Allstate, American Football Coaches Association Announce 146 Nominees for 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®

College football's top community service honor awards student-athletes for their outstanding community service achievements and commitment to giving back

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Jul 10, 2017, 08:00 ET

NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced 146 nominees for the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®, one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in college football.

Since 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®has brought together a select group of college football players from across the country to honor their dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others. While players are often recognized for their accomplishments and achievements on game day, these student-athletes have made significant contributions to the greater good of society, inspiring future generations of young athletes and the larger college football community.

"Allstate is immensely honored to partner with the AFCA for the 10^th year to help pay tribute to these players and their off-the-field 'good works' that often go unnoticed and unrewarded," 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. "The individuals nominated to the 2017 Good Works Team^® are making a positive impact and uniting communities across the country through service, showing what's possible when you put all hands in and give back."

The student-athletes nominated for this esteemed award embody the true spirit of teamwork and selflessness, donating their limited free time to helping and serving others. From founding a non-profit that helps orphans secure jobs in the workforce to raising funds and awareness for childhood cancer research, the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® nominees may wear different jerseys on the field, but they all exemplify a superior commitment to giving back off of it.

"After looking at the bios of the 146 nominees we received for 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, it really shows that there are great football student-athletes all over this country who just don't care what happens between the sidelines, but they also care about their community and giving back to others," Todd Berry, AFCA Executive Director said. "The AFCA has been proud to partner with Allstate these past 10 years to honor football players who give more of themselves to help others in need."

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 2017 Good Works Team^®. Two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® member Tim Tebow will headline the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®voting panel.

"I'm so thankful to be part of a team that represents excellence on the field and in the classroom, but more importantly, places the highest value on changing people's lives in our communities and around the world," says Tebow.

In addition to Tebow and Clarkson, the 2017 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); current AFCA President and University of Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez; 2001 AFCA President and current athletic director at Virginia Union University Joe Taylor.

Once the final team members are announced in September, college football 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 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® Captain. Throughout the season, fans can also follow along and join in on the conversation by searching and using #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels.

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 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®.

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
Arizona State University – Tashon Smallwood	University of Arkansas – Frank Ragnow
Arkansas State University – Blaise Taylor	University of California, Berkeley – Raymond Davison
Auburn University – Daniel Carlson	University of Central Florida – Shaquem Griffin
Baylor University – Taylor Young	University of Connecticut – Vontae Diggs
Boise State University – Brett Rypien	University of Georgia – Aaron Davis
Bowling Green State University – Nate Locke	University of Houston – Steven Dunbar
Brigham Young University – Fred Warner	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Nick Allegretti
Clemson University – Christian Wilkins	University of Kansas – Joe Dineen, Jr
Colorado State University – Zack Golditch	University of Kentucky – Courtney Love
Duke University – Gabe Brandner	University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Grant Horst
East Carolina University – Jimmy Williams	University of Louisville – Lamar Jackson
Florida State University – Mavin Saunders	University of Maryland, College Park – Adam Greene
Georgia Institute of Technology – Matthew Jordan	University of Memphis – Spencer Smith
Georgia Southern University – Myles Campbell	University of Miami – Demetrius Jackson
Indiana University – Rashard Fant	University of Minnesota – Eric Carter
Kansas State University – Dalton Risner	University of Mississippi – Javon Patterson
Louisiana State University – Danny Etling	University of Missouri – Corey Fatony
Marshall University – Ryan Yurachek	University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Chris Weber
Middle Tennessee State University – Brent Stockstill	University of Nevada, Reno – Austin Corbett
Mississippi State University – Gabe Myles	University of North Carolina – Austin Proehl
North Carolina State University – A.J. Cole, III	University of Notre Dame – Tyler Newsome
Northwestern University – Justin Jackson	University of Oklahoma – Nick Basquine
Ohio State University – J.T. Barrett	University of Pittsburgh – Brian O'Neill
Oklahoma State University – Mason Rudolph	University of South Alabama – Tre Alford
Old Dominion University – Josh Marriner	University of Southern California – Jordan Austin
Pennsylvania State University – Brandon Smith	University of Tennessee – Todd Kelly, Jr
Rutgers University – Sebastian Joseph	University of Texas – Naashon Hughes
San Jose State University – Nate Velichko	University of Texas at El Paso – Ryan Metz
Southern Methodist University – Justin Lawler	University of Toledo – Cody Thompson
Stanford University – Harrison Phillips	University of Tulsa – Willie Wright
Syracuse University – Zack Mahoney	University of Utah – Chase Hansen
TCU – Shaun Nixon	University of Virginia – Quin Blanding
Texas A&M University – Koda Martin	University of Wisconsin-Madison – Derrick Tindal
Texas State University – Gabe Schrade	Utah State University – Jontrell Rocquemore
Tulane University – Parry Nickerson	Vanderbilt University – Tommy Openshaw
University of California, Los Angeles – Kenny Young	Virginia Tech – Joey Slye
University of Alabama – Minkah Fitzpatrick	West Virginia University – Rob Dowdy
University of Alabama at Birmingham – Shaq Jones	Western Kentucky University – Marcus Ward

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)
Amherst College – Reece Foy	Moravian College – Nick Zambelli
Aurora University – Kurtis Chione	Murray State University – Zach Shipley
Berry College – Michael Wenclawiak	Norfolk State University – Kyle Archie
Bethel University (Minn.) – Josh Dalki	North Greenville University – Johnny Burch
Butler University – Isaak Newhouse	Northwestern College (Iowa) – Jacob Jenness
Carnegie Mellon University – Sam Benger	Notre Dame College – Justin Adamson
Carson-Newman University – Antonio Wimbush	Ohio Dominican University – Austin Ernst
Chadron State College – Steven Allen	Ohio Wesleyan University – Jerry Harper
Chapman University – Diano Pachote	Peru State College – Gunnar Orcutt
Colorado State University-Pueblo – Zach Boyd	Princeton University – Kurt Holuba
Dakota State University – Jacob Giles	Saint Augustine's University – Justin Shaw
Davidson College – Ryan Samuels	Saint John's University (Minn.) – Will Gillach
East Stroudsburg University – Larry Mills	Samford University – Deion Pierre
Eastern Kentucky University – Jeffrey Canady	South Dakota State University – Jake Wieneke
Edinboro University – Ryan Stratton	Southern Arkansas University – Stacy Lawrence
Ferris State University – Jake Daugherty	Southwestern Assemblies of God University – Stephen Lawson
Fordham University – Manny Adeyeye	Stephen F. Austin State University – Marlon Walls
Franklin & Marshall College – Tyler Schubert	Stonehill College – Jermel Wright
Frostburg State University – Jordan Procter	Susquehanna University – Tommy Bluj
Georgetown College (Ky.) – Kody Kasey	Texas A&M University-Commerce – Luis Perez
Grinnell College – Carson Dunn	The Catholic University of America – Patrick Vidal
Harding University – Gavin De Los Santos	The College of Wooster – Patrick Mohorcic
Hillsdale College – Danny Drummond	University of Chicago – Chandler Carroll
James Madison University – Jonathan Kloosterman	University of Mount Union – Alex Louthan
Kalamazoo College – David Vanderkloot	University of Puget Sound – Dwight Jackson
Kennesaw State University – Luther Jones	University of Saint Mary – Kyle Dougherty
Liberty University – Trey Turner	University of St. Thomas (Minn.) – Matt Christenson
Manchester University – Jared Bourff	University of South Dakota – Stetson Dagel
Marist College – Lawrence Dickens	Wartburg College – Matt Sacia
Mercer University – Thomas Marchman	Wayne State University (Mich.) – Deiontae Nicholas
Michigan Technological University – Cayman Berg-Morales	West Texas A&M University – Dillon Vaughan
Millersville University of Pennsylvania – Kevin Wiggins	Western Carolina University – Keion Crossen
Minot State University – Logan Gunderson	Western New England University – Garrett Jones
Mississippi College – Chris Manning	Wingate University – Lawrence Pittman
Montana State University – Mitchell Herbert	Youngstown State University – Armand Dellovade

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 67 selections to the Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 34 selections and the Big 12 Conference with 30 selections. Georgia is in first place with 17 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."

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company