University of Richmond Athletics
Wheeler Nominated for Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
07/11/2023 | Football
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
Named the Colonial Athletic Association's 2022 Chuck Boone Leadership Award recipient, Wheeler is one of two athletic representatives on the University of Richmond's Board of Trustees where he meets and communicates with board members several times a year. He also serves on Richmond's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is a member of the Spider Leadership Initiative, a new program at the University that exposes a selected group of student-athletes to purposeful and inclusive programming which relates to developing and exercising leadership skills. He is on the leadership team for Richmond's pairing with Team IMPACT and has been a part of organizing the Richmond Alumni Golf Tournament with football alumni.
The Bethlehem, Pa. native is equally involved outside of the University of Richmond community. He organized a clothing drive of unneeded athletic gear to be delivered to a local fire stations around Richmond for the needy and has organized and led a youth football clinic in his hometown.
On the field, his accomplishments are nearly unmatched. Last year, The Spiders defensive leader and team captain ended the season as Richmond's leading tackler with 110 (54 solo, 56 asst.) including 11 for loss (-29). He also had two sacks (-9), two interceptions, three pass breakups and seven quarterback hurries on the year. His 110 tackles were the second-most in the CAA this season as he eclipsed the 100 tackles mark for the third-straight full season of football (2019, 2021 fall, 2022). Wheeler currently ranks sixth among active leaders in career tackles per game with 9.15 and has started 37-straight games—the most of any Spider.
The final 22-member team and honorary coach are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members, current and former head coaches and journalists. They look for exceptional leadership on and off the football field.
In addition to the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team selection panel members are: Tim Tebow (Florida, 2009 team); Troy Hawkes (Executive Vice President and General Manager, Allstate Sales and Distribution); 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); 2023 AFCA President and Ouachita Baptist University Head Coach Todd Knight; and 2014 AFCA President and former head coach at Ithaca College, Mike Welch.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 135 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 strong academic standing.
The 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominees are:
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
| Name | School |
| Elijah McAllister | Auburn University |
| Cade Beresford | Boise State University |
| Taji Johnson | Boston College |
| Odieu Hiliare | Bowling Green State University |
| Tyler Batty | BYU |
| Robi Stuart | Central Michigan University |
| Will Shipley | Clemson University |
| Ja'Mion Franklin | Duke University |
| Jeremy Lewis | East Carolina University |
| Brian Dooley | Eastern Michigan University |
| Jordan Travis | Florida State University |
| Levelle Bailey | Fresno State |
| LaMiles Brooks | Georgia Tech |
| Khalil Benson | Indiana University |
| Darien Porter | Iowa State University |
| X'Zauvea Gadlin | Liberty University |
| Mekhi Wingo | LSU |
| Tre Mosley | Michigan State University |
| Richard Kinley | Middle Tennessee State University |
| Jett Johnson | Mississippi State University |
| Joseph Shimko | NC State University |
| Jaylen Pate | Northwestern University |
| LaMareon James | Old Dominion University |
| Akili Arnold | Oregon State University |
| Dvon Ellies | Penn State University |
| Chike Anigbogu | Rice University |
| John Humphreys | Stanford University |
| Garrett Shrader | Syracuse University |
| Josh Newton | TCU |
| Jalen McMurray | Temple University |
| Max Wright | Texas A&M University |
| Alonzo Edwards Jr. | Texas State University |
| Tyler Shough | Texas Tech University |
| Xavier McDonald | U.S. Naval Academy |
| Max Michel | University at Buffalo |
| Seth McLaughlin | University of Alabama |
| Cam Little | University of Arkansas |
| Matthew Cindric | University of California |
| Jowon Briggs | University of Cincinnati |
| Valentin Senn | University of Connecticut |
| Devin Moore | University of Florida |
| Ladd McConkey | University of Georgia |
| Jack Freeman | University of Houston |
| Isaiah Williams | University of Illinois |
| Logan Lee | University of Iowa |
| Mason Fairchild | University of Kansas |
| Ashton Gillotte | University of Louisville |
| Jacob Likes | University of Memphis |
| Kamren Kinchens | University of Miami (Fla.) |
| Blake Corum | University of Michigan |
| Dragan Kesich | University of Minnesota |
| JJ Pegues | University of Mississippi |
| Darius Robinson | University of Missouri |
| Ethan Piper | University of Nebraska |
| Kaimon Rucker | University of North Carolina |
| Jaden Mickey | University of Notre Dame |
| Ethan Downs | University of Oklahoma |
| Gavin Bartholomew | University of Pittsburgh |
| Vershon Lee | University of South Carolina |
| Justin Dedich | University of Southern California |
| Jacob Warren | University of Tennessee |
| Christian Jones | University of Texas |
| De'Corian Clark | University of Texas at San Antonio |
| Daniel Bolden | University of Toledo |
| Chico Bennett | University of Virginia |
| Edefuan Ulofoshio | University of Washington |
| Alexander Smith | University of Wisconsin |
| Jordyn Morgan | UNLV |
| Jacob Garcia | Utah State University |
| Matt Johnson | Virginia Tech |
| Jaylen Hudson | Wake Forest University |
| Zach Frazier | West Virginia University |
| JaQues Evans | Western Kentucky University |
Combined Divisions (FCS, D-II, D-III & NAIA)
| Name | School |
| Trent Maddox | Ashland University |
| Sam Howard | Austin Peay State University |
| Loobert Denelus | Benedict College |
| Reed Levi | Benedictine College |
| Evan Ginter | Bethel University (Minn.) |
| Justin Anagonye | Brown University |
| Hajj-Malik Williams | Campbell University |
| Ben Condemi | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Hunter Peck | Carroll College |
| Major Williams | Carson-Newman University |
| Cameron Bannister | Central College |
| Michael DeCamillis | Chadron State College |
| Jake Stebbins | Cornell University |
| Devonte Murphy | Dakota State University |
| Josh Greene | Dartmouth College |
| Malik McDaniel | Davidson College |
| Ayden Garnes | Duquesne University |
| Deshawn McCarthy | East Stroudsburg University |
| Colton Hyble | Grand Valley State University |
| Caleb Lueders | Hamline University |
| Demarcus Coleman | Hardin-Simmons University |
| Clayton Mosher | Indiana Wesleyan University |
| Spencer Uggla | Johns Hopkins University |
| Kolbe Benham | Marist College |
| Malachi Lacadre Grey | McMurry University |
| Dustin Shoaf | Mercyhurst University |
| Tommy Mellot | Montana State University |
| Lawrence Richardson | Morgan State University |
| KJ Williams | Morningside University |
| Juan Velarde | North Carolina Central University |
| Myron Lewis | North Central College |
| Braylon Henderson | North Dakota State University |
| Drew Thornton | Ohio Wesleyan University |
| Thomas Lidondici | Pace University |
| Cole Nahlik | Peru State College |
| Nasir Cook | Princeton University |
| Jimmy Buck | Saint John's University (Minn.) |
| Nick Blanchard | Southern Nazarene University |
| Dante Vasquez | Springfield College |
| Jaret Porterfield | Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Lake Barrett | The College of Wooster |
| Trey Brausch | Thomas More University |
| Matthew Palazzo | Tusculum University |
| David Walker | University of Central Arkansas |
| Brock Gingrich | University of Delaware |
| Mathias Bertram | University of Idaho |
| Ted Mullin | University of North Dakota |
| Mario Jacobs | University of Redlands |
| Tristan Wheeler | University of Richmond |
| Micah Roane | University of South Dakota |
| Will Burke | University of St. Thomas (Minn.) |
| Reuben Lowery III | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga |
| Justin Blazek | University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
| John Stroughn | Utica University |
| Owen Grover | Wartburg College |
| Noah Nicklin | Wayne State University |
| JJ Ross, DB | Western Illinois University |
| Brice Butler | Westminster College (Pa.) |
| Charles Grant | William & Mary |
| Trevor Grant | Wingate University |
| Darrick McLean | Winston-Salem State University |
| Oso Ifesinachukwu | Yale University |
| Michael Voitus | Youngstown State University |
Head Coach
| Name | School |
| Jeff Monken | Army West Point |
| Scotty Walden | Austin Peay State University |
| Mike Clowney | Carson-Newman University |
| Jim McElwain | Central Michigan University |
| David Archer | Cornell University |
| Jimmy Terwilliger | East Stroudsburg University |
| Walt Wells | Eastern Kentucky University |
| Chris Creighton | Eastern Michigan University |
| Jesse Burleson | Hardin-Simmons University |
| Keith Otterbein | Hillsdale College |
| Dave Doeren | NC State University |
| Ryan Day | Ohio State University |
| Gary Fasching | Saint John's University (Minn.) |
| Joey McGuire | Texas Tech University |
| Jerheme Urban | Trinity University |
| Jason Eck | University of Idaho |
| Mike Locksley | University of Maryland |
| Mario Cristobal | University of Miami (Fla.) |
| Bill Zwaan | West Chester University |
| Mike London | William & Mary |
