NORTHBROOK, Ill. – North Carolina Central University redshirt-senior center Carl Jones is one of the 24 college football players and one honorary head coach named to the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, one of the most coveted off-the-field honors in college football, Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced on Thursday.
 
The Good Works Team® award is celebrating 25 years of recognizing college football players who dedicate their time to bettering the community and the lives of others.
 
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Jones was selected to the 2015 All-MEAC First Team as the league's top center and was announced to the BOXTOROW (HBCU) All-America Team, HBCU Gameday FCS All-American Team and the Black College Sports Page "Baad Team" of Black College All-Americans (First Team).
 
Off the field, Jones was voted to 2015 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District™ Football Team as Division I First-Team honoree in District III (North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia). He was also selected as a finalist for the STATS Doris & Eddie Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, recognizing an FCS student-athlete who excels not only on the field and in the classroom, but in the community and beyond.
 
He graduated from NCCU in May with an overall grade point average of 3.63 and bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in athletic administration. The team captain also serves as a representative on NCCU Football Leadership Council and President of the NCCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
Jones is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc., Research Triangle Park Chapter; the North Carolina Association of CPA's (student member); the Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society; the Centennial Scholars Program; the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.-Tau Psi Chapter; and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a Huddle Leader.
 
Among his numerous community service activities, Jones is a mentor at the Durham Boys & Girls Club and is a frequent speaker and reader at local elementary and middle schools.
 
"We are extremely proud of Carl for his achievements both on and off the field," said NCCU football head coach Jerry Mack. "He continues to be an outstanding role model, not just for our student-athletes, but all student-athletes across the country."
 
This year, in recognition of the 25th anniversary, Allstate and the AFCA added three additional spots to the team, including an honorary head coach, bringing the final roster to 25 members. Amidst the rivalry, competitiveness and excitement of college football, the contributions made off the field by players and coaches can often times be overlooked. The players named to the Good Works Team® represent the sport's finest in terms of character and leadership, in addition to maintaining good academic standing. To help announce the landmark year of the Good Works Team®, Allstate and the AFCA have also teamed up with two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® member Tim Tebow.
 
"Allstate has taken great pride in working with the AFCA to recognize student-athletes who go above and beyond to make time for community service, whether they're helping out at a local soup kitchen or going abroad on a mission trip," said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. "These young men deserve to be commended for all that they do, and their character and commitment to service is an inspiration for all of us."
 
The following players and head coach have been named to the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®:
 
NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A)
Name                             Cl.    Pos.  School                                    Hometown
Deshaun Watson             Jr.    QB     Clemson University              Gainesville, Ga.
Derek McCartney             Jr.    LB     University of Colorado-Boulder Westminster, Colo.
DeVon Edwards               RSr. DB     Duke University                    Covington, Ga.
Alec Eberle                      RSo. OL     Florida State University   Mechanicsville, Va.
Jeb Blazevich                  Jr.    TE     University of Georgia             Charlotte, N.C.
KeShun Freeman             Jr.    DL     Georgia Institute of Technology    LaGrange, Ga.
Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea RSr. DL     University of Hawaii             Honolulu, O'ahu
Mike Caprara                   RSr. LB     University of Pittsburgh      Turtle Creek, Pa.
Caylin Moore                   Sr.   DB     TCU                                       Carson, Calif.
Dane Evans                     RSr. QB     University of Tulsa                 Sanger, Texas
Oren Burks                      RJr.  LB     Vanderbilt University      Fairfax Station, Va.
Zach Terrell                    RSr. QB     Western Michigan University      Fort Wayne, Ind.
 
NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III and NAIA
Name                             Cl.    Pos.  School                                    Hometown
Zach Bernhard                RSr. LB     Ashland University                 Ashland, Ohio
Drew Neuville                  Sr.   TE     Bethel University (Minn.)     Green Bay, Wis.
Dan Gallman                   Sr.   OL     Carson-Newman University        Naples, Fla.
Nate Casey                     Sr.   LB     Davidson College                  Tega Cay, S.C.
Michael Allen                   Sr.   LB     University of the Incarnate Word     Garland, Texas
Luke Grooters                  Sr.   LB     Morningside College         Rock Rapids, Iowa
Carl Jones                       RSr. OL     North Carolina Central University   Nashville, Tenn.
Corbin Jountti                 Jr.    RB     Northern Arizona University        Bakersfield, Calif.
Zach Clark                      Sr.   OL     Oklahoma Baptist University Oklahoma City, Okla.
Kaymon Farmer               Sr.   WR    Southeastern Oklahoma State University                       Pittsburg, Texas
Trent Brodbeck                RSr. TE     Wayne State University (Mich.) Toledo, Ohio
Brett Kasper                    Jr.    QB     University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Two Rivers, Wis.
 
Honorary Head Coach
Name                     School
Mark Richt               University of Miami
 
"It is an honor to partner with Allstate in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team," Todd Berry, AFCA Executive Director said. "Hundreds of talented and hard working student-athletes have been honored with this outstanding award, but the 25th anniversary team is special because we get to honor one of our own members, Coach Mark Richt from the University of Miami. His dedication to community service goes hand in hand for why this award was established in 1992. We congratulate him and the 24 student-athletes on this year's team."
 
Now that the team is announced, fans are encouraged to visit ESPN.com/Allstate to vote for the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain through November 23, 2016. The Team Captain will be honored at the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN. The 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be invited to New Orleans to participate in a community project before the 2017 Allstate® Sugar Bowl®, where the team will be recognized at halftime. 
 
The 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® was selected from a group of nominees who were submitted by sports information directors across the country. A voting panel of former Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members narrowed the impressive list of 165 players and 10 coaches down to the 25 members of the 2016 team. 
 
The 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN) and Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA president and Ashland University head coach Lee Owens; 2001 AFCA president and current athletic director at Virginia Union University Joe Taylor; and Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company.
 
About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Now celebrating its 85th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In 2015, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 230,000 hours of service across the country.
 
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
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 worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season. The SEC leads all conferences with 67 selections to the Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Big 12 Conference with 48 selections and the Atlantic Coast Conference with 37 selections. Georgia is in first place with 17 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. The Bulldogs are followed by Nebraska with 14 honorees. Super Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams®, respectively.
 
About AFCA
The 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."