NORTHBROOK, Ill.- July 15, 2017 –
Allstate Insurance Company
and the
American Football Coaches Association
(AFCA) have named 146 nominees for the
2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
, one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in college football. SAGU football senior
Stephen Lawson
has been named one of the nominees.
SAGU football Head Coach Frank Tristan nominated Lawson and believes he is more than deserving, “Stephen is an unbelievable young man that truly works at everything like he is working for the Lord. Whether on the field, classroom, or community, he give everything he has.”
The team is comprised of 11 players from the
NCCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
and 11 players from the NCCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Div. II, III and the NAIA. The final roster of 22 will be unveiled in September. A voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members and college football media members will select the 2017 team. Two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® member Tim Tebow will headline the Allstate voting panel.
“After looking at the bios of the 146 nominees we received, 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.”
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 to help pay tribute to these players and their off-the-field ‘good works’ that often go unnoticed and unrewarded,” said Thomas Clarkson , member of the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. “The individuals nominated 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.”
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
Arkansas State University – Blaise Taylor
Auburn University – Daniel Carlson
Baylor University – Taylor Young
Boise State University – Brett Rypien
Bowling Green State University – Nate Locke
Brigham Young University – Fred Warner
Clemson University – Christian Wilkins
Colorado State University – Zack Golditch
Duke University – Gabe Brandner
East Carolina University – Jimmy Williams
Florida State University – Mavin Saunders
Georgia Institute of Technology – Matthew Jordan
Georgia Southern University – Myles Campbell
Indiana University – Rashard Fant
Kansas State University – Dalton Risner
Louisiana State University – Danny Etling
Marshall University – Ryan Yurachek
Middle Tennessee State University – Brent Stockstill
Mississippi State University – Gabe Myles
North Carolina State University – A.J. Cole, III
Northwestern University – Justin Jackson
Ohio State University – J.T. Barrett
Oklahoma State University – Mason Rudolph
Old Dominion University – Josh Marriner
Pennsylvania State University – Brandon Smith
Rutgers University – Sebastian Joseph
San Jose State University – Nate Velichko
Southern Methodist University – Justin Lawler
Stanford University – Harrison Phillips
Syracuse University – Zack Mahoney
TCU – Shaun Nixon
Texas A&M University – Koda Martin
Texas State University – Gabe Schrade
Tulane University – Parry Nickerson
University of California, Los Angeles – Kenny Young
University of Alabama – Minkah Fitzpatrick
University of Alabama at Birmingham – Shaq Jones
University of Arkansas – Frank Ragnow
University of California, Berkeley – Raymond Davison
University of Central Florida – Shaquem Griffin
University of Connecticut – Vontae Diggs
University of Georgia – Aaron Davis
University of Houston – Steven Dunbar
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Nick Allegretti
University of Kansas – Joe Dineen, Jr.
University of Kentucky – Courtney Love
University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Grant Horst
University of Louisville – Lamar Jackson
University of Maryland, College Park – Adam Greene
University of Memphis – Spencer Smith
University of Miami – Demetrius Jackson
University of Minnesota – Eric Carter
University of Mississippi – Javon Patterson
University of Missouri – Corey Fatony
University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Chris Weber
University of Nevada, Reno – Austin Corbett
University of North Carolina – Austin Proehl
University of Notre Dame – Tyler Newsome
University of Oklahoma – Nick Basquine
University of Pittsburgh – Brian O’Neill
University of South Alabama – Tre Alford
University of Southern California – Jordan Austin
University of Tennessee – Todd Kelly, Jr.
University of Texas – Naashon Hughes
University of Texas at El Paso – Ryan Metz
University of Toledo – Cody Thompson
University of Tulsa – Willie Wright
University of Utah – Chase Hansen
University of Virginia – Quin Blanding
University of Wisconsin-Madison – Derrick Tindal
Utah State University – Jontrell Rocquemore
Vanderbilt University – Tommy Openshaw
Virginia Tech – Joey Slye
West Virginia University – Rob Dowdy
Western Kentucky University – Marcus Ward
Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)
Amherst College – Reece Foy
Aurora University – Kurtis Chione
Berry College – Michael Wenclawiak
Bethel University (Minn.) – Josh Dalki
Butler University – Isaak Newhouse
Carnegie Mellon University – Sam Benger
Carson-Newman University – Antonio Wimbush
Chadron State College – Steven Allen
Chapman University – Diano Pachote
Colorado State University-Pueblo – Zach Boyd
Dakota State University – Jacob Giles
Davidson College – Ryan Samuels
East Stroudsburg University – Larry Mills
Eastern Kentucky University – Jeffrey Canady
Edinboro University – Ryan Stratton
Ferris State University – Jake Daugherty
Fordham University – Manny Adeyeye
Franklin & Marshall College – Tyler Schubert
Frostburg State University – Jordan Procter
Georgetown College (Ky.) – Kody Kasey
Grinnell College – Carson Dunn
Harding University – Gavin De Los Santos
Hillsdale College – Danny Drummond
James Madison University – Jonathan Kloosterman
Kalamazoo College – David Vanderkloot
Kennesaw State University – Luther Jones
Liberty University – Trey Turner
Manchester University – Jared Bourff
Marist College – Lawrence Dickens
Mercer University – Thomas Marchman
Michigan Technological University – Cayman Berg-Morales
Millersville University of Pennsylvania – Kevin Wiggins
Minot State University – Logan Gunderson
Mississippi College – Chris Manning
Montana State University – Mitchell Herbert
Moravian College – Nick Zambelli
Murray State University – Zach Shipley
Norfolk State University – Kyle Archie
North Greenville University – Johnny Burch
Northwestern College (Iowa) – Jacob Jenness
Notre Dame College – Justin Adamson
Ohio Dominican University – Austin Ernst
Ohio Wesleyan University – Jerry Harper
Peru State College – Gunnar Orcutt
Princeton University – Kurt Holuba
Saint Augustine’s University – Justin Shaw
Saint John’s University (Minn.) – Will Gillach
Samford University – Deion Pierre
South Dakota State University – Jake Wieneke
Southern Arkansas University – Stacy Lawrence
Southwestern Assemblies of God University – Stephen Lawson
Stephen F. Austin State University – Marlon Walls
Stonehill College – Jermel Wright
Susquehanna University – Tommy Bluj
Texas A&M University-Commerce – Luis Perez
The Catholic University of America – Patrick Vidal
The College of Wooster – Patrick Mohorcic
University of Chicago – Chandler Carroll
University of Mount Union – Alex Louthan
University of Puget Sound – Dwight Jackson
University of Saint Mary – Kyle Dougherty
University of St. Thomas (Minn.) – Matt Christenson
University of South Dakota – Stetson Dagel
Wartburg College – Matt Sacia
Wayne State University (Mich.) – Deiontae Nicholas
West Texas A&M University – Dillon Vaughan
Western Carolina University – Keion Crossen
Western New England University – Garrett Jones
Wingate University – Lawrence Pittman
Youngstown State University – Armand Dellovade
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.