AFCA Announces Nominees for Allstate Good Works Team

To honor the distinguished group of college football players who stand out for the positive influence they have in their communities, Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the 112 student-athletes nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®. It is the most ever in the 19-year history of the award.

In the areas of giving back and volunteerism, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® represents the “best of the best” among more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year institutions.  The total eclipses the 106 nominees achieved last season, demonstrating the continued growth of a platform that is widely recognized as the most prestigious community service award in college football. 

While glory and praise may be traditionally reserved for the most athletically skilled college football players on the field, it is the student-athletes committed to serving others who make the most important impact off the field.  The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® exists to tell their stories and acknowledge their impact beyond the game.

“In the third year of our partnership with the AFCA, Allstate, our employees and our agents continue to be inspired by the stories of class and character displayed by these young men,” said Guy Hill, vice president of sales and service for Allstate, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® voting panel.  “We applaud the commitment of these 112 student-athletes to positively impact their communities with innovation, creativity and passion that reflects so well on their sport, and their respective institutions.” 

This year’s class of nominations includes student-athletes with a wide range of accomplishments, including developing programs to support Haitian relief efforts, working with rural and minority students to help them reach their goal of attending medical school, and organizing a campus fundraiser to incentivize students to shave their heads to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

From the nominees submitted by sports information directors on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team^® members and prominent college football media members is responsible for selecting 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 – to be announced in September.  College Football Hall of Fame member and ESPN broadcaster Lou Holtz is returning for a third year to serve as spokesperson for the program and raise awareness for the stories of the nominees and team members.

“For the third straight year, the AFCA is pleased to partner with Allstate in highlighting football student-athletes who have achieved outstanding success, both on and off the football,” said Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive Director. “From the record total of nominees that were submitted from colleges and universities around the country, it is apparent that collegiate football is producing some of the best and brightest that our country has to offer.”

ESPN.com will launch a customized Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® web site featuring profiles and images of the final 22 award recipients, as well as unique and interactive content for college football fans.  For the first time in the program’s history, fans will be able to vote for a Team Captain on ESPN.com.

The 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team^® members Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team), Mewelde Moore (Tulane, 2003 team), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team); media members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Pat Forde (ESPN.com), Tom O’Toole (USA Today), Gary Shelton (St. Petersburg Times), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Mount Union College Head Coach Larry Kehres; 1996 AFCA President Fisher DeBerry, former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy; and Allstate Vice President, Guy Hill.

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team:

Football Bowl Subdivision (Div I-A)

Arizona State University – Thomas Weber

Baylor University – Robert Griffin

Bowling Green State University – Ben Bojicic

Brigham Young University – Riley Nelson

Central Michigan University – Brian Bennyhoff

Clemson University – Mason Cloy

Colorado State University – Eugene Daniels

Duke University – Bryan Morgan

Florida State University – Christian Ponder

Georgia Institute of Technology – Roddy Jones

Indiana University – Ben Chappell

Iowa State University – Alex Alvarez

Kansas State University – Alex Hrebec

Marshall University – Lee Smith

Michigan State University – Kirk Cousins

Northern Illinois University – Adam Kiel

Northwestern University – Corbin Bryant

Ohio State University – Bryant Browning

Oklahoma State University – Andrew McGee

Penn State University – Stefen Wisniewski

Purdue University – Kyle Adams

Rice University – Cheta Ozougwu

Rutgers University – Howard Barbieri

Southern Methodist University – Pete Fleps

Syracuse University – Bud Tribbey

Temple University – Amara Kamara

Texas A&M University – Jerrod Johnson

Texas Christian University – Tejay Johnson

Texas Tech University – Baron Batch

University of Alabama – John Michael Boswell

University of Connecticut – Zach Hurd

University of Florida – Jeff Demps

University of Idaho – Tyrone Novikoff

University of Iowa – Julian Vandervelde

University of Kansas – Brad Thorson

University of Kentucky – Randall Cobb

University of Memphis – Dominik Riley

University of Mississippi – Jerrell Powe

University of Missouri – Dan Hoch

University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Alex Henery

University of Nevada-Las Vegas – Matt Murphy

University of North Carolina – Robert Quinn

University of Notre Dame – Dayne Crist

University of Oklahoma – Quinton Carter

University of Pittsburgh – Greg Romeus

University of South Carolina – Cliff Matthews

University of Southern California – D.J. Shoemate

University of Southern Mississippi – Austin Davis

U.S. Naval Academy – Ricky Dobbs

University of Tennessee – Nick Reveiz

University of Texas-Austin – Sam Acho

University of Texas-El Paso – Donald Buckram

University of Toledo – Colin McHugh

University of Virginia – Ras-I Dowling

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University – Danny Coale

University of Wisconsin – Scott Tolzien

Western Michigan University – Nick Mitchell

Combined Divisions (FCS (I-AA) II, III & NAIA)

Augustana College (S.D.) – Diego Oquendo

Bethel University (Minn.) – David Vavra

Campbell University – Charles Fiore

Campbellsville University (Ky.) – Calvin Bini

Central Methodist University – Matt Fraley

Centre College (Ky.) – Jonathan Pinque

Charleston Southern University – Jordan Lancaster

University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) – Madison McCalmon

Davidson College – John Behm

Drake University – Ben Morrison

Eastern New Mexico University – Jesse Poku

Eastern Oregon University – Chris Ware

Elon University – Khirey Walker

Ferrum College – T.J. Grzesikowski

Frostburg State University – Terryl Monroe

Heidelberg University – Derrick Arbogast

Hillsdale College – Kevin Hershock

Illinois Wesleyan University – Eli Williams

Lindenwood University – Billy Clark

Luther College – Jordan Grimm

Methodist University – Tyler Mosko

Millikin University – Dion Wilson

Montana State University – Tanner Ripley

North Dakota State University – Matthew Gratzek

Northern Arizona University – Mike Battisti

Northwestern State University – Justin Aldredge

Ohio Northern University – Kyle Simmons

Ouachita Baptist University – Eli Cranor

Rowan University – Matt Hoffman

St. John’s University (Minn.) – John Stanton

Salisbury University – Jamey McClendon

Samford University – Jeremy Towns

Southern Illinois University – Mike McElroy

Southwest Baptist University – Steve Gachette

Tarleton State University – Brandon Johnson

Texas A&M University-Kingsville – DeIra Glover

Texas State University – Steven Kenney

University of Dayton – Dan Prindle

University of Delaware – Siddiq Haynes

University of Dubuque – Michael Zweifel

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor – Max Taylor

University of Montana – Andrew Selle

University of Rochester – Conor McMahon

University of St. Thomas (Minn.) – Ben Wartman

University of Wisconsin-Stout – Patrick Mengelkoch

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Aaron Rusch

Ursinus College – Mike Rissmiller

Wartburg College – Andrew Creary

Washington University (Mo.) – John Schneider

Wayne State University (Mich.) – Nick Thomas

Western Carolina University – Chris Everett

Willamette University – Scott Schoettgen

Winona State University – Cody Dummer

Wittenberg University – Jeremy Block

Youngstown State University – Torrance Nicholson

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 more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products 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 In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and 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 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 36 selections and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 22 selections. In 2009, St. Thomas, Minn. defensive back Jeffrey Hilliard became the 12^th Tommie to be selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®, giving them 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.