Sioux Falls senior defensive lineman Michael Tolkamp is one of a record 182 nominees from across the country nominated for the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. The nominees represent the sport's finest in the areas of volunteerism and leadership among their peers.
For 23 years the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has served as one of the most coveted and prestigious off-the-field honors in college football. The award recognizes players whose charitable involvement and community service contributions stand out among all other student-athletes participating in the sport.
Tolkamp (Lawton, Iowa) has been an active member of the Sioux Falls community since arriving on campus in the fall of 2010. He has served several meals at The Banquet ministry, a non-profit organization that served 150,000 meals with 21,000 of those meals served to children under age 12 last year. He has also volunteered with his teammates at the Annual Gourmet Guys for Active Generations event.
In addition, Tolkamp has spent the past three years as a volunteer coach at Cougar Kids Day, an annual free football camp that the USF Football program holds for local youth aged K-8th grade. He is also a member of the Cougar Crazies, the student cheer block for the University of Sioux Falls Cougar athletic programs.
Tolkamp recorded 16 tackles (3 TFL), one quarterback hurry and a pass break-up in 2013 despite missing the majority of his junior campaign due to a myriad of injuries. A product of Lawton-Bronson High School, he started all 11 games for USF (9-2) in 2012 and led the defensive line with 24 tackles, 4.5 for loss (-10 yds.), two QB hurries and three blocked kicks en route to All-NSIC honorable mention accolades.
Tolkamp is a mathematics major and two-time NSIC All-Academic selection. He currently owns a 3.7 grade point average. He was also named an All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) earlier this spring. The NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year program recognizes those collegiate and high school athletes whose athletic accomplishments, in the opinion of their strength coach, reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning. The athletes are also recognized for their academic and personal accomplishments and their integrity as student athletes.
About the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team:
Since its establishment in 1992, the award has existed to pay tribute to the "good" in college football that extends beyond the wins and the losses. While balancing academics and athletics, this select group of student-athletes nominated by their respective colleges and universities has committed their limited free time to having a lasting impact on their communities.
Comprised of 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA, the final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September. From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members will select the 2014 Good Works Team.®
The 2014 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); media members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Bruce Feldman (Fox Sports), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and Ithaca College head coach Mike Welch; 1987 AFCA President and former head coach at Brigham Young University LaVell Edwards; and Jim Haskins, president of Allstate's West Territory.
Once the final team members are announced in September, fans are encouraged to visit the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® website on ESPN.com, featuring profiles and images of the players, for the opportunity to vote for the 2014 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain.
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and the AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining a strong academic standing.
