Ball State University Athletics
Jacob Richard Nominated for AFCA Good Works Team
July 15, 2015 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State senior football player Jacob Richard added another honor to his name Tuesday afternoon when the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced he was a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. Richard was one of just seven MAC players selected to the prestigious list.
Since its inception in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has recognized college football players from across the country who exemplify a superior commitment to community service and volunteerism. The select group of student-athletes nominated for this award by their respective colleges and universities are able to balance academics and athletics while remaining committed to helping others and bettering their communities.
Richard, a two-time All-Mid-American Conference performer, was recently named to the Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List as well. The Rimington award goes to the student-athlete that demonstrates excellence at the center position. A team captain in 2014 and 2015, Richard started all 12 games as a junior and was part of an offensive line that blocked for Ball State all-time leading rusher Jahwan Edwards. Richard anchored an offensive line that ranked among the nation's top-20 in fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles for loss allowed.
A record 197 college football players are a part of this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominee list. The final roster of 22 award recipients – comprised of 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA – will be unveiled in September. 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 the 2015 Good Works Team®.
The 2015 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), Bruce Feldman (Fox Sports), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and University of Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville; 1987 AFCA President and former head coach at Brigham Young University LaVell Edwards; and Jim Haskins, Executive Vice President, Allstate Brand Distribution.
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.
Ball State opens the 2015 season Thursday night, Sept. 3, with a home game at Scheumann Stadium against VMI.
