NDSU's Billy Turner One of 117 Nominees for 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®

NORTHBROOK, Ill.--Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) today announced North Dakota State offensive tackle Billy Turner is one of 117 nominees for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. As one of college football’s most prestigious off-the-field honors, the award recognizes a select group of college football players committed to making a difference in their communities.

Turner, a 6- foot-5 1/2, 300 pound junior from Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View H.S.), is a two-year starter for the Bison with 26 of 27 games played. The Bison won the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS National Championship and the Missouri Valley Football Conference. In 2010, the Bison advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS quarterfinals. Turner was part of an offensive line that paved the way for a pair of 1,000-yard running backs for NDSU during the 2011 season. It is the first time in program history that the Bison have had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season.

As a volunteer in Fargo’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Tuner has become a mentor to Michael Sokiri, a fourth-grade student at Madison Elementary School. Turner has also become involved with Madison Elementary activities and helped to organize the school’s annual carnival. In the summer, Turner supervises children in programs sponsored by the YMCA.

Both at NDSU and Mounds View High School, Turner takes the initiative to spend time with and talk with special needs children so that they feel included. In his hometown of Shoreview, Turner grocery shopped and bagged groceries for the homeless shelter at his local church.

A sports and recreation leadership major, Turner is looking to join seven other players including cornerback Richard Bowman in 2009—who have been named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.

Since 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has shown a spotlight on the countless “good works” and remarkable stories of service by student-athletes at all levels of college football competition.  Award recipients represent the sport’s finest in terms of character and leadership in the community. 

“This year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®  nominees have some of the most impressive community service resumes in the program’s 21-year history,” said Kathy Mabe, president of Allstate’s West regions and a member of the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel. “These young men continue to raise the bar for the impact that student-athletes can have on others, and are an inspiration to Allstate, our agents and our employees.”

Tackles or touchdowns have no bearing on this award, for it is the many examples of “volunteerism” and “giving back” that have earned these players nominations from their respective colleges and universities.  From comforting patients at children’s hospitals, to building houses for needy families, to mentoring at-risk youth, each Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^®  member has his own unique and inspiring story.

“After looking through the list of nominees for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, we are recognizing some of the best student-athletes in all of college football,” said Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association.  “These 117 nominees understand the impact each of them have on their schools and communities, and it gives me great pleasure in recognizing their efforts for what they stand for, and what they mean to college football.”

From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team^® members and prominent college football media members will select two 11-player Good Works Teams^® – one comprised of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA. The final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September.

Allstate and the AFCA will launch the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® website on ESPN.com featuring profiles and images of the final team members, as well as the opportunity for fans to vote for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain.

The 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Alex Van Pelt (Pittsburgh, 1992 team), Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Grant Irons (Notre Dame, 1999 team), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); media members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Tom O’Toole (USA Today), Andy Staples (SI.com), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Harvard University Head Coach Tim Murphy; 1987 AFCA President LaVell Edwards, former head coach at Brigham Young University; and Kathy Mabe, President, West Regions at Allstate.

In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining a strong academic standing.

The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.

Albion College – Spencer Krauss

Bethel University – Erik Smith

Campbell University – Braden Smith

Carnegie Mellon University – Sam Thompson

Carson-Newman College – Kevin Day

Centre College – Oakley Watkins

Chowan University – Austin Tallant

Colgate University – Chris Looney

College of Mount Saint Joseph – Greg Tabar

Dakota State University – John Niesen

Drake University – Zach Bosch

Duquesne University – Zach Richert

Elmhurst College – Scottie Williams

Elon University – Blake Thompson

Emory & Henry College – Daniel Preston

Florida A&M University – Brandon Hepburn

Fordham University – Brendan Melanophy

Franklin & Marshall College – Chad Tothero

Frostburg State University – Tilmon Parker

Georgia Southern University – Brent Russell

Illinois State University – Colton Underwood

Indiana State University – FN Lutz

Kean University – Thomas Denehy

Kenyon College – William Brackett

Lindenwood University – Malach Radigan

Loras College – Michael Donnelly

Louisiana College – Cortland Bell

Montana State University – DeNarius McGhee

North Dakota State University – Billy Turner

Northwest Missouri State – Trevor Adams

Northwestern College (Iowa) – Nate Fischer

Northwood University – Ryan Whittum

Oberlin College – Moses Richardson

Saint John’s University (Minn.) – Stephen Johnson

Salisbury University – Dan Griffin

Salve Regina University – Kenechukwu Okwuosa

Samford University – George Allers

Shenandoah University – Nicholas Erdman

South Dakota State University – Bo Helm

Southern Utah University – Cody Larsen

St. Cloud State University – Phillip Klaphake

Tarleton State University – Jake Fenske

Tennessee State University – Devin Wilson

Texas Lutheran University – Allen Cain

Thomas More College – Antonio Booker

Tusculum College – Bo Cordell

University of Dubuque – Wyatt Hanus

University of Montana – Jordan Tripp

University of New Hampshire – Chris Zarkoskie

University of Northern Iowa – Kyle Bernard

University of Rochester – Antonio Ortega

University of St. Thomas (Minn.) – Michael Valesano

University of Wisconsin-River Falls – John Schimenz

Ursinus College – Tony Rosa

Wagner College – Steve Ciocci

Washington University (Mo.) – Seth Wight

Wayne State College (Neb.) – Richard Daniel

Wayne State University (Mich.) – Nick Thomas

West Texas A&M University – Aaron Mullane

Western New England University – Corey Brown

Wheaton College – Garrett Meador

William Paterson University – Dawys German

Wingate University – Robbie Nallenweg

Winona State University – Bryan Bradshaw