Allstate, AFCA Name 2012 Good Works Team Nominees

Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced 117 nominees for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.  As one of college football’s most prestigious off-the-field honors, the award recognizes a select group of college football players committed to making a difference in their communities.

Since 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has shown a spotlight on the countless “good works” and remarkable stories of service by student-athletes at all levels of college football competition.  Award recipients represent the sport’s finest in terms of character and leadership in the community.

“This year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®  nominees have some of the most impressive community service resumes in the program’s 21-year history,” said Kathy Mabe, president of Allstate’s West regions and a member of the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel. “These young men continue to raise the bar for the impact that student-athletes can have on others, and are an inspiration to Allstate, our agents and our employees.”

Tackles or touchdowns have no bearing on this award, for it is the many examples of “volunteerism” and “giving back” that have earned these players nominations from their respective colleges and universities.  From comforting patients at children’s hospitals, to building houses for needy families, to mentoring at-risk youth, each Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®  member has his own unique and inspiring story.

“After looking through the list of nominees for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, we are recognizing some of the best student-athletes in all of college football,” said Grant Teaff, AFCA executive director.  “These 117 nominees understand the impact each of them have on their schools and communities, and it gives me great pleasure in recognizing their efforts for what they stand for, and what they mean to college football.”

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 two 11-player Good Works Teams® – one comprised 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 final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September.

Allstate and the AFCA will launch the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® website on ESPN.com featuring profiles and images of the final team members, as well as the opportunity for fans to vote for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain.

The 2012 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), Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Tom O’Toole (USA Today), Andy Staples (SI.com), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Harvard University Head Coach Tim Murphy; 1987 AFCA President LaVell Edwards, former head coach at Brigham Young University; and Kathy Mabe, President, West Regions at Allstate.

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 a strong academic standing.

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.

Football Bowl Subdivision

• Arizona State University – Brandon Magee
• Auburn University – Philip Lutzenkirchen
• Bowling Green State University – Ronnie Goble
• Brigham Young University – Michael Alisa
• Central Michigan University – Cody Wilson
• Clemson University – Rashard Hall
• Duke University – Sean Renfree
• Florida State University – Dustin Hopkins
• Indiana University – Adam Replogle
• Iowa State University – Jake Knott
• Kansas State University – Collin Klein
• Louisiana State University – Barkevious Mingo
• Middle Tennessee State University – Logan Kilgore
• Northern Illinois University – Jason Schepler
• Northwestern University – Jeff Budzien
• Ohio State University – Ben Buchanan
• Rice University – Klein Kubiak
• Rutgers University – Khaseem Green
• Syracuse University – Deon Goggins
• Temple University – Brandon McManus
• Texas Christian University – Blaize Foltz
• Tulane University – Ryan Griffin
• University of Alabama – Barrett Jones
• University of Arizona – Jake Fischer
• University of California Los Angeles – Jeff Locke
• University of Central Florida – Rob Calabrese
• University of Cincinnati – Drew Frey
• University of Florida – Caleb Sturgis
• University of Georgia – Aaron Murray
• University of Kentucky – Morgan Newton
• University of Louisiana-Lafayette – Blaine Gautier
• University of Maryland – A.J. Francis
• University of Memphis – Akeem Davis
• University of Miami (Fla.) – Mike James
• University of Michigan – Patrick Omameh
• University of Mississippi – Devin Thomas
• University of Missouri – T.J. Moe
• University of Nebraska – Rex Burkhead
• University of North Carolina – Jonathan Cooper
• University of Notre Dame – Mike Golic, Jr.
• University of Oklahoma – Landry Jones
• University of Pittsburgh – Andrew Taglianetti
• University of South Carolina – Marcus Lattimore
• University of South Florida – Danous Estenor
• University of Southern California – Kyle Negrete
• University of Tennessee – Tyler Bray
• University of Utah – Sean Sellwood
• University of Virginia – Michael Rocco
• University of Wisconsin – Shelton Johnson
• Utah State University – Jake Doughty
• Wake Forest University – Terence Davis
• Western Kentucky University – Tye Golden

Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)

• Albion College – Spencer Krauss
• Bethel University – Erik Smith
• Campbell University – Braden Smith
• Carnegie Mellon University – Sam Thompson
• Carson-Newman College – Kevin Day
• Centre College – Oakley Watkins
• Chowan University – Austin Tallant
• Colgate University – Chris Looney
• College of Mount Saint Joseph – Greg Tabar
• Dakota State University – John Niesen
• Drake University – Zach Bosch
• Duquesne University – Zach Richert
• Elmhurst College – Scottie Williams
• Elon University – Blake Thompson
• Emory & Henry College – Daniel Preston
• Florida A&M University – Brandon Hepburn
• Fordham University – Brendan Melanophy
• Franklin & Marshall College – Chad Tothero
• Frostburg State University – Tilmon Parker
• Georgia Southern University – Brent Russell
• Illinois State University – Colton Underwood
• Indiana State University – FN Lutz
• Kean University – Thomas Denehy
• Kenyon College – William Brackett
• Lindenwood University – Malach Radigan
• Loras College – Michael Donnelly
• Louisiana College – Cortland Bell
• Montana State University – DeNarius McGhee
• North Dakota State University – Billy Turner
• Northwest Missouri State – Trevor Adams
• Northwestern College (Iowa) – Nate Fischer
• Northwood University – Ryan Whittum
• Oberlin College – Moses Richardson
• Saint John’s University (Minn.) – Stephen Johnson
• Salisbury University – Dan Griffin
• Salve Regina University – Kenechukwu Okwuosa
• Samford University – George Allers
• Shenandoah University – Nicholas Erdman
• South Dakota State University – Bo Helm
• Southern Utah University – Cody Larsen
• St. Cloud State University – Phillip Klaphake
• Tarleton State University – Jake Fenske
• Tennessee State University – Devin Wilson
• Texas Lutheran University – Allen Cain
• Thomas More College – Antonio Booker
• Tusculum College – Bo Cordell
• University of Dubuque – Wyatt Hanus
• University of Montana – Jordan Tripp
• University of New Hampshire – Chris Zarkoskie
• University of Northern Iowa – Kyle Bernard
• University of Rochester – Antonio Ortega
• University of St. Thomas (Minn.) – Michael Valesano
• University of Wisconsin-River Falls – John Schimenz
• Ursinus College – Tony Rosa
• Wagner College – Steve Ciocci
• Washington University (Mo.) – Seth Wight
• Wayne State College (Neb.) – Richard Daniel
• Wayne State University (Mich.) – Nick Thomas
• West Texas A&M University – Aaron Mullane
• Western New England University – Corey Brown
• Wheaton College – Garrett Meador
• William Paterson University – Dawys German
• Wingate University – Robbie Nallenweg
• Winona State University – Bryan Bradshaw
• Wittenberg University – Reed Florence