Allstate, American Football Coaches Association Announce Record 132 Nominees for Prestigious College Football Community Service Award

Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® celebrates 20th year honoring student-athletes for their commitment to serving others

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Jul 19, 2011, 10:00 ET

NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced a record 132 nominees for the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. The award recognizes the selfless contributions to volunteerism and community service made by college football student-athletes across the nation.

This year marks the program's 20th year honoring college football players at all levels of competition who stand out for their "good works" in the community. Since 1992, selection to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has become the gold standard for off-the-field character and leadership for college football players. The honor is widely considered the sport's pre-eminent community service award.

"This program has grown dramatically throughout the years due to the volunteerism and commitment of these great student-athletes to their communities," said Mark LaNeve, Allstate Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales Operations, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. "To be associated with an award that reflects so positively on college football is an inspiration for Allstate, our employees and our agents, especially as the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® celebrates its 20th year."

While it is often college football players' on-field exploits that receive the most attention from fans and media, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® award shines a spotlight on student-athletes' efforts away from the playing field by sharing their stories of serving others.

From creating mentorship programs at local schools, to traveling on mission trips around the world, to donating bone marrow to a cancer patient, this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominees boast some of the most impressive community service resumes in the program's history.

"The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most important awards in college football because it highlights some of the best and brightest student-athletes in the country," said Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive Director. "With this being the 20th year of this outstanding award, it's great to see a record number of nominees sent in from some of the leading football programs in the nation. The AFCA is proud to share in this anniversary year with our partners at Allstate."

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 two 11-player Good Works Teams® – one comprising of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA. The 22 student-athletes named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be announced in late September.

After a successful first-year partnership with ESPN.com, Allstate and the AFCA will re-launch its customized Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® website featuring profiles and images of the final team members, as well as an opportunity for fans to vote for the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain.

The 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Alex Van Pelt (Pittsburgh, 1992 team), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Grant Irons (Notre Dame, 1999 team), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); media members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Rece Davis (ESPN), Tom O'Toole (USA Today), Gary Shelton (St. Petersburg Times), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Montana State University Head Coach Rob Ash; 1987 AFCA President LaVell Edwards, former head coach at Brigham Young University; and Allstate Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales Operations, Mark LaNeve.

In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing.

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.

Football Bowl Subdivision
Air Force Academy – A.J. Wallerstein
Arizona State University – Aaron Pflugrad
Auburn University – T'Sharvan Bell
Baylor University – Robert Griffin
Boise State University – Chris Potter
Bowling Green State University – Ronnie Goble
Central Michigan University – Cody Wilson
Clemson University – Dwayne Allen
Colorado State University – Ivory Herd
Georgia Institute of Technology – Roddy Jones
Indiana University – Leon Beckum
Iowa State University – Jake Knott
Kansas State University – Tysyn Hartman
Middle Tennessee State University – Alan Gendreau
North Carolina State University – Asa Watson
Northwestern University – Alexander Netter
Oklahoma State University – Brandon Weeden
Oregon State University – Johnny Hekker
Purdue University – Rob Henry
Rice University – Kyle Martens
Rutgers University – Scott Vallone
Southern Methodist University – Kelvin Beachum
Syracuse University – Adam Harris
Temple University – Wayne Tribue
Texas A&M University – Ryan Tannehill
Texas Christian University – Jeff Olson
University of Arizona – Nick Foles
University of Central Florida – Ronnie Weaver
University of Cincinnati – J.K. Schaffer
University of Colorado – Brian Lockridge
University of Florida – Jeff Demps
University of Georgia – Aron White
University of Iowa – Eric Guthrie
University of Kentucky – Jacob Lewellen
University of Louisville – Greg Scruggs
University of Memphis – Michael Antonescu
University of Michigan – Patrick Omameh
University of Minnesota – Donald Wilhite
University of Mississippi – Jason Jones
University of Missouri – Michael Egnew
University of Nebraska – Jared Crick
University of Nevada - Las Vegas – Nate Carter
University of North Carolina – Matt Merletti
University of Notre Dame – Dayne Crist
University of Pittsburgh – Andrew Taglianetti
University of South Carolina – Kenny Miles
University of South Florida – Chaz Hine
University of Southern California - Matt Barkley
University of Texas – Emmanuel Acho
University of Toledo – Eric Page
University of Utah – Tony Bergstrom
University of Virginia – Chase Minnifield
Utah State University – Eric Moats
West Virginia University – Keith Tandy
Western Kentucky University – Jack Doyle
Western Michigan University – John Potter

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)
Angelo State University – Alvin Johnson
Campbell University – Branden Burt
Campbellsville University – William Warf
Capital University – Troy Spiker
Carroll College (Mont.) – Nick Petrusha
Carson-Newman College – Byron Bell
Central College (Iowa) – Cory Nikkel
Central Methodist University – Jacob Heppner
Charleston Southern University – Chris Kuzdale
Dakota Wesleyan University – Anthony Muilenburg
Drake University – Stoy Hall
Duquesne University – Zach Richert
Elmhurst College – Chris Kirkpatrick
Elon University – Dale Riley
Ferris State University – Tom Schneider
Florida A&M University – Padric Scott
Frostburg State University – Josh Volpe
Georgia Southern University – Andrew Boyd Sasser
Grinnell College – Mike Bogard
Heidelberg University – Derrick Arbogast
Henderson State University – Nick Johnson
Hobart College – Jarrid Blades
Illinois State University – Matt Lancaster
Indiana State University – Alex Sewall
Johns Hopkins University – Doug Drummond
Macalester College – David Melms
McNeese State University – Ben Bourgeois
Millsaps College – Garrett Pinciotti
Missouri Southern State University – Kellen Cox
Montana State University – Rick Haluszka
Morningside College – Colby Rohde
North Dakota State University – Coulter Boyer
North Park University – Casey Smagala
Northern Arizona University – Matt Myers
Northwest Missouri State University – Jake Soy
Northwestern College (Iowa) – Chris Butler
Northwestern State University (La.) – Yaser Elqutub
Old Dominion University – Ronnie Cameron
Samford University – Jeremy Towns
Shenandoah University – Kyle Feldman
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology – Andy Smith
South Dakota State University – Jake Steffen
Southern Illinois University – Mike McElroy
St. Cloud State University – Matt Theis
St. John's University (Minn.) – Andrew Rotschafer
St. Olaf College – Leon Clark
St. Xavier University – Michael Prosser
SUNY Maritime College – Ricky McClain
Tarleton State University – Levi Kirkland
Thiel College – Tim Taylor
Thomas More College – Jay Volker
Towson University – Marcus Valentine
Trinity University (Texas) – Markham Stayton
Tusculum College – Bo Cordell
Union College – Jonathan Stidd
University of California - Davis – Bobby Erskine
University of Dubuque – Michael Zweifel
University of Montana – Alex Shaw
University of New Hampshire – Chris Zarkoskie
University of North Dakota – Justin Belotti
University of Northern Iowa – Ben Boothby
University of Redlands – Tyler Aubrey
University of Rhode Island – Matt Greenhalgh
University of San Diego – Al-Rilwan Adeyemi
University of Sioux Falls – Braden Wieking
University of St. Thomas (Minn.) – Fritz Waldvogel
University of Tennessee - Chattanooga – B.J. Coleman
University of the Incarnate Word – Jacob Love
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Kris Rosholt
Wartburg College – Logan Hansen
Washington University in St. Louis – Kyle Larkin
Wayne State College (Neb.) – Joe Bundy
Wayne State University (Mich.) – Josh Renel
Wheaton College – Jordan Chapman
Williams College – William Hamrick
Winona State University – Alex Kautza

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

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 partnered to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

Since 1992, the Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with 52 selections to the Good Works Teams®, followed by the Big 12 with 38 selections and the Atlantic Coast Conference with 29 selections. In 2009, St. Thomas defensive back Jeffrey Hilliard became the 12th Tommie, and Georgia defensive lineman Jeff Owens became the 12th Bulldog to be selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, tying both schools for the most selections of all time. Super Bowl XLII 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