Allstate, American Football Coaches Association Announce Nominees for the 25th Anniversary Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®

The prestigious college football award celebrates a quarter-century of recognizing student-athletes for acts of good in their communities

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Jul 13, 2016, 08:00 ET

NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced 165 nominees for the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®, one of the most coveted off-the-field honors in college football. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Works Team^® award, which was established in 1992 to recognize a select group of college football players who have made a commitment to service and enriching the lives of others.

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For 25 years, the players selected have carried on the award's mission by demonstrating that 'good works' extend beyond the football field. This year's nominees uphold impressive service resumes detailing inspiring stories of servitude and the exceptional ability to balance academics with athletics, while donating their limited free time and energy to helping others.

"Allstate is proud to join the AFCA in celebrating 25 years of honoring college football players who represent the sport's finest in volunteerism and leadership," said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®voting panel. "The positive impact these young athletes have on their communities is an inspiration to us all and another reason to celebrate the good happening in our communities and in college athletics."

In honor of the 25th anniversary, Allstate and the AFCA will add three additional spots to this year's team and announce a final roster of 25 members in September. For the first time in the award's history, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® will be comprised of 12 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, 12 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA and an honorary head coach.

With winning records and championships on the line each season, off-the-field service contributions can go overlooked. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® pays tribute to these stories of good and the student-athletes who have dedicated countless hours towards helping others. From donating bone marrow to save a stranger's life to helping build a school in a rural village overseas, the players nominated to the 25th anniversary team have demonstrated a unique commitment to improving their communities.

"The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has been one of the most prestigious off-the-field awards in college football for the past 25 years," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "It is with great pride that we partner with Allstate to highlight some of the best student-athletes in the country who not only excel on the field, but off of it as well."

From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team^® members and prominent college football media members will select the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.^®

The 2016 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) and Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Ashland University head coach Lee Owens; 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.

Once the final team members are announced in September, fans are encouraged to visit the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® website on ESPN.com, which features profiles and images of the players, and provides the opportunity to vote for the 2016 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 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®.

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
Appalachian State University – Darian Small	Clemson University – Deshaun Watson
Arizona State University – Viliami Moeakiola	Colorado State University – Elroy Masters Jr.
Auburn University – Daniel Carlson	Duke University – DeVon Edwards
Ball State University – Teddy Williamson	Florida State University – Alec Eberle
Baylor University – Lynx Hawthorne	Georgia Institute of Technology – KeShun Freeman
Boise State University – Jake Roh	Georgia State University – Keith Rucker
Brigham Young University – Mitchell Juergens	Indiana University – Mitchell Paige
California State University, Fresno – Jacob Vazquez	Iowa State University – Cole Netten
Central Michigan University – Cooper Rush	Kansas State University – Dante Barnett
Marshall University – Ryan Yurachek	Kent State University – Nick Cuthbert
Michigan State University – Josiah Price	University of Kansas – Fish Smithson
Middle Tennessee State University – Brent Stockstill	University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Elijah McGuire
Mississippi State University – Brandon Holloway	University of Louisville – Brandon Radcliff
North Carolina State University – Tony Adams	University of Maryland – William Likely
Northern Illinois University – Sean Folliard	University of Memphis – Jake Elliott
Northwestern University – Matthew Harris	University of Miami – Brad Kaaya
Ohio State University – Pat Elflein	University of Michigan – Jehu Chesson
Old Dominion University – Tyler Compton	University of Minnesota – Damarius Travis
Oregon State University – Will Hopkins	University of Mississippi – Evan Engram
Purdue University – Cameron Posey	University of Missouri – Donavin Newsom
Rice University – Darik Dillard	University of Nebraska – Drew Brown
Rutgers University – Derrick Nelson	University of Nevada – Jeremy Macauley
San Jose State University – Tim Crawley	University of Nevada, Las Vegas – Kyle Saxelid
Syracuse University – Jason Emerich	University of New Mexico – Garrett Adcock
Temple University – Jacob Martin	University of North Carolina – Nick Weiler
Texas A&M University – Trevor Knight	University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Jamal Covington
Texas Christian University – Caylin Moore	University of Oklahoma – Samaje Perine
Texas State University – Felix Romero	University of Pittsburgh – Mike Caprara
Texas Tech University – Patrick Mahomes II	University of Southern California – John Plattenburg
Troy University – John Johnson	University of Southern Mississippi – Nick Mullens
University of Akron – DeAndre Scott	University of Toledo – Brad Spelman
University of Alabama – O.J. Howard	University of Tulsa – Dane Evans
University of Arkansas – Deatrich Wise Jr.	University of Virginia – Matt Johns
University of California – Jack Austin	University of Wisconsin – Vince Biegel
University of Colorado Boulder – Derek McCartney	Utah State University – Travis Seefeldt
University of Connecticut – Bobby Puyol	Vanderbilt University – Oren Burks
University of Florida – Jarrad Davis	Wake Forest University – Ryan Janvion
University of Georgia – Jeb Blazevich	West Virginia University – Skyler Howard
University of Hawaii at Manoa – Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea	Western Kentucky University – Marcus Ward
University of Houston – Greg Ward Jr.	Western Michigan University – Zach Terrell
University of Illinois – Joe Spencer

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)
Alma College – Nick Mangutz	Colorado School of Mines – Stephen Candelaria
Ashland University – Zach Bernhard	Colorado State University-Pueblo – Alex Belconis
Bethel University (Minn.) – Drew Neuville	Dakota State University – Dereck DeVries
Black Hills State University – Phydell Paris	Davidson College – Nate Casey
Butler University – Sean Horan	Drake University – Taylor Coleman
California Polytechnic State University – Matt Fisher	East Stroudsburg University – Robert Healy
Carnegie Mellon University – Brian Khoury	East Texas Baptist University – Ryan Travis
Carson-Newman University – Dan Gallman	Eastern Oregon University – Zach Bartlow
Central Methodist University – Wes Davis	Eureka College – Trever Zeibert
College of Wooster – Todd Ulmer	Fordham University – Kevin Anderson
Frostburg State University – Isaac Robinson	The Citadel – Joe Crochet
Harding University – De'Onte Garrett	Towson University – Darius Victor
Hope College – Brandon Ellsworth	Trinity University (Texas) – Julian Turner
Illinois State University – Alejandro Rivera	Tufts University – Alex Kim
Johns Hopkins University – Jack Campbell	Union College – Jermaine Carn
Lake Forest College – Ryan Shalosky	University of Chicago – Tim Veselik
Liberty University – Dexter Robbins	University of New Hampshire – DeVaughn Chollette
Macalester College – Forest Redlin	University of North Dakota – Luke Mathewson
Manchester University – Nathan Birk	University of Northern Iowa – Jamison Whiting
Marist College – Cameron Gibson	University of Northwestern (Minn.) – Ben Greener
Missouri State University – Dylan Cole	University of Puget Sound – Brett Pilling
Montana State University – Mitchell Herbert	University of Redlands – Jack Rulon
Montana Tech – Levi Dawes	University of Rochester – Matthew Pisano
Moravian College – Jalen Snyder-Scipio	University of San Diego – Devyn Bryant
Morningside College – Luke Grooters	University of Sioux Falls – Luke Papilion
North Carolina Central University – Carl Jones	University of South Dakota – John Wessel
North Dakota State University – Chase Morlock	University of St. Thomas – Nick Waldvogel
Northern Arizona University – Corbin Jountti	University of Tennessee at Chattanooga – Derrick Craine
Northwestern State University – JeMarcus Marshall	University of the Cumberlands – Adam Craig
Norwich University – Derek Lotito	University of the Incarnate Word – Michael Allen
Ohio Wesleyan University – Jerry Harper	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Brett Kasper
Oklahoma Baptist University – Zach Clark	Washburn University – Michael Miller
Peru State College – Travis Carnahan	Wayne State University (Mich.) – Trent Brodbeck
Pittsburg State University – Deron Washington	West Chester University – Doug Gilbert
Princeton University – Mason Darrow	West Texas A&M University – Dillon Vaughan
Saint Augustine's University – Julius Murphy	West Virginia Wesleyan College – Tavaris Anderson
Saint John's University (Minn.) – Carter Hanson	Western Carolina University – Tyson Dickson
South Dakota State University – Shayne Gottlob	Western Illinois University – Brett Taylor
Southeastern Oklahoma State University – Kaymon Farmer	Western New England University – Obi Etuka
Southwest Minnesota State University – Grant Greenfield	Wingate University – Lawrence Pittman
Stephen F. Austin State University – Marlon Walls	Yale University – Sebastian Little
Texas A&M University-Kingsville – Greg Pitre
Texas Lutheran University – Tyler Howlett

The following coaches have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® as the honorary head coach.

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)

Eastern Michigan University – Chris Creighton

Michigan State University – Mark Dantonio

Tulane University – Willie Fritz

University of Alabama – Nick Saban

University of Miami – Mark Richt

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)

Jacksonville State University – John Grass [FCS]

Morningside College – Steve Ryan [NAIA]

Pittsburg State University – Tim Beck [DII]

University of Minnesota Duluth – Curt Wiese [DII]

University of St. Thomas – Glenn Caruso [DIII]

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. Now celebrating its 85th anniversary as an insurer, 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 2015, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 230,000 hours of service across the country.

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 16 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."

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