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Niesen nominated for 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
July 17, 2012
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – John Niesen of Dakota State University football was one of the 117 nominees for the 2012 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team®, announced Tuesday by Allstate Insurance Company and AFCA. 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, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. "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 Team® - one comprised of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Division 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 Work 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
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
