Allstate, American Football Coaches Association Announce Record 197 Nominees for 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®

College football's preeminent community service award recognizes student-athletes for off the field achievements

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Jul 14, 2015, 08:00 ET

NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate Insurance Company and the (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.

Allstate logo.

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	U.S. Naval Academy (Navy) – Myer Krah
Arkansas State University – Fredi Knighten	University of Akron – Christian Allen
Auburn University – Jonathan Wallace	University of Alabama – O.J. Howard
Ball State University – Jacob Richard	University of Arizona – Casey Skowron
Boise State University – Shane Williams-Rhodes	University of California – Stefan McClure
Brigham Young University – Bronson Kaufusi	University of California Los Angeles – Jake Brendel
California State University, Fresno – Justin Northern	University of Connecticut – Andreas Knappe
Central Michigan University – Nick Beamish	University of Georgia – Malcolm Mitchell
Clemson University – Eric Mac Lain	University of Houston – Adrian McDonald
Colorado State University – Trent Matthews	University of Iowa – Jordan Lomax
Duke University – Kelby Brown	University of Kentucky – Landon Foster
Georgia Institute of Technology – D.J. White	University of Louisville – James Burgess
Georgia Southern University – Matt Dobson	University of Maryland – Andrew Zeller
Georgia State University – Keith Rucker	University of Massachusetts – Blake Frohnapfel
Indiana University – Nate Sudfeld	University of Memphis – Wynton McManis
Iowa State University – Levi Peters	University of Miami – Deon Bush
Kansas State University – Stanton Weber	University of Michigan – Joe Bolden
Kent State University – Jordan Italiano	University of Minnesota – Peter Mortell
Louisiana State University – Jamie Keehn	University of Mississippi – Evan Engram
Marshall University – Tyler Williams	University of Mississippi – Evan Engram
Michigan State University – Josiah Price	University of Nebraska – Sam Burtch
Middle Tennessee State University – Darius Johnson	University of New Mexico – Garrett Adcock
Mississippi State University – Taveze Calhoun	University of North Carolina – Shakeel Rashad
North Carolina State University – Mike Rose	University of Notre Dame – Corey Robinson
Northern Illinois University – Cameron Clinton-Earl	University of Oklahoma – Nila Kasitati
Northwestern University – Max Chapman	University of Pittsburgh – James Conner
Ohio State University – Joshua Perry	University of South Alabama – Terrance Timmons
Old Dominion University – Tyler Compton	University of South Carolina – Elliott Fry
Penn State University – Ben Kline	University of South Florida – Sean Price
Rice University – Driphus Jackson	University of Southern California – Cody Kessler
Rutgers University – Quentin Gause	University of Tennessee – Joshua Dobbs
Southern Methodist University – Cameron Smith	University of Texas at El Paso – Aaron Jones
Stanford University – Dallas Lloyd	University of Toledo – Alex Zmolik
Syracuse University – Hernz Laguerre	University of Utah – Kenneth Scott
Temple University – Hershey Walton	University of Virginia – Demetrious Nicholson
Texas A&M University – Julien Obioha	University of Wisconsin – Vince Biegel
Texas Christian University – Joey Hunt	Wake Forest University – Ryan Janvion
Texas Tech University – Justis Nelson	Washington State University – Jeremiah Allison
Tulane University – Richard Carthon	West Virginia University – Karl Joseph

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)

Alma College – Brent Luplow	Peru State College – Logan Paben
Angelo State University – Kyle Washington	Pittsburg State University – Deron Washington
Aurora University – Billy Baker	Presentation College – Garret Fraser
Azusa Pacific University – Andrew Elffers	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Austin Amery
Berry College – Matt Farinella	Rhodes College – Jonathan Wiener
Bethany College (Kan.) – Brett Crome	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology – Tyler Rockwood
Bethel University (Minn.) – Matt Mehlhorn	Rowan University – Withler Marcelin
Butler University – Matt Shiltz	Sacred Heart University – Nick Bartoli
Carson-Newman University – De'Andre Thomas	Saint Augustine's University – Roderick Davenport
Catawba College – Mike Sheehan	Saint Francis University (Pa.) – Khairi Dickson
Central College – Jacob Wassenaar	Saint John's University (Minn.) – Ben Brown
Colorado School of Mines – Stephen Candelaria	Saint Vincent College – Andrew Geisler
Cornell University (N.Y.) – Luke Hagy	Salve Regina University – Mike McNamara
Dakota State University – Bobby Tisch	Samford University – Gunnar Bromelow
Davidson College – Christopher Woods Jr.	Shepherd University – Octavius Thomas
Defiance College – Cody Lee	South Dakota State University – Cam Jones
Denison University – Lucas Romick	Southeast Missouri State University – Paul McRoberts
Dickinson State University – Meyer Bohn	Southeastern Oklahoma State University – Kaymon Farmer
Drake University – John Hugunin	Southern Arkansas University – John Miller
East Stroudsburg University – Jon Schnaars	St. Cloud State University – Jameson Parsons
Eastern Kentucky University – Avery Pitt	Stephen F. Austin State University – Aaron Thomas
Ferris State University – Jason Vander Laan	Stonehill College – Nick Chiocco
Florida A&M University – Akil Blount	Yale University – Sebastian Little
Florida Institute of Technology – Manny Abad	Sul Ross State University – Sterling Jones
Fordham University – George Dawson	Texas A&M University-Kingsville – Christian Garcia
Franklin College– Austin Carlton	Texas Lutheran University – Dominick Stives
Frostburg State University – Josh Burch	The Citadel – Joe Crochet
Gannon University – Liam Nadler	Towson University – Jon Desir
Gardner-Webb University – Chad Geter	Trinity International University – Riley Schussler
Grand Valley State University – Alton Voss	Trinity University (Texas) – Brad Hood
Harding University – De'Onte Garrett	Tufts University – Corey Burns
Heidelberg University – Ryan Finck	University of Central Oklahoma – Seth Hiddink
Hillsdale College – Daniel Drummond	University of Chicago – Vincent Beltrano
Hope College – Robert Kish	University of Dayton – Patrick Nuzzolese
Idaho State University – Cody Sorensen	University of Dubuque – Blaine Snitker
Illinois State University – Kyle Avaloy	University of Maine – Trevor Bates
Indiana State University – Mark Sewall	University of Mary – Zach Roberson
Jackson State University – Teddrick Terrell	University of North Alabama – Lee Mayhall
Jacksonville State University – Dalton Screws	University of North Dakota – Dayo Idowu
John Carroll University – David Porter	University of Northern Iowa – Isaac Ales
Lenoir-Rhyne University – Jacob Slagle	University of Northwestern (Minn.) – Nathan Van Zee
Liberty University – Chima Uzowihe	University of Puget Sound – Misha Gordon
Lindenwood University (Mo.) – Connor Harris	University of Rochester – Matthew Pisano
Macalester College – Forest Redlin	University of San Diego – Devyn Bryant
Malone University – Jon Zimmerly	University of Sioux Falls – John Tidwell
Manchester University – Logan Haston	University of St. Thomas – David Simmet
Marist College – Zach Quarles	University of Tennessee at Martin – Taino Fears-Perez
McDaniel College – Mike Oliveto	University of the Cumberlands – Randy Maynard
Mississippi College – Seth McDonald	University of the Incarnate Word – Padyn Giebler
Mississippi Valley State University – Sean Brown	University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Alex Johnson
Moravian College – Anthony Orlando	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Taylor Lucas
Morgan State University – Andrew King	Wartburg College – Robbie Anstoetter
Morningside College – Ethan Stofferan	Washburn University – Michael Miller
North Carolina Central University – Tre Smith	Washington University in St. Louis – Jonathan Way
North Carolina Wesleyan College – Dustin Midgett	Wayne State University (Mich.) – Carl Roscoe
Northern Arizona University – Dejzon Walker	Western Illinois University – Jordan Veloz
Northern State University – Joseph Parsley	Westminster College – Justin Dahl
Northwest Missouri State University – Shane Smith	William Penn University – Kramer Patterson
Ohio Dominican University – Paul Wesselhoeft	Wingate University – Mathu Gibson
Ohio Wesleyan University – Tim Shadoan	Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Jake Brown

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."

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