Record-breaking 197 student-athletes nominated for the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

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07/15/2025 - 08:00 AM

For the second year, Allstate and the Wuerffel Foundation spotlight college football’s most inspiring community service stories

NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association today announced a record-breaking 197 nominees for the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, the highest in the award’s 34-year history. College football student-athletes and head coaches from all levels of the sport are recognized for their commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.

“I’ve been a part of this team, and these players aren’t just showing up, they’re standing out,” said Sam Acho, ESPN analyst, former NFL linebacker, author and 2010 Good Works Team member and Allstate Wuerffel Trophy recipient. “Their commitment to service creates lasting change and inspires the next generation.”

Nominees’ service spans mental health to homelessness

This year’s nominees are tackling issues such as youth mentorship, mental wellness, homelessness and health care access. A few examples:

Charlie Pearson, Johns Hopkins, Offensive Line: A certified EMT who has responded to over 150 emergency calls while also mentoring youth, expanding access to nutritious food, and advocating for mental health and pediatric care.
Dylan Wheeler, Saint John’s University (MN), Wide Receiver: Raised over $25,000 for Folds of Honor and helped provide nearly 100,000 meals for children through donations and seasonal fundraisers.
Michael Taaffe, University of Texas, Defensive Back: Founded Taaffe’s Tackles for Fentanyl Awareness in memory of a friend, turning personal loss into a movement for education and support statewide.
Sonny Styles, Ohio State, Linebacker: Raised over $43,000 through an annual Sleep Out to support at-risk and homeless youth in Central Ohio, providing essential items and year-round advocacy.
Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame, Offensive Line: Leads initiatives at Notre Dame focused on personal growth and career readiness, advocates for rare disease awareness as president of Notre Dame’s Uplifting Athletes chapter and builds connections through youth development programs.

Allstate and Wuerffel Foundation Elevate Impact

For the second year, Allstate is partnering with the Wuerffel Foundation to align two of college football’s most meaningful honors: the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy. Together, they recognize student-athletes who demonstrate excellence in community service, academics and athletics.

“When nearly 200 young athletes choose to serve, it creates a ripple effect far beyond the game,” said Danny Wuerffel, former NFL quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer for whom the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy is named. “Their leadership in the community is just as worthy of recognition as their performance on the field.”

Team Roster Named this Fall

The final roster of 23 award recipients announced in September will bring together:

11 players from the NCAA FBS
11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
1 honorary head coach

A voting panel of former Good Works Team members, head coaches and journalists select the team roster based on outstanding leadership on and off the field.

Meet the Full List of 2025 Nominees (alphabetically by college):

Football Bowl Subdivision (D-1)

Name	School
Ethan Johnson	Appalachian State University
Coben Bourguet	Arizona State University
Corey Rucker Jr.	Arkansas State University
Jeremiah Wright	Auburn University
Kiael Kelly	Ball State University
Sawyer Robertson	Baylor University
Marco Notarainni	Boise State University
Alex Broome	Boston College
Drew Pyne	Bowling Green State University
Tanner Wall	Brigham Young University
Michael Heldman	Central Michigan University
Adam Randall	Clemson University
Jayden Jackson	Coastal Carolina University
Chandler Rivers	Duke University
Marlon Gunn Jr.	East Carolina University
Jefferson Adam	Eastern Michigan University
Caden Veltkamp	Florida Atlantic University
Shamir Sterlin	Florida International University
Richie Leonard IV	Florida State University
Jordan Brown	Fresno State
Pichon Wimbley	Georgia Institute of Technology
Haynes King	Georgia Southern University
Fernando Mendoza	Indiana University Bloomington
Rocco Becht	Iowa State University
Blake Kendall	James Madison University
Damian Ilalio	Kansas State University
JeRico Washington, Jr.	Kennesaw State University
Mattheus Carroll	Kent State University
Elijah Auguste	Liberty University
Harold Perkins Jr.	Louisiana State University
Eli Finley	Louisiana Tech University
Toby Payne	Marshall University
Jordan Hall	Michigan State University
Nicholas Vattiato	Middle Tennessee State University
Jacoby Jackson	Mississippi State University
Allen Ortiz	New Mexico State University
Brandon Cleveland	North Carolina State University
Abiathar Curry	Northern Illinois University
Najee Story	Northwestern University
Koa Naotala	Old Dominion University
Dylan Black	Oregon State University
Cooper Cousins	Pennsylvania State University
Devin Mockobee	Purdue University
Plae Wyatt	Rice University
Jai Patel	Rutgers University
Taniela Latu	San Jose State University
Alexander Kilgore	Southern Methodist University
Sam Roush	Stanford University
Derek McDonald	Syracuse University
Willy Love	Temple University
Albert Regis	Texas A&M University
Paul Oyewale	Texas Christian University
Lincoln Pare	Texas State University
Behren Morton	Texas Tech University
Sonny Styles	The Ohio State University
Ty Thompson	Tulane University
Red Murdock	University at Buffalo
Keylen Davis	University of Akron
LT Overton	University of Alabama
Denver Warren	University of Alabama at Birmingham
Genesis Smith	University of Arizona
Cam Ball	University of Arkansas
Jeffery Johnson	University of California, Berkeley
Julian Armella	University of California, Los Angeles
Paul Rubelt	University of Central Florida
Gavin Gerhardt	University of Cincinnati
Charlie Offerdahl	University of Colorado Boulder
Jake Thaw	University of Delaware
DJ Lagway	University of Florida
Jordan Hall	University of Georgia
Logan Taylor	University of Hawaii
Kenenna Odeluga	University of Illinois
Gennings Dunker	University of Iowa
Leyton Cure	University of Kansas
Josh Kattus	University of Kentucky
Caden Jensen	University of Louisiana
Elijah Fisher	University of Louisiana at Monroe
Clev Lubin	University of Louisville
Ethan Gough	University of Maryland
Brock Taylor	University of Massachusetts Amherst
Donovan Mathena	University of Memphis
Francis Mauigoa	University of Miami
Anthony Smith	University of Minnesota
Diego Pounds	University of Mississippi
Connor Tollison	University of Missouri
Teddy Prochazka	University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Cameron Friel	University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Will Hardy	University of North Carolina
Braden Mullen	University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Landon Sides	University of North Texas
Aamil Wagner	University of Notre Dame
Robert Spears-Jennings	University of Oklahoma
Matthew Bedford	University of Oregon
Eli Holstein	University of Pittsburgh
Devin Voisin	University of South Alabama
Oscar Adaway III	University of South Carolina
Christian Helms	University of South Florida
Anthony Beavers Jr.	University of Southern California
Braylon Braxton	University of Southern Mississippi
Bryson Eason	University of Tennessee
Michael Taaffe	University of Texas
Tyron McDuffie III	University of Texas at El Paso
Camron Cooper	University of Texas at San Antonio
Matt Hofer	University of Toledo
Stephen Kittleman	University of Tulsa
Devon Dampier	University of Utah
Stevie Bracey	University of Virginia
Zach Durfee	University of Washington
Ricardo Hallman	University of Wisconsin-Madison
Evan Svoboda	University of Wyoming
Bronson Olevao Jr.	Utah State University
Tyson Flowers	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Zamari Stevenson	Wake Forest University
Zevi Eckhaus	Washington State University
Nicco Marchiol	West Virginia University
Marshall Jackson	Western Kentucky University
Tyson Lee	Western Michigan University

Combined Divisions (FSC, D-II, D-III & NAIA)

Name	School
Carter St. John	Alma College
Jaden Cook	Ashland University
Chandler Kirton	Austin Peay State University
Jackson Dooley	Benedictine College
Christian Lewis	Berry College
Devin Williams	Bethel University
Terian Williams II	Bucknell University
Mark Biggins	Campbell University
Mitchell Stokey	Carnegie Mellon University
Will Campbell	Carroll University
Jaylen Hinton	Catawba College
Nick Bandy	Central College
Mark Chapman	Columbia University
Adam Van Cleave	Concordia University, Nebraska
Cole Paulson	Dakota State University
Mikah Kent	Davidson College
Canyon Schneider	Denison University
Sean McTaggart	East Stroudsburg University
Nolan Ulm	Eastern Washington University
Carter Sido	Hampden-Sydney College
Ryan Osborne	Harvard University
Auvic White	Hendrix College
Connor Pratt	Hillsdale College
Isaiah Courtois	Indiana Wesleyan University
Owen Schuckert	John Carroll University
Charlie Pearson	Johns Hopkins University
Rene Barber	Marist University
Tristen Hall	McMurry University
Erick Hunter	Morgan State University
Lennx Brown	Morningside University
Bryson Ruddy	North Carolina A&T State University
Logan Kopp	North Dakota State University
Alani Ma'afu	Northern Arizona University
Massimo Vliet	Oberlin College
Louis Blasiole	Ohio Northern University
Josh Hurst	Ohio Wesleyan University
Evan Haynie	Princeton University
Dylan Wheeler	Saint John's University (Minn.)
Michael Henwood	Slippery Rock University
Adedokun Alarape	South Dakota Mines
DJ Brown	Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Casey Cobb	Southern Arkansas University
Tyler Pohlman	Springfield College
Kasyus Kurns	Tarleton State University
Matthew Iwamizu	The College of Idaho
Donovon Jackson	The College of Wooster
Caleb Bayer	Trinity University
Hunter Ridley	UC Davis
Giovanni Kennedy	University of Mount Union
Simon Romfo	University of North Dakota
Levi Johnson	University of Northern Colorado
Will Bergin	University of Pennsylvania
Hayden Teeter	University of Puget Sound
Brian Catanzarite	University of Richmond
Traveon Newsome	University of the Incarnate Word
Chris Dobrydney	Villanova University
Fred Ware	Washington University in St. Louis
Dominic Rienzi	Western Connecticut State University
Dylan Sleva	Westminster College (Pa.)
Jalen Jones	William & Mary
Daylin Lee	Winston-Salem State University
Mario Getaw	Wittenberg University
Mason Shipp	Yale University

Head Coach

Name	School
Jeff Monken	Army West Point
Spencer Danielson	Boise State University
Jeff Lebby	Mississippi State University
Gary Fasching	Saint John’s University (Minn.)
Fran Brown	Syracuse University
Todd Whitten	Tarleton State University
K.C. Keeler	Temple University
Kris McCullough	The University of Texas Permian Basin
Kory Allen	University of Findlay
Willie Fritz	University of Houston
Bret Bielema	University of Illinois
Ryan Silverfield	University of Memphis
Brent Venables	University of Oklahoma
Shane Beamer	University of South Carolina
Alex Golesh	University of South Florida
Chris Winter	Wartburg College

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.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads all conferences with 89 selections to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 55 selections and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 43 selections. Georgia is in first place with 24 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bulldogs are followed by Kentucky and Bethel (Minn.) with 18 honorees.

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 Wuerffel Foundation
The Wuerffel Foundation is dedicated to supporting Danny Wuerffel’s mission to inspire greater service and unity in the world, built on the three values of excellence, service and humility. As a recognized humanitarian, Danny mentors community leaders and connects them with philanthropic resources. The foundation annually presents the prestigious Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football’s premier award for community service, and hosts the Desire Cup and PickleBowl events.

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 21st 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.