Allstate, American Football Coaches Association Name 22 College Football Players to the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced today the 22 college football players and honorary head coach named to the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®. This award shines a spotlight on the incredible stories of selflessness and community service displayed by these student-athletes and honorary head coach, and honors their dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others.

Earlier this season, sports information directors from Division I, Division II, Division III and NAIA schools across the country submitted nominations of players they felt best embodied the spirit of the Good Works Team^® award, one of the most coveted off-the-filed honors in college football. An esteemed voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team^® members – including two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® member Tim Tebow –  and prominent college football media members narrowed down the nominees to the final roster.

Tebow and the rest of the voting panel were faced with a list of 146 nominees with robust community service resumes that was narrowed down to the 22 student-athletes and a honorary coach named to the team. From helping to build homes overseas to providing resources to foster care children, the members of the 2017 Good Works Team^® are changing the lives of others both locally and abroad.

"For me, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team tells the full story of what it can mean to be successful as a student-athlete," said Tebow. "I know it's important to develop the skills of these young players on the field, but it's even more important to encourage these players of all the good they can do off the field and help them understand the impact they can make with the platform they have."

In addition to Tebow, the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® selection panel includes: 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); current AFCA President and University of Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez; 2001 AFCA President and current athletic director at Virginia Union University Joe Taylor; and Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company.

The 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® will be invited to New Orleans to participate in a special community service project ahead of the 2018 Allstate^® Sugar Bowl^®, where the entire team will also be recognized on the field at halftime.

In addition, Allstate will honor Good Works Team^® players by creating special volunteer events in select markets throughout the season in conjunction with its All Hands In program, which encourages the college football community to come together and do good.

"These select student-athletes and honorary head coach are an inspiration for their commitment to enriching the lives of others while contributing to the greater good of society," said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel. "We are proud to honor this outstanding group of individuals and to help give back to the communities and organizations that are part of the fabric of college football culture."

The following players and honorary head coach have been named to the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®:

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
Daniel Carlson – Auburn University
Gabe Brandner – Duke University  
Mavin Saunders – Florida State University 
Brent Stockstill – Middle Tennessee State University
A.J. Cole, III – North Carolina State University
Brandon Smith – Pennsylvania State University
Harrison Phillips – Stanford University
Shaq Jones – University of Alabama-Birmingham
Aaron Davis  – University of Georgia          
Courtney Love – University of Kentucky    
Tommy Openshaw – Vanderbilt University

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)
Reece Foy – Amherst College        
Josh Dalki – Bethel University (Minn.)        
Ryan Stratton – Edinboro University           
Jake Daugherty – Ferris State University   
Tyler Schubert – Franklin & Marshall College
Jacob Jenness – Northwestern College (Iowa)
Gunnar Orcutt – Peru State College           
Will Gillach – Saint John's University (Minn.)
Jake Wieneke – South Dakota State University
Patrick Mohorcic – The College of Wooster
Dillon Vaughan – West Texas A&M University

Honorary Head Coach
Pat Fitzgerald – Northwestern University

"The 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is a shining example of the great student-athletes that populate the rosters of college football teams all across the nation," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "Since 2008, the AFCA takes great pride in working with Allstate to honor these 22 outstanding student-athletes, and honorary head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who go above and beyond to make their universities and communities a better place."

Fans are encouraged to visit ESPN.com/Allstate to vote for the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® Captain now through November 23, 2017. The Team Captain will be honored at this season's The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

Throughout the season, fans can also follow along and join in on the conversation by searching and using #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels.

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. Other growth platforms include predictive analytics company Arity and consumer-product protection plan company SquareTrade. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. In 2016, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $42 million to support local communities.

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."

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company