NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced on Tuesday that the University of South Alabama's Brian Ankerson is among the 137 student-athletes who have been nominated for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, an annual award given to college football players for the impact they make off the field.

Since coming to South, the rising junior has served as a volunteer at an elementary school career day, assisted on multiple occasions at the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event and volunteered at Rap-A-Hope.  He has also participated in an effort to help clean up Mobile and has assisted each of the last three years with the University' Move In Day as newcomers have arrived on campus for the start of the fall semester.

Ankerson was placed on scholarship prior to start of 2018 season by Jaguar head coach Steve Campbell, and would go on to start all 12 of the team's contests at center last fall.  He recorded the highest overall (73%) and assignment (87%) grades given by the coaching staff for the year while also ranking third on the squad with 31 knockdown blocks.

He was credited with an overall mark of 70 percent or better in all but three outings while receiving an assignment grade at or above 80 percent 11 times, highlighted by earning scores of 87 percent overall and 98 percent on assignments following South's victory over Alabama State in October.  Ankerson also received assignment marks better than 90 percent against Memphis, Louisiana, and Texas State, posting three pancakes against both Sun Belt Conference opponents as well.

Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® continues to be one of the most coveted community service awards in college football.  From the 137 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will be announced in September, bringing 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.

The final 22-member team and honorary coach is selected by a voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and prominent media members who look for both their dedication to giving back and the embodiment of true leadership on and off the football field.

After the final team members are announced on Sept. 12, fans can vote for this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® captain through the official page on ESPN.com. Fans are also encouraged to join in the conversation by searching and using #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels throughout the season.

Ankerson and the Jags are slated to begin the 2019 season at Nebraska on Aug. 31, with the contest kicking off at 11 a.m. (CDT) on ESPN.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give

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