University of Wisconsin – Vince Biegel
Wake Forest University – Ryan Janvion
Washington State University – Jeremiah Allison
West Virginia University – Karl Joseph
Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)
Alma College – Brent Luplow
Angelo State University – Kyle Washington
Aurora University – Billy Baker
Azusa Pacific University – Andrew Elffers
Berry College – Matt Farinella
Bethany College (Kan.) – Brett Crome
Bethel University (Minn.) – Matt Mehlhorn
Butler University – Matt Shiltz
Carson-Newman University – De'Andre Thomas
Catawba College – Mike Sheehan
Central College – Jacob Wassenaar
Colorado School of Mines – Stephen Candelaria
Cornell University (N.Y.) – Luke Hagy
Dakota State University – Bobby Tisch
Davidson College – Christopher Woods Jr.
Defiance College – Cody Lee
Denison University – Lucas Romick
Dickinson State University – Meyer Bohn
Drake University – John Hugunin
East Stroudsburg University – Jon Schnaars
Eastern Kentucky University – Avery Pitt
Ferris State University – Jason Vander Laan
Florida A&M University – Akil Blount
Marist College – Zach Quarles
McDaniel College – Mike Oliveto
Mississippi College – Seth McDonald
Mississippi Valley State University – Sean Brown
Moravian College – Anthony Orlando
Morgan State University – Andrew King
Morningside College – Ethan Stofferan
North Carolina Central University – Tre Smith
North Carolina Wesleyan College – Dustin Midgett
Northern Arizona University – Dejzon Walker
Northern State University – Joseph Parsley
Northwest Missouri State University – Shane Smith
Ohio Dominican University – Paul Wesselhoeft
Ohio Wesleyan University – Tim Shadoan
Peru State College – Logan Paben
Pittsburg State University – Deron Washington
Presentation College – Garret Fraser
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Austin Amery
Rhodes College – Jonathan Wiener
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology – Tyler Rockwood
Rowan University – Withler Marcelin
Sacred Heart University – Nick Bartoli
Saint Augustine's University – Roderick Davenport
Saint Francis University (Pa.) – Khairi Dickson
Saint John's University (Minn.) – Ben Brown
Saint Vincent College – Andrew Geisler
Salve Regina University – Mike McNamara
Samford University – Gunnar Bromelow
Shepherd University – Octavius Thomas
South Dakota State University – Cam Jones
Southeast Missouri State University – Paul McRoberts
Southeastern Oklahoma State University – Kaymon Farmer
Southern Arkansas University – John Miller
St. Cloud State University – Jameson Parsons
Stephen F. Austin State University – Aaron Thomas
Stonehill College – Nick Chiocco
Florida Institute of Technology – Manny Abad
Fordham University – George Dawson
Franklin College– Austin Carlton
Frostburg State University – Josh Burch
Gannon University – Liam Nadler
Gardner-Webb University – Chad Geter
Grand Valley State University – Alton Voss
Harding University – De'Onte Garrett
Heidelberg University – Ryan Finck
Hillsdale College – Daniel Drummond
Hope College – Robert Kish
Idaho State University – Cody Sorensen
Illinois State University – Kyle Avaloy
Indiana State University – Mark Sewall
Jackson State University – Teddrick Terrell
Jacksonville State University – Dalton Screws
John Carroll University – David Porter
Lenoir-Rhyne University – Jacob Slagle
Liberty University – Chima Uzowihe
Lindenwood University (Mo.) – Connor Harris
Macalester College – Forest Redlin
Malone University – Jon Zimmerly
Manchester University – Logan Haston
Sul Ross State University – Sterling Jones
Texas A&M University-Kingsville – Christian Garcia
Texas Lutheran University – Dominick Stives
The Citadel – Joe Crochet
Towson University – Jon Desir
Trinity International University – Riley Schussler
Trinity University (Texas) – Brad Hood
Tufts University – Corey Burns
University of Central Oklahoma – Seth Hiddink
University of Chicago – Vincent Beltrano
University of Dayton – Patrick Nuzzolese
University of Dubuque – Blaine Snitker
University of Maine – Trevor Bates
University of Mary – Zach Roberson
University of North Alabama – Lee Mayhall
University of North Dakota – Dayo Idowu
University of Northern Iowa – Isaac Ales
University of Northwestern (Minn.) – Nathan Van Zee
University of Puget Sound – Misha Gordon
University of Rochester – Matthew Pisano
University of San Diego – Devyn Bryant
University of Sioux Falls – John Tidwell
University of St. Thomas – David Simmet
University of Tennessee at Martin – Taino Fears-Perez
University of the Cumberlands – Randy Maynard
University of the Incarnate Word – Padyn Giebler
University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Alex Johnson
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Taylor Lucas
Wartburg College – Robbie Anstoetter
Washburn University – Michael Miller
Washington University in St. Louis – Jonathan Way
Wayne State University (Mich.) – Carl Roscoe
Western Illinois University – Jordan Veloz
Westminster College – Justin Dahl
William Penn University – Kramer Patterson
Wingate University – Mathu Gibson
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Jake Brown
Yale University – Sebastian Little
About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In the 20 years since Allstate became a fully independent public company, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners have donated more than $405 million to support local communities.
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams® were 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 62 selections to the Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Big 12 Conference with 47 selections and the Atlantic Coast Conference with 29 selections. Georgia is in first place with 15 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.® The Bulldogs are followed by 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."
Contact:
Jennifer Knoeppel, Taylor
212-714-5732
jknoeppel@taylorstrategy.com
Laura Strykowski, Allstate Media Relations
847-402-5600
Laura.Strykowski@allstate.com
Vince Thompson, AFCA Media Relations
254-754-9900
vince@afca.com