|
 |
Football: McGuire Nominated For Allstate AFCA Good Works TeamNORTHBROOK, Ill. – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns running back Elijah McGuire was one of 165 student-athletes nominated for the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, in an announcement on Wednesday by Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the award, which was established in 1992 to recognize a select group of college football players who have made a commitment to service and enriching the lives of others.
McGuire, who was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List last week, rushed for a team-high 1,058 yards and 13 touchdowns last season for the Ragin’ Cajuns while hauling in 34 passes and three TDs.
He joined former Ragin’ Cajuns great Tyrell Fenroy (2005-08) as the second running back in school to rush for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons and finished sixth in the SBC in rushing (87.2) and was seventh in the league in all-purpose yards (119.2).
McGuire recorded three 100-yard rushing games on the season, including 162 yards with a school-record tying five TDs in the Ragin’ Cajuns home opener against Northwestern State. He added a season-high 170 yards on a career-high 28 carries in a Sun Belt Conference-opening victory against Texas State and gained 159 yards against New Mexico State.
The Houma, La., native, who is third on the school’s all-time rushing list with 3,185 yards, became the first running back in Ragin’ Cajuns history to record 100 receptions in a career and finished the season as one of two active NCAA players with 3,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving.
"Allstate is proud to join the AFCA in celebrating 25 years of honoring college football players who represent the sport’s finest in volunteerism and leadership," said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. "The positive impact these young athletes have on their communities is an inspiration to us all and another reason to celebrate the good happening in our communities."
With winning records and championships on the line each season, off-the-field service contributions can go overlooked. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® pays tribute to these stories of good and the student-athletes who have dedicated countless hours towards helping others. From donating bone marrow to save a stranger’s life, to helping build a school in a rural village overseas, the players nominated to the 25th anniversary team have demonstrated a unique commitment to improving their communities.
"The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has been one of the most prestigious off-the-field awards in college football for the past 25 years," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "It is with great pride that we partner with Allstate to highlight some of the best student-athletes in the country who not only excel on the field, but off of it as well."
In honor of the 25th anniversary, Allstate and the AFCA will add three additional spots to this year’s team and announce a final roster of 25 members in September. For the first time in the award’s history, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be comprised of 12 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, 12 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA and an honorary head coach.
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 the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.®
The 2016 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) and Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Ashland University head coach Lee Owens; 2001 AFCA President and current athletic director at Virginia Union University Joe Taylor; and Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company.
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 2016 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 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team ®.
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Nominees
Appalachian State University – Darian Small
Arizona State University – Viliami "Laiu" Moeakiola
Auburn University – Daniel Carlson
Ball State University – Teddy Williamson
Baylor University – Lynx Hawthorne
Boise State University – Jake Roh
Brigham Young University – Mitchell Juergens
California State University, Fresno – Jacob Vazquez
Central Michigan University – Cooper Rush
Clemson University – Deshaun Watson
Colorado State University – Elroy Masters Jr.
Duke University – DeVon Edwards
Florida State University – Alec Eberle
Georgia Institute of Technology – KeShun Freeman
Georgia State University – Keith Rucker
Indiana University – Mitchell Paige
Iowa State University – Cole Netten
Kansas State University – Dante Barnett
Kent State University – Nick Cuthbert
Marshall University – Ryan Yurachek
Michigan State University – Josiah Price
Middle Tennessee State University – Brent Stockstill
Mississippi State University – Brandon Holloway
North Carolina State University – Tony Adams
Northern Illinois University – Sean Folliard
Northwestern University – Matthew Harris
Ohio State University – Pat Elflein
Old Dominion University – Tyler Compton
Oregon State University – Will Hopkins
Purdue University – Cameron Posey
Rice University – Darik Dillard
Rutgers University – Derrick Nelson
San Jose State University – Tim Crawley
Syracuse University – Jason Emerich
Temple University – Jacob Martin
Texas A&M University – Trevor Knight
Texas Christian University – Caylin Moore
Texas State University – Felix Romero
Texas Tech University – Patrick Mahomes II
Troy University – John Johnson
University of Akron – DeAndre Scott
University of Alabama – O.J. Howard
University of Arkansas – Deatrich Wise Jr.
University of California – Jack Austin
University of Colorado Boulder – Derek McCartney
University of Connecticut – Bobby Puyol
University of Florida – Jarrad Davis
University of Georgia – Jeb Blazevich
University of Hawaii at Manoa – Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea
University of Houston – Greg Ward Jr.
University of Illinois – Joe Spencer
University of Kansas – Fish Smithson
University of Louisiana at Lafayette – Elijah McGuire
University of Louisville – Brandon Radcliff
University of Maryland – William Likely
University of Memphis – Jake Elliott
University of Miami – Brad Kaaya
University of Michigan – Jehu Chesson
University of Minnesota – Damarius Travis
University of Mississippi – Evan Engram
University of Missouri – Donavin Newsom
University of Nebraska – Drew Brown
University of Nevada – Jeremy Macauley
University of Nevada, Las Vegas – Kyle Saxelid
University of New Mexico – Garrett Adcock
University of North Carolina – Nick Weiler
University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Jamal Covington
University of Oklahoma – Samaje Perine
University of Pittsburgh – Mike Caprara
University of Southern California – John Plattenburg
University of Southern Mississippi – Nick Mullens
University of Toledo – Brad Spelman
University of Tulsa – Dane Evans
University of Virginia – Matt Johns
University of Wisconsin – Vince Biegel
Utah State University – Travis Seefeldt
Vanderbilt University – Oren Burks
Wake Forest University – Ryan Janvion
West Virginia University – Skyler Howard
Western Kentucky University – Marcus Ward
Western Michigan University – Zach Terrell
|
