University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Smith
Inspiring Acts of Kindness Land Patrick Taylor as 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominee
Jul 16, 2019 | Football
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Senior running back Patrick Taylor Jr. was named a nominee for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, as announced by Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association on Tuesday.
The annual award is given to college football players for the impact they make off the field. A total of 137 student-athletes with inspiring stories of community service were nominated by their respective sports information directors.
Taylor has been active in the Memphis community since arriving on campus. The Humble, Texas native volunteers with all team community service projects, including serving at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and with the Hope to Dream program.
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® continues to be one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 137 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will be announced in September, bringing together 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision; 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); and one honorary head coach. To be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.
"It's truly inspiring to see these young men dedicating their time and energy outside of their already busy schedules to leave a lasting impact in their communities," said John O'Donnell, Allstate's Western Territory president and member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team selection committee "As a longtime college football sponsor, Allstate takes great pride in our partnership with the AFCA, and we are honored to celebrate the successes of these players and highlight their stories as an inspiration to all who love the sport."
This year's list of nominees includes a heroic player advocating to break the stigma around mental illness through open athlete forums, a young man mentoring underprivileged kids to help change the trajectory of their lives, multiple players donating bone marrow and plasma to extend the lives of complete strangers and a tight end who visits the children's hospital every week to spread hope to young patients.
"To be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is no small feat and goes above and beyond sportsmanship and leadership in the classroom or on the field," said Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® member. "These student-athletes believe in the power of giving back and enriching the lives of others, while also helping to shape the lives of future young athletes. Each year, I am struck by the caliber of these nominees and humbled to be a part of telling their stories."
The final 22-member team and honorary coach is selected by a voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and prominent media members who look for both their dedication to giving back and the embodiment of true leadership on and off the football field.
After the final team members are announced on September 12, 2019, fans can vote for this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® captain through the official page on ESPN.com. Fans are also encouraged to join in the conversation by searching and using #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels throughout the season.
In addition to Tebow and O'Donnell, the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® selection panel members include: Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team); Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams); Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team); Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); Wes Counts (Middle Tennessee State, 1999 team); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star), and Paul Myerberg (USA TODAY); 2019 AFCA President and Ohio University Head Coach, Frank Solich; and 2001 AFCA President and current athletic director at Virginia Union University, Joe Taylor.
"For 12 straight years, the AFCA has been proud to partner with Allstate to honor football student-athletes who volunteer their time and energy to give back to their local communities and other countries around the world," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "These 137 nominees are examples to not only their fellow student-athletes, but to everyone in this great nation that selfless acts of giving back will enrich the lives of people they know, and don't know, who benefit from their generosity."
2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominees include:
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
The annual award is given to college football players for the impact they make off the field. A total of 137 student-athletes with inspiring stories of community service were nominated by their respective sports information directors.
Taylor has been active in the Memphis community since arriving on campus. The Humble, Texas native volunteers with all team community service projects, including serving at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and with the Hope to Dream program.
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® continues to be one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 137 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will be announced in September, bringing together 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision; 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); and one honorary head coach. To be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.
"It's truly inspiring to see these young men dedicating their time and energy outside of their already busy schedules to leave a lasting impact in their communities," said John O'Donnell, Allstate's Western Territory president and member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team selection committee "As a longtime college football sponsor, Allstate takes great pride in our partnership with the AFCA, and we are honored to celebrate the successes of these players and highlight their stories as an inspiration to all who love the sport."
This year's list of nominees includes a heroic player advocating to break the stigma around mental illness through open athlete forums, a young man mentoring underprivileged kids to help change the trajectory of their lives, multiple players donating bone marrow and plasma to extend the lives of complete strangers and a tight end who visits the children's hospital every week to spread hope to young patients.
"To be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is no small feat and goes above and beyond sportsmanship and leadership in the classroom or on the field," said Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® member. "These student-athletes believe in the power of giving back and enriching the lives of others, while also helping to shape the lives of future young athletes. Each year, I am struck by the caliber of these nominees and humbled to be a part of telling their stories."
The final 22-member team and honorary coach is selected by a voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and prominent media members who look for both their dedication to giving back and the embodiment of true leadership on and off the football field.
After the final team members are announced on September 12, 2019, fans can vote for this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® captain through the official page on ESPN.com. Fans are also encouraged to join in the conversation by searching and using #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels throughout the season.
In addition to Tebow and O'Donnell, the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® selection panel members include: Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team); Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams); Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team); Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); Wes Counts (Middle Tennessee State, 1999 team); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star), and Paul Myerberg (USA TODAY); 2019 AFCA President and Ohio University Head Coach, Frank Solich; and 2001 AFCA President and current athletic director at Virginia Union University, Joe Taylor.
"For 12 straight years, the AFCA has been proud to partner with Allstate to honor football student-athletes who volunteer their time and energy to give back to their local communities and other countries around the world," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "These 137 nominees are examples to not only their fellow student-athletes, but to everyone in this great nation that selfless acts of giving back will enrich the lives of people they know, and don't know, who benefit from their generosity."
2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominees include:
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
| Name | School |
| Kyle Williams | Arizona State University |
| Derrick Brown | Auburn University |
| Owen Rogers | Baylor University |
| Kole Bailey | Boise State University |
| Tanner Karafa | Boston College |
| Gabe Skrobot | Bowling Green State University |
| Uriah Leiataua | BYU |
| Adam Prentice | Colorado State University |
| Koby Quansah | Duke University |
| Alex Turner | East Carolina University |
| James Morgan | Florida International University |
| DeCalon Brooks | Florida State University |
| Jahaziel Lee | Georgia Tech |
| Nick Westbrook | Indiana University |
| Ray Lima | Iowa State University |
| Denzel Goolsby | Kansas State University |
| Matt Bahr | Kent State University |
| Blake Ferguson | LSU |
| Brenden Knox | Marshall University |
| Jack Sorenson | Miami University |
| Joe Bachie | Michigan State University |
| Crews Holt | Middle Tennessee State University |
| Kobe Jones | Mississippi State University |
| James Smith-Williams | NC State University |
| Joe Gaziano | Northwestern University |
| Jordan Fuller | Ohio State University |
| Landon Wolf | Oklahoma State University |
| Mufu Taiwo | Old Dominion University |
| Blake Gillikin, P, Sr. | Penn State University |
| Austin Trammell | Rice University |
| Demerick Gary | SMU |
| Connor Wedington | Stanford University |
| Sam Heckel | Syracuse University |
| Kellton Hollins | TCU |
| Zack Mesday | Temple University |
| Keeath Magee II | Texas A&M University |
| LeDarrius Harris | Texas State University |
| Travis Bruffy | Texas Tech University |
| Jordan Johnson | UCF |
| Isaiah Sanders | United States Air Force Academy |
| Matt Otwinowski | University at Buffalo |
| John Lako | University of Akron |
| Chris Owens | University of Alabama |
| T.J. Smith | University of Arkansas |
| Marcel Dancy | University of California, Berkeley |
| Tyrie Cleveland | University of Florida |
| Jake Fromm | University of Georgia |
| Eugene Ford | University of Hawaii |
| D'Eriq King | University of Houston |
| Bobby Walker | University of Illinois |
| Nate Stanley | University of Iowa |
| Bryce Torneden | University of Kansas |
| Landon Young | University of Kentucky |
| Blanton Creque | University of Louisville |
| Patrick Taylor | University of Memphis |
| Tru Wilson | University of Michigan |
| Seth Green | University of Minnesota |
| Mac Brown | University of Mississippi |
| Ben Stille | University of Nebraska |
| Lucas Weber | University of Nevada |
| Tyriq Harris | University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
| Jalen Elliott | University of Notre Dame |
| Kenneth Murray Jr. | University of Oklahoma |
| Tre Tipton | University of Pittsburgh |
| Brian Ankerson | University of South Alabama |
| Spencer Eason-Riddle | University of South Carolina |
| Kirk Livingstone | University of South Florida |
| Trey Smith | University of Tennessee |
| Bryce Harris | University of Toledo |
| Terrell Burgess | University of Utah |
| Bryce Hall | University of Virginia |
| Chris Orr | University of Wisconsin |
| Darren Woods Jr. | UNLV |
| Michael Pittman Jr. | USC |
| Dominik Eberle | Utah State University |
| Cody Markel | Vanderbilt University |
| Reese Donahue | West Virginia University |
| Justin Tranquill | Western Michigan University |
Players Mentioned
RB
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