University of Richmond Athletics
Football's Kevin Grayson Named Finalist For Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team
July 25, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The American Football Coaches Association, in conjunction with Allstate, have named University of Richmond WR Kevin Grayson as one 106 national finalists for the Allstate/AFCA Good Work Team®, which honors college football players who make outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement.
With their unselfish acts, such as volunteering at orphanages in Kenya, building a reliable water source for villagers in Kabul, tutoring disadvantaged youth, and visiting elderly patients in nursing homes, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® nominees distinguish themselves among the more than 50,000 student-athletes participating in the sport at all four-year collegiate institutions through off-the-field accomplishments.
"Allstate and the AFCA have created a partnership of common interests and both organizations are proud to honor the off-the-field achievements of college football players and at all levels," said Guy Hill, vice president of sales and service for Allstate. "Allstate shares a genuine commitment to the community with these 106 student-athletes, and we encourage them to continue their benevolent efforts."
The total of 106 nominations submitted by sports information directors across the country on behalf of their teams surpasses all previous single-season nominee totals in the 18-year history of the award. The 2009 class of nominees represents 41 states, including Washington, D.C., and 45 college athletic conferences.
College Football Hall of Fame member and ESPN broadcast personality Lou Holtz will return as program spokesperson and serve as a member of this year's voting panel.
A rising junior from nearby L.C. Bird High School in Richmond, Grayson's resume offers several examples of the positive impact he has had on his community. Most notably, the All-Conference wide receiver mentors a sixth-grade student from Tuckahoe Middle School, assisting with school work, playing basketball and touring the Richmond campus.
In addition, Grayson and his Spider teammates are annual volunteers at the Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games, he participated in the NCAA's National Leadership Conference, he has served as a volunteer track coach at Douglas Wilder Middle School and also volunteers his time for the Hopewell-Prince George Healthy Family.
Along with his off-campus work, Grayson was voted a University of Richmond junior class senator, works for the school's Bridge to Success program and hosts a number of forums and discussions on campus regarding diversity and inclusion.
Grayson enters his junior season for the Spiders ranked eighth on the school's all-time receiving list with 1,823 yards. He was a First Team All-CAA Football selection in 2008 on the heels of being named the CAA Football Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007.
Grayson was joined by Northeastern's Zachary Abrams and Villanova's Ben Ijalana as the other nominees from CAA Football institutions.