Clark Named to Allstate Good Works Team

SHAWNEE – Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced the 24 college football players, including Oklahoma Baptist's Zach Clark, 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. 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.
 
Clark, a senior offensive lineman from Moore, has been a community service hero and fans can reward him by voting for him to be the Good Works Team captain at espn.com/allstate.
 
Zach Clark is a player with a passion for local service as well as international volunteerism. The senior offensive lineman traveled to Serbia and Slovenia on a two-week mission trip with The Way Sports Ministry where he coached and led football camps. He has assisted with Project Safe and also aided in recovery efforts in Moore, Okla., after a disastrous tornado and assists with campus beautification projects at South Central Industries, Inc.

He also has participated in elementary school reading programs in Shawnee.

Clark was a Preseason All-American selection for the 2015 college football season and was Second Team All-Conference in 2014.
 
"Zach is an outstanding young may that has proven his commitment to helping others over the past seven years I have known him," said Jimmy Martin of Moore Public Schools. "His community service activities have provided assistance for many families and individuals. Our community faced the tragedy of a devastating F5 tornado in May 2013. Minutes after the stormed passed by, Zach was on the move organizing a supply donation and delivery service of those donations to the News headquarters. His leadership was evident as he collected several pickups full of supplies within hours. His work did not stop at that point. He continued to assist those in need for weeks to come. Zach not only spends time volunteering and helping different organizations but he brings others along with him. With his leadership skills he is able to persuade others to spend their time volunteering and helping people and organizations."
 
His attitude also has been appreciated by Project Safe, which helps victims of domestic abuse.

"Zach's attitude and willingness to help us has been a blessing. Zach's Christian approach exemplifies a fine young gentleman to be honored," said Kaye Steele Harrod of Project Safe.

For Clark, the drive to help is second nature.

"I'm from Moore, Oklahoma, and we've had our share of natural disasters, and it's kind of been shown to me how a community can come together and make life easier for everyone," he said. "I enjoy helping people and it's important to me in growing as an individual."

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."
 
 "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.
 

Good Works Team 1-A, Division 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	Moore, 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.