Lancaster Selected to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Few awards in college football look beyond a player’s statistics to recognize excellence and achievement in places where touchdowns and interceptions do not matter. Today, Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the 22 student-athletes chosen for the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in college football.

Charleston Southern senior offensive lineman Jordan Lancaster is among those named to the prestigious list. Lancaster has a number of honors on and off the field, earning the team's most improved lineman award after 2009 spring drills. In four seasons with the Bucs, he has played in 33 games and started 29 of them, helping the offensive line finish last year tied for sixth in the nation in sacks allowed. Off the field, Lancaster leads a male athlete Bible study group, tutors elementary school children, and has volunteer four years at the "Closing the Gap in Healthcare" seminar on campus. He is a volunteer youth softball coach and works as a youth pastor intern, helping in the media department and in children's church. He is a six-time CSU scholar-athlete and the winner of the CSU Football Total Athlete Award.

Lancaster made history by becoming one of only two Big South athletes to ever be named to the preseason nomination list, and has now become the first in Big South history to earn a spot on the team.

"First and foremost I just try to honor God and put Him first in all that I do,” said Lancaster. “I always try to help others out whenever I can. I know there are a lot of people out there who are doing a lot more than I am, and my praise goes out to all of those people who may not be getting recognized for everything that they are doing.”

A total of 112 players across all collegiate levels of the sport were nominated for the award by sports information directors on behalf of their teams, the most ever in the 19-year history of the program.  From the nominations, a special selection committee named 22 college football players from across the country to the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. Of the two 11-member teams, one includes players competing in the NCAA® Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) and the other is a combined team representing the NCAA® Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III, and the NAIA.

“Allstate’s partnership with the AFCA to present this award is not about X’s and O’s,” said Guy Hill, vice president of sales and service for Allstate, who also served on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel.   “By shining a spotlight on college football student-athletes who demonstrate a unique commitment to serving their communities, we are protecting the integrity of the sport and showcasing its positive impact that extends well beyond the field of play.”

The following players have been selected to the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams®:

Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A)
Name   Cl. Pos. School    Hometown
Riley Nelson   Jr.  QB  Brigham Young  Logan, Utah
Bryan Morgan  Sr.  OL  Duke    Hoover, Ala.
Christian Ponder  Sr.  QB  Florida State   Colleyville, Texas
Ben Chappell   Sr.  QB  Indiana   Bloomington, Ind.
Kirk Cousins   Jr.  QB  Michigan State  Holland, Mich.
Adam Kiel   Jr.  OL  Northern Illinois  Wentzville, Mo.
Corbin Bryant   Sr.  DL  Northwestern   Chicago
Quinton Carter  Sr.  DB  Oklahoma   Las Vegas
Stefen Wisniewski  Sr.  OL  Penn State   Bridgeville, Pa.
Amara Kamara  Sr.  LB  Temple   Newark, N.J.
Sam Acho   Sr.  DL  Texas    Dallas

Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III, and NAIA

Name   Cl. Pos. School    Hometown
Diego Oquendo  Sr.  DB  Augustana (S.D.)  Staten Island, N.Y.
Matt Fraley   Sr.  DL  Central Methodist  St. Robert, Mo.
Jordan Lancaster  Sr.  OL  Charleston Southern  Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.
Madison McCalmon  Sr.  OL  Cumberlands (Ky.)  Ringgold, Ga. 
John Behm   Jr.  LB  Davidson   Cleveland
Dan Prindle   Jr.  OL  Dayton    Fairborn, Ohio
Siddiq Haynes  Sr.  DL  Delaware   Durham, N.C.
Billy Clark   Sr.  OL  Lindenwood   West Palm Beach, Fla. 
Brandon Johnson  Sr.  DB  Tarleton State   Giddings, Texas
DeIra Glover   Sr.  DB  Texas A&M – Kingsville Hempstead, Texas
Patrick Mengelkoch  Sr.  TE  Wisconsin – Stout  Champlin, Minn.

While on-field heroics may capture the attention of college football fans and media, it is the commitment to service and volunteerism demonstrated by these 22 players that truly represents what is good about the game. These student-athletes have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of others, from serving on medical mission trips to Africa, to befriending elderly community members, to supporting cancer research initiatives. In doing so, they are serving to protect the image of a sport beloved by thousands of fans across the country. 

“Reading about all the community service activities and off the field accomplishments of the 22 members of this year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® is humbling,” said Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive Director.  “Even at a young age, they get what is really important in life, and they represent thousands of college football players across the nation that are doing the same things on campus and in their hometowns.  We’re proud to join Allstate in recognizing these outstanding student-athletes.”

For the first time in the program’s history, fans will be able to vote for a Team Captain by visiting ESPN.com and searching “Good Works.” The Team Captain will be recognized by ESPN personality and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® national ambassador Lou Holtz during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.  The site also features profiles of the award recipients and their selfless acts of kindness.

Allstate assembled a high-profile voting panel made up of previous Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members, including former University of Georgia lineman Matt Stinchcomb and former Tulane University running back Mewelde Moore, as well as prominent college football media personalities, including ESPN analyst Lou Holtz, ESPN.com writer Pat Forde and USA Today college sports editor Tom O’Toole.  Also part of the selection committee are current AFCA president and University of Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres, 1996 AFCA president and former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy Fisher DeBerry, and Allstate vice president Guy Hill. 

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing.

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams® were 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 partnered to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

Since 1992, the Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with 52 selections to the Good Works Teams®, followed by the Big 12 with 38 selections and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 22 selections. In 2009, St. Thomas defensive back Jeffrey Hilliard became the 12th Tommie, and Georgia defensive lineman Jeff Owens became the 12th Bulldog to be selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, tying both schools for the most selections of all time. Super Bowl XLII and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams®, respectively. 
 
About AFCA
The American Football Coaches Association was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 10,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, 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.”