NORTHBROOK, Ill. – For a select group of college football players, including Tarleton's Jacob Rowe, the words “sacrifice” and “commitment” extend far beyond the football field to places that don't require helmets and shoulder pads. Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today have announced the 22 student-athletes chosen for the 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams®, honoring dedicated and hard-working student-athletes for their off-the-field achievements and selfless contributions to their communities.

“This is a great honor for Jacob, our football team and our University,” said Tarleton head football coach Sam McElroy.  “There are a great number of kids that do things throughout the year to help others, and for Jacob to be singled out as one of the best means a great deal to us.  He certainly deserves this award and the things he does to help others is wonderful. We know he will continue to serve because that is who Jacob is.”

This summer, a record 106 players were nominated for this prestigious honor by sports information directors on behalf of their teams, surpassing all previous single-season nominee totals since the program began in 1992. From the nominations, a special selection committee named 22 college football players from across the country to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.

The two 11-member teams – one composed of players competing in the NCAA® Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) and a combined team representing the NCAA® Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III and the NAIA – honor players that embody the true spirit of “teamwork” and “giving back” through commendable acts of kindness and community service.

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® is now in its 18th season to present the award. College Football Hall of Fame coach and ESPN personality Lou Holtz will once again serve as the spokesperson for the 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams®.

“Allstate has been inspired by the commitment and sacrifice these student-athletes have made to better our communities and improve the lives of our neighbors,” said Lisa Cochrane, vice president of marketing for Allstate. “As a proud partner of the AFCA, we feel that it's our responsibility to shine a spotlight on these young men for the outstanding impact they've made off the field.”  

While game-saving tackles and last-second field goals may dominate the television highlights, these 22 players have done remarkable things in their communities and changed countless lives in the process, from helping refugees in Afghanistan, to registering people to vote in the Presidential election, to befriending people stricken with disabilities.

Rowe missed five games in the 2009 season with a shoulder injury, but in the six games he played in, Rowe was a force on the field at the defensive end position.  Rowe recorded 14 total tackles, including 4.0 tackles for a loss of minus-16 yards.  He had one sack for minus-11 yards.  Rowe also recorded one interception and broke up one pass.  The Texans rotate several players throughout the game on the defensive line.

Rowe played in all 11 games as a freshman in 2008. He recorded 41 total tackles including 11 solo and 30 assisted stops in his first year.  He had five tackles for a loss of minus-20 yards while posting 1.5 sacks for a total loss of minus-10 yards.  He also forced a fumble in his freshman campaign.

Rowe is one of five Lone Star Conference players selected to the honor.  Also honored were Taylor Fore, Texas A&M-Commerce; Markeith Wesley, Texas A&M-Kingsville; and James Chandler, West Texas A&M.

Rowe, a history major, is the son of Eric and Eva Rowe and the brother of Max and Hannah.

“These 22 student-athletes represent thousands of college football players who make a difference in their communities through volunteer service on campus and in their hometowns,” said AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff. “We're proud to join Allstate in recognizing these young people who are dedicated to improving the world in which we live.”

Allstate has assembled a high-profile voting panel made up of previous 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's Lou Holtz and Kirk Herbstreit and CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd, to elect this year's team. Also a part of the selection committee are current AFCA president and San Jose State University head coach Dick Tomey, 1996 AFCA president and former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy Fisher DeBerry, and Allstate vice president Guy Hill.
 
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. Candidates must also display sincere concern and reliability, while also having made a favorable impression on the organizations with which they are involved. Neither athletic ability nor on-the-field achievements are among the selection criteria.

The following players have been selected to the 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams®:

Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A)

Name	Class	Pos.	School	Hometown
Xavier Dye	jr	WR	Clemson	Greenwood, S.C.
Tim Tebow	sr	QB	Florida	Jacksonville, Fla.
Jeff Owens	sr	DL	Georgia	Sunrise, Fla.
Jammie Kirlew	sr	DL	Indiana	Orlando, Fla.
Darrell Stuckey	sr	DB	Kansas	Kansas City, Kan.
Zoltan Mesko	sr	P	Michigan	Twinsburg, Ohio
Andrew Brewer	sr	WR	Northwestern	Tulsa, Okla.
Taylor Kvanaugh	sr	WR	Oregon State	Portland, Ore.
Travis Jones	sr	LB	San Jose State	Atascadero, Calif.
Derrick Coleman	soph	RB	UCLA	Fullerton, Calif.
Chris Marangos	sr	DB	Wisconsin	Racine Wisc

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

Name	Class	Pos.	School	Hometown
Joe Goldufsky	sr	DL	Beloit	Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Reid Velo	jr	WR	Bethel (Minn.)	Nashwuak, Minn.
David Pesek	sr	QB	Colorado School of Mines	Centennial, Colo.
Paul Hughes	sr	LB	Cumberlands (Ky.)	Montezuma, Ga.
Chris Owens	sr	WR	Earlham	Ft. Thomas, Ky.
Joshua Cain	sr	DB	Jacksonville State	Wetumpka, Ala.
Tim Miller	sr	OL	Johns Hopkins	Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Richard Bowman	sr	DB	North Dakota State	Houston
Kevin Grayson	jr	WR	Richmond	Richmond, Va.
Jeffrey Hilliard	sr	DB	St Thomas (Minn.)	Woodbury, Minn.
Jacob Rowe	jr	DL	Tarleton	Alvarado

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 36 selections and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 22 selections. In 2009, St. Thomas, Minn. defensive back Jeffrey Hilliard became the 12th Tommie to be selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, giving them 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.”