• Complete AFCA Release
Three Ohio Valley Conference football players have been announced as nominees for the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.
This marks the 30th year of this storied recognition. Sports information directors – from divisions across the nation – nominated 109 student-athletes with stories of exemplary community service, alongside their academic dedication and impact on and off the field.
The OVC nominees included Austin Peay senior linebacker
Jack McDonald, Eastern Illinois junior offensive lineman
Ben Soloman and recently graduated Tennessee Tech defense back
Jamaal Thompson.
This year’s candidates (which included 67 from FBS programs, 17 from FCS programs and 25 from the NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA levels) include student-athletes who are scholars, leaders and community champions. These nominees have volunteered to build homes, mentor underprivileged kids, aid in COVID-19 relief efforts, as well as advocate against domestic violence and racial injustice.
A 2021 graduate who is returning for his fifth year with the Governors, McDonald has been an active member of the Athletics Mentoring Program, which pairs returning student-athletes with incoming freshmen. He also participates in Hillcrest Community Church's One Love mission organization. McDonald also has been a member of the Governors football leadership committee. McDonald is an accomplished student-athlete both on the field and in the classroom. McDonald has been recognized on Austin Peay's Dean's List each semester at Austin Peay and was a 2019 FCS ADA Academic All-Star selection. He also earned First Team All-OVC honors last season after ranking 10th nationally with 70 tackles.
Solomon, a starter for the Panthers at center, has been a team leader on-and-off the field during his time with the EIU program. Over the last two years Solomon has led the Panthers Uplifting Athletes Chapter as they has found unique ways to raise both awareness and funds in the fight against Rare Diseases. Last year under COVID-19 restrictions, Solomon spearheaded a Walk For Lift event during the summer. This year the Panthers again returned to the Lift For Life Campaign which took place at O'Brien Field on July 20. In addition to his work with the Uplifting Athletes Chapter, Solomon has helped with the Panthers programs in reading to local schools through virtual technology and participating in play days at the schools prior to COVID-19 restrictions. Solomon already obtained his undergraduate degree from EIU in Business Administration and is currently enrolled in graduate school.
Thompson was a recent selection to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team and a winner of one of 13 President’s Awards for 2021. He had an incredible year, earning his first degree from the University after playing for both the football team and men’s basketball team in 2020-21. He continues to focus on his postgraduate work in the College of Education. In early June, he was selected as the OVC’s Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award winner for his efforts in uniting the campus during a difficult period and help launch the Center of Diversity Education and its outreach efforts. Thompson earned his bachelor’s degree in communications this past May, posting a cumulative 3.96 grade point average and a 4.0 in his final semester amid competing with two varsity teams. He was also a Distinguished University Scholar-Athlete by the Middle Tennessee chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. Over the course of his Tech career, he earned the football team’s Academic Award, the OVC’s Academic Medal of Honor – awarded to the highest GPA for a football player across the conference – as well as multiple appearances on the Tech Athletic Director’s and OVC Commissioner’s Honor Rolls. He was a nominee for the Derryberry Award – the University’s highest honor to be bestowed upon a Tech student. On the field he finished his past season with 29 total tackles in seven games, including half a sack and 2.5 tackles-for-loss for 12 yards. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two more.
The final 22-member team and honorary coach are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members and football journalists. After the final team members are announced in September, fans can cast their vote for this year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain through the official page on ESPN.com. Fans can use #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels to join the conversation throughout the season.
Nomination Criteria
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 109 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will bring together 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision; 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, 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 a strong academic standing.