Allstate, AFCA announce 2026 Good Works Team nominees recognized for leadership in community service
162 college football student-athletes recognized for leadership in service, academics and athletics, including the Good Works Team's first female nominee
Key Takeaways:
NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today named nominees for the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, recognizing student-athletes and head coaches from every level of college football who are making an impact through community service, academic achievement and leadership.
Allstate and AFCA named 162 student-athletes as nominees for the 2026 Good Works Team.
For the first time in the award's 35-year history, a female student-athlete is among the nominees. Gianna Bennett, a kicker at Northwestern College in Iowa, earned a nomination after helping raise $40,000 for a maternal health education campaign that provides expectant parents with potentially life-saving information to support healthy pregnancies.
What is the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team?
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service, academics and athletics. Established in 1992 and presented by Allstate since 2008, the program honors players who use their platforms to strengthen communities and support causes important to them.
What causes are this year's nominees supporting?
This year's nominees are tackling a wide range of challenges in communities across the United States and beyond. Their efforts include youth mentorship, maternal health awareness, disability inclusion, childhood cancer research, clean water access and support for military veterans.
Examples include:
What makes the 2026 nominee class unique?
From head coaches building cultures of service to student-athletes making an impact in their own communities and around the world, this year's nominees are creating meaningful change. Their efforts include helping raise a record $18.8 million for childhood cancer research, delivering more than 10,000 hours of tutoring and generating over $27,000 for World War II veterans.
How is the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team selected?
The 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be announced in September and include 22 student-athletes and one honorary head coach. One student-athlete will also be selected as team captain and receive the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
A selection panel composed of former Good Works Team members, college football coaches, journalists and other leaders connected to the award reviews nominations from across the country. Voters evaluate candidates based on the breadth and depth of their community service, demonstrated leadership, academic achievement and the measurable impact they have had on the people and causes they serve. The panel then selects 11 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players (FBS), 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) ranks, and one honorary head coach.
Who are the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominees?
The 2026 nominee class includes student-athletes and coaches from every level of college football competition.
The full 2026 nominee class is listed below in alphabetical order by school.
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
Name
School
Colton Phares
Appalachian State University
Zyrus Fiaseu
Arizona State University
Chauncy Cobb
Arkansas State University
Alex McPherson
Auburn University
Caden Britton
Ball State University
Michael Allen
Baylor University
Maddux Madsen
Boise State University
Josiah Griffin
Boston College
Raider Damuni
Brigham Young University
Derek Houston
California State University, Sacramento
Angel Flores
Central Michigan University
Gideon Davidson
Clemson University
Micah Sahakian
Duke University
Karson Jones
East Carolina University
Dennis Strey Jr.
Eastern Michigan University
Reed Chandley
Florida Atlantic University
Shamir Sterlin
Florida International University
Duce Robinson
Florida State University
Merhauti Xepera
Fresno State
Jordan Walker
Georgia Institute of Technology
Colin Alexander
Georgia Southern University
Charlie Becker
Indiana University
Jaylen Raynor
Iowa State University
KJ Flowe
James Madison University
Joe Jackson
Kansas State University
Wayne Harris
Kent State University
Jaylin Belford
Liberty University
Whit Weeks
Louisiana State University
Eli Finley
Louisiana Tech University
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson
Marshall University
Jordan Hall
Michigan State University
Cam'ron Lacy
Middle Tennessee State University
DJ Chester
Mississippi State University
Isaiah Shirley
North Carolina State University
DeAree Rogers
Northern Illinois University
Josh Fussell
Northwestern University
Nick Session
New Mexico State University
Jaylen McClain
Ohio State University
DJ Walker
Ohio University
Donovan Green
Oklahoma State University
Koa Naotala
Old Dominion University
Karson Boschma
Oregon State University
Cooper Cousins
Pennsylvania State University
CJ Madden
Purdue University
Quinton Jackson
Rice University
Michael O'Connor
Rutgers University
Tyler Chen
San José State University
Alexander Kilgore
Southern Methodist University
Braden Marceau-Olayinka
Stanford University
Cornell Perry
Syracuse University
Ansel Din-Mbuh
Texas Christian University
Rameir Hardy
Temple University
Marcus Ratcliffe
Texas A&M University
Brad Jackson
Texas State University
Ben Roberts
Texas Tech University
Tucker Kilcrease
Troy University
Jackson Courville
Tulane University
Stevie Bracey
University at Buffalo
Bray Hubbard
University of Alabama
Adam Lepkowski
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Noah Fifita
University of Arizona
Jaden Platt
University of Arkansas
Jordan King
University of California, Berkeley
Halakilangi Muagututi'a
University of California, Los Angeles
Owen Spell
University of Central Florida
Evan Tengesdahl
University of Cincinnati
Ben Finneseth
University of Colorado Boulder
Steven Demboski
University of Delaware
Myles Graham
University of Florida
Lawson Luckie
University of Georgia
Micah Kaonohi-Kaihenui
University of Hawaii
McKenzie Agnello
University of Houston
Brandon Henderson
University of Illinois
Jayden Montgomery
University of Iowa
Calvin Clements
University of Kansas
Willie Rodriguez
University of Kentucky
Caden Jensen
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Drew Hutchinson
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Clev Lubin
University of Louisville
Malik Washington
University of Maryland
Riley Bloch
University of Massachusetts
Donovan Mathena
University of Memphis
Ahmad Moten Sr.
University of Miami
Jordan Marshall
University of Michigan
Anthony Smith
University of Minnesota
Blake Craig
University of Missouri
Donovan Jones
University of Nebraska
Ky Woods
University of Nevada
Alex Orji
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Jaxton Eck
University of New Mexico
Caleb Irving
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Jordan Shipp
University of North Carolina
Leonard Moore
University of Notre Dame
Danny Okoye
University of Oklahoma
Dante Moore
University of Oregon
Mason Heintschel
University of Pittsburgh
Baxter Turner
University of South Alabama
Nyck Harbor
University of South Carolina
Mudia Reuben
University of South Florida
Jayden Maiava
University of Southern California
Edwin Spillman
University of Tennessee
Colin Simmons
University of Texas
Bryce Grays
University of Texas at San Antonio
Matt Hofer
University of Toledo
Lance Holtzclaw
University of Utah
Ethan Minter
University of Virginia
Landen Hatchett
University of Washington
Chris Brooks Jr.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tyler Hughes
University of Wyoming
Javen Jacobs
Utah State University
Nick Rinaldi
Vanderbilt University
Marcellous Hawkins
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Dakari Frazier
Western Michigan University
Combined Divisions (FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA)
Name
School
L'Shawn Taylor
Bemidji State University
Jaegar Ash
Bethel University-Minnesota
DeVonyae Pettis
Campbell University
Henry Gross
Carroll College-Montana
Peyton Ritzert
Central College
Steve Zayachkowsky
Charleston Southern University
Keller Patterson
Columbia University
Aidan Jahns
Dakota State University
Drew Duffy
Denison University
Zach Quiring
Dordt University
Ty Quintois
East Stroudsburg University
Brayden Latham
Eastern Kentucky University
Nate Bell
Eastern Washington University
Jacob Erickson
George Fox University
Kellen Reed
Grand Valley State University
Josh Fedd
Harvard University
Shea Ruddy
Hillsdale College
Mason Kaplan
Illinois State University
Josh Clifton
Indiana Wesleyan University
Troy Mrukowski
John Carroll University
Browning Trainer
Johns Hopkins University
Preston Mosher
Lake Forest College
Lincoln Cardillo
Marist University
Joel Vaughn II
Millsaps College
Titan Fleischmann
Montana State University
Luke Paulsen
Morningside University
Garret Wilson
North Central College
Gianna Bennett
Northwestern College
Mike Seney
Ohio Wesleyan University
Rashad Caldwell
Princeton University
Sam Nolan
Saint John's University (Minnesota)
JayJay Jordan
Slippery Rock University
Connor Hagerty
Southern Arkansas University
Donovan Jackson
The College of Wooster
Rio Little
Tusculum University
Zaire Collier
University of California, Davis
Gavin Lochow
University of Dayton
Anthony Iliano
University of Maine
Patrick Lavelle
University of Mount Union
Colby Ramshaw
University of New Hampshire
Jaxon Dailey
University of Northern Iowa
Ryan Mitchell
University of Pennsylvania
Carter Glassmyer
University of Richmond
Mark Johnson
Valparaiso University
Spencer Snipe
Washington University (St. Louis)
Ethan Gates
Wayne State University
Aa'zoriyon Bonner
Western Illinois University
Braden Mika
Westminster College (Pennsylvania)
Davin Dzidzienyo
William & Mary
Head Coach
Name
School
Alex Golesh
Auburn University
Kalani Sitake
Brigham Young University
Jeff Lebby
Mississippi State University
Ryan Day
Ohio State University
Matt Campbell
Pennsylvania State University
Gary Fasching
Saint John's University (Minnesota)
Brad Smiley
Southern Arkansas University
Dustin Hada
Southern Nazarene University
K.C. Keeler
Temple University
Bret Bielema
University of Illinois
Mark Powell
University of New Haven
Pat Narduzzi
University of Pittsburgh
Bronco Mendenhall
Utah State University
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
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.
About Allstate's Impact Through Collegiate Athletics
Allstate's longstanding support of collegiate athletics is part of its commitment to empowering young people to lead in their communities. Allstate has been a proud member of the college athletics community for more than 20 years through its university and conference sponsorships, academic scholarships and community impact initiatives. Since 2005, the Allstate Good Hands Nets program has raised millions of dollars in scholarships with every field goal and extra point scored. Allstate recently upped the donations for each kick, funding more scholarships for student-athletes across all sports. Since 2008, the Allstate Good Works Teams have honored hundreds of student-athletes for their service off the field, supporting causes such as youth empowerment and hunger relief. Allstate has been the title sponsor of the Allstate Sugar Bowl, one of the premier events in college football, since 2006.
About the AFCA
The American Football Coaches Association (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."
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Request Form.
About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, a member of the National College Football Awards Association, is college football's premier award for community service. The trophy is presented annually by the Wuerffel Foundation to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. Named after Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer, Danny Wuerffel, the award honors his commitment to inspiring greater service and unity in the world. Established in 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year. Wuerffel led the University of Florida to four SEC Championships and the 1996 National Championship. As a humanitarian, he continues to inspire leaders to positively impact their communities. Danny currently serves as President of the Wuerffel Foundation and Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries. An avid pickleball player, he was drafted as a professional within the National Pickleball League and hosts celebrity pro-am "PickleBowl" tournaments.
SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company