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University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: Chris Tucci - UMass Athletics
Merriweather Nominated For 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
July 20, 2022 | Football
The redshirt senior is among 114 student-athletes who are scholars, leaders and community champions.
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Redshirt senior Ellis Merriweather of the University of Massachusetts football team has been nominated for the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, as announced by Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Wednesday morning.
Merriweather is one of 114 student-athletes who showcase exemplary community service, academic dedication, and impact on and off the field. The candidates for Allstate's 31st AFCA Good Works Team are scholars, leaders and community champions, who have volunteered to build homes, mentor underserved kids and feed the hungry, as well as advocate for civil injustice.
The Alpharetta, Georgia, native has been honored for his accomplishments on the field, as Merriweather has been selected to both the 2022 Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List and the 2022 Phil Steele Preseason Independent All-Conference First Team, while also landing on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list. He also received the 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team.
Merriweather became Massachusetts' first 1,000-yard rusher in the FBS era and established a new single-season school record of seven games with 100 or more rushing yards last season. He achieved career bests of 39 carries and 177 rushing yards, including a career-high 79-yard rushing touchdown.
Off the field, Merriweather has contributed his time and services to several organizations – Peak Performance Executive Board, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Black Student-Athlete Summit and College Athlete Unity. As a representative in each organization, he has dedicated his time to developing, collaborating, and advocating with peers, staff and other mentors for the mental health and well-being of student-athletes and engaging in community service opportunities and programs or and with student-athletes, while aiding in a compilation of extensive resources and tools to be an effective change agent on campus and beyond.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, established in 1992, is one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 114 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will bring together 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS); 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); and one honorary head coach. To be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining strong academic standing.
The final 22-member team and honorary coach are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members and journalists, looking for exceptional leadership on and off the football field.
In addition, Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team member, and Troy Hawkes, executive vice president and general manager of Allstate Sales and Distribution, will member the selection panel, along side Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team); Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998); Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001); Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002); Wes Counts (Middle Tennessee State, 1999); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN); Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); and Paul Myerberg (USA Today); 2021 AFCA President and Northwestern University Head Coach; and 2022 AFCA President and University of Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl and current Athletic Director at Virginia Union University Joe Taylor.
Once the final team members are announced in September, fans can vote for this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain through the official page on ESPN.com.
Merriweather is one of 114 student-athletes who showcase exemplary community service, academic dedication, and impact on and off the field. The candidates for Allstate's 31st AFCA Good Works Team are scholars, leaders and community champions, who have volunteered to build homes, mentor underserved kids and feed the hungry, as well as advocate for civil injustice.
The Alpharetta, Georgia, native has been honored for his accomplishments on the field, as Merriweather has been selected to both the 2022 Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List and the 2022 Phil Steele Preseason Independent All-Conference First Team, while also landing on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list. He also received the 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team.
Merriweather became Massachusetts' first 1,000-yard rusher in the FBS era and established a new single-season school record of seven games with 100 or more rushing yards last season. He achieved career bests of 39 carries and 177 rushing yards, including a career-high 79-yard rushing touchdown.
Off the field, Merriweather has contributed his time and services to several organizations – Peak Performance Executive Board, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Black Student-Athlete Summit and College Athlete Unity. As a representative in each organization, he has dedicated his time to developing, collaborating, and advocating with peers, staff and other mentors for the mental health and well-being of student-athletes and engaging in community service opportunities and programs or and with student-athletes, while aiding in a compilation of extensive resources and tools to be an effective change agent on campus and beyond.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, established in 1992, is one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 114 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will bring together 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS); 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); and one honorary head coach. To be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining strong academic standing.
The final 22-member team and honorary coach are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members and journalists, looking for exceptional leadership on and off the football field.
In addition, Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team member, and Troy Hawkes, executive vice president and general manager of Allstate Sales and Distribution, will member the selection panel, along side Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team); Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998); Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001); Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002); Wes Counts (Middle Tennessee State, 1999); media members Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN); Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); and Paul Myerberg (USA Today); 2021 AFCA President and Northwestern University Head Coach; and 2022 AFCA President and University of Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl and current Athletic Director at Virginia Union University Joe Taylor.
Once the final team members are announced in September, fans can vote for this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain through the official page on ESPN.com.
Players Mentioned
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