The SEC has announced its “Community Service Team” for the sport of football, according to an official news release.
A Community Service Team is selected for each of the SEC’s 21-league sponsored sports, as it looks to highlight a student-athlete from each school who gives back to his community through superior service efforts.
In other words, these are (some) of the guys that go the extra mile off the field and make us proud to be a part of the SEC community.
Below is the list in its entirety:
O.J. Howard, Alabama
Has spent extensive time working with the elderly and youth organizations across Alabama … Regularly visits children’s hospitals in Birmingham … Spent time at the children’s hospital in New Orleans during the team’s two trips to New Orleans and also spent time at the Dallas children’s hospital during the trip to the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl … Volunteered numerous hours at retirement homes across Tuscaloosa … Made visits to the Tuscaloosa VA hospital in each of the last three years … Most recently, spent a day this summer doing a Habitat for Humanity build with his teammates … Also helped in packing up football equipment for schools in West Virginia affected by the significant floods that affected the state over this past summer.
Brooks Ellis, Arkansas
2016 William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist … 2016 Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist … Leverett Elementary School and Lifestyles group (people with disabilities) … Participated in “Book Hogs Read to Win” and “Book Hogs Pizza Party” with local elementary school students … Reading with Razorbacks initiative … Spent time with kids at Special Olympics Arkansas and MLK Youth Day … Signed autographs in conjunction with the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation as well as Big Brothers and Big Sisters or Northwest Arkansas … Volunteered with Mayflower Tornado Relief … Assisted Coach Bielema at the Susan G. Komen Ozark Affiliate “Football 101” benefit … “Be with Becca” fundraiser; Participated in Boys & Girls Club food giveaway and on-campus trash pickup.
Daniel Carlson, Auburn
Has participated at Champions of Chemo Lake Party for children fighting cancer and is a regular visitor at Birmingham Children’s Hospital … Active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes … Involved in the SAAC holiday toy and clothing collections and the Beat Bama Food Drive.
Jarrad Davis, Florida
Has spent more than 25 hours volunteering at Shands Hospital, Boys & Girls Club, Williams Elementary School, Habitat for Humanity and the Newberry Library … Named as one of 19 finalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, one of five finalists for the 2016 Pop Warner College Football Award and Butkus Award, and a semi-finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, has been one of Florida’s leaders on and off the field this season … Advertising major at the University of Florida and was named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll in 2013 … Has spoken to a Little League team, among other activities.
Jeb Blazevich, Georgia
One of 12 players nationwide named to AFCA Allstate Good Works Team … Included as a 2016 Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist … Worked with “Learn, Play, Excel” to educate and provide leadership for elementary and middle school students … Visited Camp Sunshine and spent time with children who have cancer … Volunteered for Countdown to Kickoff, a benefit for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Georgia Transplant Foundation and the UGA College of Education … Worked with Extra Special People, an organization assisting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, among other charities.
Courtney Love, Kentucky
Participated in a service/educational trip to Ethiopia … Serves in a mentoring program with high school students … Participated in an event at the Indian Summer Camp for children who are cancer survivors or currently have cancer … Has taken part in events with the UK Children’s Hospital, Read Across America, Special Olympics and “Champ’s Camp” youth football camp, along with other service activities … Nominee for the Danny Wuerffel Trophy for academic, football and community service excellence … A transfer from Nebraska, he was active there as well, earning a Student-Athlete Hero Leadership Award and being named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.
Danny Etling, LSU
Member of the Boys Scouts and achieved Eagle Scout status … Routinely spends free time in community giving back and using his LSU accomplishments to help inspire others … Active participant in LSU’s CHAMPS program.
Evan Engram, Ole Miss
Has been very active in the community during his time at Ole Miss, while showing a special passion for physically and mentally handicapped people … Volunteered his time with the Special Olympics, including the 2014 and 2015 Unified Egg Bowl events, which pit Special Olympics athletes from Ole Miss and Mississippi State against each other for a flag football game to raise funds for those programs at both schools … Has spent time with adults at the North Mississippi Regional Center and children at the C.M. Scott Center in Oxford … Participated in Reading with the Rebels and made several appearances at local schools, stressing to students the importance of good health and education … Camp counselor for an FCA football camp, has helped needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and has visited patience at children’s hospitals in Jackson, Mississippi, and New Orleans.
Brandon Holloway, Mississippi State
Since the summer of 2015 has volunteered at 15 different community event … This fall, participated at the Henderson Walk to School Day with elementary kids and the TK Martin Super Fun Run … Spent three hours working the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign and at Camp Rising Sun … Visited with patients at Levine Children’s Hospital and Mississippi State Dance Marathon (a movement of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit organization that raises funds and awareness for more than 170 pediatric hospitals) … MSU’s representative for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and Wuerffel Trophy.
Michael Scherer, Missouri
Serves on team’s discipline council … Works with “Moving Ahead Program” where he interacts with underprivileged children (9-11 ages) in after school program, tutoring and encouraging/mentoring them … Caleb’s Pitch charity – helping children battling cancer to fun artwork projects in hospital … Mid-Missouri Food Bank – worked in warehouse packaging food for distribution to needy families in the Columbia community … Big Brother/Big Sisters – worked at kids football clinic … Granny’s House – mentored young children after school … Special Olympics – served as athlete buddy and coach … Coyote Hill Children’s Home – mentored children displaced from their homes due to various reason.
Elliott Fry, South Carolina
Nominated for AFCA Good Works Team … Two-time member of SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll; School’s all-time leading scorer … Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a seven-year old, now is active with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) … 2016 Wuerffel Trophy nominee.
LaTroy Lewis, Tennessee
Started his own charitable organization – Project Elevate – which is a non-profit organization that focuses on mentoring local children and helping them with goal setting and goal achievement … Organized and ran “Hero Day” on Oct. 22 at Lonsdale Park where he and fellow student-athletes ran a special community service event in honor of the late local hero Zaevion Dobson, who died last December while shielding friends from gunfire … Spoke about the importance of helping others and created activities at “Hero Day” like washing cars and picking up trash around the neighborhood for local children to participate in so they could understand the value of giving back to the community; charitable donations from the event went directly to Lonsdale Elementary School … Spends every Wednesday as a mentor for a group of fourth graders at Lonsdale Elementary to discuss their dreams and goals and what they can do to achieve them.
Trevor Knight, Texas A&M
Finalist for the Wuerrffel Trophy … Helped organize mission trip to Haiti for Aggie student-athletes, has spoken to many FCA and other community groups and assisted with Aggie Athletes Involved.
Oren Burks, Vanderbilt
2016 Allstate-AFCA National Good Works Team recipient (FBS) … 2016 Wuerffel Trophy nominee … Co-founder and program director for REVAMP (Revitalizing & Empowering Vanderbilt’s African-American Male Population); it was voted top new organization on campus for 2015-16 school year … Current President, Vanderbilt Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) … Helped organize shoe drive in association with Soles4Souls national organization for 2016 season opener vs. South Carolina.
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
