NORTHBROOK, Ill. – North Carolina Central University defensive end Jessie Malit is one of only 22 college football players in the nation to earn distinguished recognition as a member of the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, announced by Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association on Friday (Sept. 24).
 
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has been one of the most esteemed honors in college football for the past 30 years, celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of college football student-athletes on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
 
Allstate is pledging $1 million to honor the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, as well as their non-profits of choice, for their remarkable commitment to community service. Made possible by new NCAA Name Image Likeness (NIL) rules, Allstate has an opportunity to financially empower athletes who serve their communities, opening the door to new possibilities for players and beyond.
 
This is the largest NIL investment yet for community impact by a college football sponsor—and insurer. Unlike other recent NIL announcements, Allstate is financially empowering players in recognition for their work in local communities, not just their performance on the field. Community leadership aligns with Allstate's values and is part of its longstanding commitment to creating positive societal change.
 
"Every year, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team embodies the best of college athletics. These players have a positive impact in society," said Emmanuel Acho, former NFL linebacker, television analyst and 2011 Good Works Team alumnus. "To be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is an honor. By rewarding these players for the impact they have on their communities, Allstate is truly demonstrating its commitment to making a difference across the country."
 
Malit is a senior, pursuing a bachelor's degree in political science with a concentration in pre-law and theory, boasting a 3.3 overall grade point average. As a defensive lineman for the Eagles football team, he recorded 26 tackles with five takedowns for loss and 1.5 sacks as a 12-game starter in 2019. Through three games this season, he has registered 12 tackles with 1.5 hits for a loss and 1.0 sack.
 
Malit has been actively involved in not just the Durham community, but in his community at home in Concord, North Carolina. In Concord, Malit volunteered at a battered women's shelter and led his church youth group in providing food and shelter for homeless men. In Durham, he volunteered at the Food Bank of North Carolina and local elementary schools, and advocated for support for poverty issues including housing, food security and quality education. He also serves as the SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) Vice President at NCCU.
 
He also spearheaded NCCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's E.A.G.L.E.S. (Educated Actions Generate Lifelong Empowerment & Success) Vote initiative (October 2020), including a campus-wide March to the Polls event, in which 289 out of a possible 315 eligible student-athletes registered to vote (92%), including 100% of the football team.
 
Malit organized a book drive to create a library in his mother's home village in Kenya (May 2019-present). He collected more than 400 books with a goal of 1,000, and then a surprise appearance on Good Morning America yielded a donation of 1,600 books from First Book (Aug. 27, 2021).
 
He was selected as one of the 2021-22 Newman Civic Fellows, and was the winner of the 2020-21 STATS Perform FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award, presented to the nation's top FCS student-athlete who excels both in the classroom and in the community.
 
Malit is the fifth NCCU football student-athlete to earn distinction on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® in recent years, joining Jordan Reid in 2013, Carl Jones in 2016, Nick Leverett in 2018, and Stephen Stokes in 2020.
 
"We dedicate resources to financially empower people," said Terrance Williams, Good Works Team selection committee member and Executive Vice President and General Manager, Allstate Agency Distribution. "This historic decision allowing college athletes to be compensated for the use of their Name, Image and Likeness means Allstate can foster equity for these athletes who are community leaders."
 
"Throughout the 30 years of the Good Works Team, we have honored individuals who create lasting impact in their communities and at school," said AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry. "We have the perfect roster of outstanding individuals that continue that legacy for 2021 and beyond."
 
The following players have been named to the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and will be eligible for compensation. The honorary head coach, whose charity will also receive a donation, is listed below.
 
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
 
Darien Rencher, Clemson University
Camren McDonald, Florida State University
Harry Miller, Ohio State University
Mac Brown, Ole Miss
Sean Clifford, Penn State University
Nakobe Dean, University of Georgia
Kenneth Horsey, University of Kentucky
Cal Adomitis, University of Pittsburgh
Mo Hasan, University of Southern California
Race Porter, University of Washington
Elijah McAllister, Vanderbilt University
 
Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and NAIA
 
Austin Phillips, Ashland University
Jaran Roste, Bethel University (Minn.)
Chibuike Odo, Davidson College
Deven Osborne, Dixie State University
Alnazir Blackman, Farleigh Dickinson University-Florham
Philip Green, Minot State University
Jessie Malit, North Carolina Central University
Alex Shillow, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Hunter Rodrigues, UC Davis
DeValon Whitcomb, University of South Dakota
Julius Wilkerson, Wayne State University
 
Honorary Head Coach
 
Matt Wells, Texas Tech University
 
 
To learn more about the 2021 AFCA Good Works Team, including stories surrounding players' accomplishments within their communities, visit ESPN.com/Allstate. 
   
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was 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 80 selections to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 49 selections and the Big 12 Conference with 38 selections. Georgia is in first place with 21 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bulldogs are followed by Kentucky with 17 honorees. Super Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams, respectively.
 
 
About the 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."
 
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out AFCAInsider.com and subscribe to our weekly email.
 
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Request Form.
 
 
 
JESSIE MALIT
North Carolina Central University
Defensive Lineman
Senior, 6-3, 235, Concord, N.C. (NC State University/Cox Mill High School)
 
Community Service:

• Spearheaded NCCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's E.A.G.L.E.S. (Educated Actions Generate Lifelong Empowerment & Success) Vote initiative (October 2020), including a campus-wide March to the Polls event, in which 289 out of a possible 315 eligible student-athletes registered to vote (92%), including 100% of the football team.
• Organized a book drive to create a library in his mother's home village in Kenya (May 2019-present). He collected more than 400 books with a goal of 1,000, and then a surprise appearance on Good Morning America yielded a donation of 1,600 books from First Book (Aug. 27, 2021).
• Mentored and read books to elementary school students in Durham (2019-20).
• Volunteered with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh (2017-19).
• Helped prepare meals at a battered women's shelter in Concord, N.C. (2014-17).
• Led church youth group to provide housing for the homeless in Concord, N.C. (2014-17).

 
Student Leadership:

• Serves as Vice President of NCCU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
• Sits on the NCCU Football Leadership Council.
• Chosen by the Chancellor as the university's representative for Campus Compact's Newman Civic Fellowship

 
Academics:

• Senior pursing a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law and Theory. On track to graduate in December 2021.
• 3.305 overall grade point average
• 3.571 fall 2020 grade point average / 3.500 spring 2021 grade point average
• Selected to produce a research paper with a professor and two fellow NCCU students on the topic of food insecurity in Durham (Spring 2021).
• Plans to attend graduate school to study Public Policy.

 
Awards:

• Winner of the STATS Perform FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award.

 
Football:

• In 2021, started each of the first three games at defensive end, tallying 12 tackles with 1.5 tackles for a loss and 1.0 sack.
• In 2019, started all 12 games at defensive end, recording 26 tackles (17 solo) with 5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in his first season at NCCU after transferring from North Carolina State University.

 
For more information about NCCU football, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.