NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Junior wide receiver Connor Wedington was named to the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® on Thursday, announced by Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). A total of 22 student-athletes and one honorary coach were selected to the team after a total of 137 were nominated.
"Because being a student-athlete is about more than their performance on the field, we're honored to share the stories of these deserving young men who embody the 'good' in college athletics," said John O'Donnell, president of Allstate's Western Territory. "At Allstate, we are inspired by their positive impact and we unite in this passion to serve local communities."
Wedington has made an impact in the community through his organization, Hope Given By, that he helped start in January of this year. Hope Given By is a nonprofit organization that aims to foster relationships between Stanford students and San Francisco's homeless population. Wedington was integral in organizing members of the team to go to the city each weekend during the offseason to provide basic necessities and items to the homeless such as food and clothing items like socks, shoes, pants and jackets.
Hope Given By's outreach team has been able to serve and connect with more than a thousand members of the homeless community of the Tenderloin, San Francisco, with many of the items donated and collected by the Stanford Football team.
"I've had the privilege of not only being a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, but also witnessing firsthand how these young men are able to inspire and ultimately change the lives of those around them," said Tim Tebow, two-time national champion and former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team member. "Each year, I'm impressed by the way that Allstate and the AFCA share the important stories of these players' 'good works,' and I'm honored to be part of such a special program that has become a source of inspiration in the college football community."
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be invited to the 2020 Allstate® Sugar Bowl® and will join Tebow and Allstate volunteers to give back to New Orleans through a special community service project. Allstate will recognize the team during the halftime show.
Fans are invited to visit ESPN.com/Allstate to vote for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain once per day, now through Nov. 22. The team captain will be honored at The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN later this season.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was selected by an esteemed voting panel, which includes Tebow, Herbstreit and O'Donnell, along with: 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 Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star), and Paul Myerberg (USA TODAY); Frank Solich, 2019 AFCA President and Ohio University Head Coach; and Joe Taylor, 2001 AFCA President and athletic director at Virginia Union University.
"This is the 12th year that Allstate has partnered with the AFCA to help honor deserving football student-athletes on the Good Works Team," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "This award embodies what is great about the human spirit, football student-athletes and coaches from all parts of the country dedicated to one thing, giving of their time and energy to make a difference in their communities."