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Franklin Selected to AFCA Good Works Team
9/11/2023 11:36:00 PM | Football
DURHAM – Duke graduate defensive tackle Ja'Mion Franklin has been named to the 2023 Allstate American Football Coach Association (AFCA) Good Works Team®.
Franklin is one of just 22 student-athletes and one honorary coach nationwide selected to this prestigious team. The final roster was chosen from 136 nominees. These players stood out for their leadership in local communities and overall commitment to giving back.
On the field this season, Franklin has helped the Blue Devils' defense hold opponents to just 7.0 points per game and 148.00 passing yards per outing, as well as two second-half shutouts against No. 9 Clemson and Lafayette.
"It's inspiring to see how these young men on the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team choose to use their gifts and talents to be a blessing to their community," said Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Good Works Team member. "Serving and loving people can help reveal the greater purpose that we can all have, not just in sports, but in life."
Franklin graduated from Duke in May with a bachelor's degree in visual studies and a certificate in policy journalism and media studies. He is a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll recipient, NFF Hampshire Honor society member and currently holds a 3.30 grade point average. In 40 career games (15 starts), he has compiled 46 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two quarterback pressures.
Away from the classroom and field, Franklin has been giving back to his local communities for years. As a part of Duke's Student-Athlete Development program, Franklin meets with local second through fifth graders from a variety of different Durham Public Schools to help them meet reading initiative goals throughout the year.
In addition, Franklin has assisted with the Durham Rescue Mission and Urban Ministries of Durham, sorting through inventory to help the faith-based, non-profit organization provide food, support and shelter to those in need. The Ridgely, Md., native has worked closely with the Be the Match organization, collecting names of individuals willing to be added to the donor registry for bone marrow or cord blood transplant surgery.
In the spring, Franklin was voted by his teammates and coaches as one of four captains.
He becomes the 14th Duke player to earn the prestigious honor and 10th in the last 11 years joining DeWayne Carter (2022), Rakavius Chambers (2020), Koby Quansah (2019), Johnathan Lloyd (2018), Gabe Brander (2017), DeVon Edwards (2016), Kelby Brown (2015), Laken Tomlinson (2014), Dave Harding (2013), Sean Renfree (2012), Bryan Morgan (2010), Re'quan Boyette (2008) and Zaid Abdul-Aleem (1994).
At ESPN.com/Allstate, fans can learn more about the players' accomplishments and vote for the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team ® captain once a day now through Nov. 22.
"It's amazing to see what these athletes have done at such a young age," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "They balance athletics, schoolwork, and community service. This is an outstanding group of men who will continue the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team legacy."
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
Tyler Batty DE Jr. BYU
Will Shipley RB Jr. Clemson University
Ja'Mion Franklin DT Gr. Duke University
Mekhi Wingo DL Jr. LSU
Jaylen Pate DL Gr. Northwestern University
Xavier McDonald LB Sr. U.S. Naval Academy
Matthew Cindric OL R-Sr. University of California
Ladd McConkey WR R-Jr. University of Georgia
Blake Corum RB Sr. University of Michigan
Ethan Downs DE Jr. University of Oklahoma
Gavin Bartholomew TE Jr. University of Pittsburgh
Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and NAIA
Trent Maddox QB Jr. Ashland University
Reed Levi TE Gr. Benedictine College
Evan Ginter OL Sr. Bethel University (Minn.)
Cameron Bannister SS Sr. Central College
Josh Greene LS Sr. Dartmouth College
Colton Hyble DE Sr. Grand Valley State University
Spencer Uggla RB Sr. Johns Hopkins University
KJ Williams RB Sr. Morningside University
Juan Velarde P Sr. North Carolina Central University
Jimmy Buck WR Sr. Saint John's University (Minn.)
Mathias Bertram DB R-Jr. University of Idaho
Honorary Head Coach
Mike Locksley, University of Maryland
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
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.?The 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.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads all conferences with 84 selections to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 55 selections and the Big 12 Conference and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, both with 41 selections. Georgia is in first place with 23 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bulldogs are followed by Kentucky and Bethel (Minn.) with 17 honorees. Super Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams, respectively.
#GoDuke
Franklin is one of just 22 student-athletes and one honorary coach nationwide selected to this prestigious team. The final roster was chosen from 136 nominees. These players stood out for their leadership in local communities and overall commitment to giving back.
On the field this season, Franklin has helped the Blue Devils' defense hold opponents to just 7.0 points per game and 148.00 passing yards per outing, as well as two second-half shutouts against No. 9 Clemson and Lafayette.
"It's inspiring to see how these young men on the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team choose to use their gifts and talents to be a blessing to their community," said Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Good Works Team member. "Serving and loving people can help reveal the greater purpose that we can all have, not just in sports, but in life."
Franklin graduated from Duke in May with a bachelor's degree in visual studies and a certificate in policy journalism and media studies. He is a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll recipient, NFF Hampshire Honor society member and currently holds a 3.30 grade point average. In 40 career games (15 starts), he has compiled 46 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two quarterback pressures.
Away from the classroom and field, Franklin has been giving back to his local communities for years. As a part of Duke's Student-Athlete Development program, Franklin meets with local second through fifth graders from a variety of different Durham Public Schools to help them meet reading initiative goals throughout the year.
In addition, Franklin has assisted with the Durham Rescue Mission and Urban Ministries of Durham, sorting through inventory to help the faith-based, non-profit organization provide food, support and shelter to those in need. The Ridgely, Md., native has worked closely with the Be the Match organization, collecting names of individuals willing to be added to the donor registry for bone marrow or cord blood transplant surgery.
In the spring, Franklin was voted by his teammates and coaches as one of four captains.
He becomes the 14th Duke player to earn the prestigious honor and 10th in the last 11 years joining DeWayne Carter (2022), Rakavius Chambers (2020), Koby Quansah (2019), Johnathan Lloyd (2018), Gabe Brander (2017), DeVon Edwards (2016), Kelby Brown (2015), Laken Tomlinson (2014), Dave Harding (2013), Sean Renfree (2012), Bryan Morgan (2010), Re'quan Boyette (2008) and Zaid Abdul-Aleem (1994).
At ESPN.com/Allstate, fans can learn more about the players' accomplishments and vote for the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team ® captain once a day now through Nov. 22.
"It's amazing to see what these athletes have done at such a young age," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "They balance athletics, schoolwork, and community service. This is an outstanding group of men who will continue the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team legacy."
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
Tyler Batty DE Jr. BYU
Will Shipley RB Jr. Clemson University
Ja'Mion Franklin DT Gr. Duke University
Mekhi Wingo DL Jr. LSU
Jaylen Pate DL Gr. Northwestern University
Xavier McDonald LB Sr. U.S. Naval Academy
Matthew Cindric OL R-Sr. University of California
Ladd McConkey WR R-Jr. University of Georgia
Blake Corum RB Sr. University of Michigan
Ethan Downs DE Jr. University of Oklahoma
Gavin Bartholomew TE Jr. University of Pittsburgh
Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and NAIA
Trent Maddox QB Jr. Ashland University
Reed Levi TE Gr. Benedictine College
Evan Ginter OL Sr. Bethel University (Minn.)
Cameron Bannister SS Sr. Central College
Josh Greene LS Sr. Dartmouth College
Colton Hyble DE Sr. Grand Valley State University
Spencer Uggla RB Sr. Johns Hopkins University
KJ Williams RB Sr. Morningside University
Juan Velarde P Sr. North Carolina Central University
Jimmy Buck WR Sr. Saint John's University (Minn.)
Mathias Bertram DB R-Jr. University of Idaho
Honorary Head Coach
Mike Locksley, University of Maryland
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
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.?The 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.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads all conferences with 84 selections to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 55 selections and the Big 12 Conference and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, both with 41 selections. Georgia is in first place with 23 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bulldogs are followed by Kentucky and Bethel (Minn.) with 17 honorees. Super Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams, respectively.
#GoDuke
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