Kasper Named Good Works Team® Captain
College football fans have selected UW-Oshkosh junior quarterback Brett Kasper as the 2016 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team® captain for his exceptional community service accomplishments and dedication to helping others. To celebrate his achievement, Kasper will be recognized by the Allstate Insurance Company and the AFCA during live broadcast of The Home Depot College Football Awards airing 7 p.m. (ET) Thursday (Dec. 8) on ESPN.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the award, recognizing college football players whose good works extend beyond the field of play. Of the 24 players selected to the 2016 team, only one receives the team captain title by way of fan votes on ESPN.com/Allstate.
Kasper earned a place on this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® for his selfless commitment to helping others while maintaining good academic standing as a supply chain management major.
Most recently, Kasper has dedicated his time to working with Be The Match, the largest and most diverse bone marrow registry in the world. Kasper's journey with Be The Match began in 2014 when he signed up to be a donor while volunteering with teammates at a registration drive on campus. In 2015, Kasper matched with an 8-year-old girl in need of a bone marrow transplant to save her life and underwent surgery in the spring. In November, Kasper and the entire UW-Oshkosh football team welcomed the recipient and her family to Oshkosh, honoring her at halftime of its game against UW-La Crosse.
In addition to his work with Be The Match, Kasper regularly volunteers with organizations that include Feeding America and the Special Olympics. The Two Rivers High School graduate owns a 3.278 cumulative grade point average as a supply chain management major.
This season, Kasper has led the fourth-ranked Titans to a 12-1 record and a spot in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Championship. UW-Oshkosh will host John Carroll University (Ohio) in the semifinals at 12:05 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 10) at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium. The 2016 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) honorable mention selection has completed 171 of 284 passes for 2,323 yards and 19 touchdowns. He threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns during last Saturday's (Dec. 3) 34-31 victory over third-ranked University of St. Thomas in the NCAA postseason quarterfinal round.
In 2015, Kasper was named the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 2,968 yards and 27 touchdowns. His performance helped the Titans secure their second WIAC title in four seasons and advance to the third round of the NCAA Division III Championship. Kasper ranked 10th in the Division III in both passing efficiency (167.7) and yards per completion (14.69) while directing the offense to a school-record 550 points. With Kasper starting under center in 12 of UW-Oshkosh's 13 games, the Titans ended the 2015 campaign ranked fifth in the country with an 11-2 record.
Kasper has guided the Titans to a 27-4 record as a starter during his first three seasons. He has completed 476 of 753 passes for 6,495 yards with 55 touchdowns.
"Allstate is proud to recognize student-athletes like Brett for the role they play in making a positive impact in their local communities," said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company. "Brett's achievements off the field, as a leader and role model in Oshkosh, are an inspiration to us all. We are thrilled to recognize a young man that embodies the characteristics of what this award represents."
Joining a long list of service-oriented athletes, Kasper is UW-Oshkosh's first player to be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® and the first-ever Division III Good Works Team captain.
"Brett is a leader on and off the field and his selection to the Good Works Team® is very well deserved," said UW-Oshkosh head football coach Cerroni. "His accomplishments have been impressive and his commitment to "Be The Match" demonstrates impeccable character and integrity. Brett has extended himself well beyond conventional expectations and the results have been a source of pride for him, our football program, our university and our community."
Kasper and his fellow Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members have been invited to New Orleans where they'll combine their passion for football and service during a special youth clinic prior to the 2017 Allstate® Sugar Bowl®. Additionally, the players will be honored on the field at halftime during the nationally televised broadcast of the game on Jan. 2, 2017.
In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Good Works Team®, a final roster of 24 award recipients – comprised of 12 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 12 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA – were selected from this year's 165 nominees, along with the first-ever honorary head coach – University of Miami's Mark Richt.
2016 Good Works Team® Members • NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A)
Deshaun Watson, Jr., QB, Clemson University (S.C.)
Derek McCartney, Jr., LB, University of Colorado
DeVon Edwards, Sr., DB, Duke University (N.C.)
Alec Eberle, So., OL, Florida State University
Jeb Blazevich, Jr., TE, University of Georgia
KeShun Freeman, Jr., DL, Georgia Institute of Technology
Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea, Sr., DL, University of Hawaii
Mike Caprara, Sr. LB, University of Pittsburgh (Pa.)
Caylin Moore, Sr., DB, Texas Christian University
Dane Evans, Sr., QB, University of Tulsa (Okla.)
Oren Burks, Jr., LB, Vanderbilt University (Tenn.)
Zach Terrell, Sr., QB, Western Michigan University
2016 Good Works Team® Members • NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III & NAIA
Zach Bernhard, Sr., LB, Ashland University (Ohio)
Drew Neuville, Sr., TE, Bethel University (Minn.)
Dan Gallman, Sr., OL, Carson-Newman University (Tenn.)
Nate Casey, Sr., LB, Davidson College (N.C.)
Michael Allen, Sr., LB, University of the Incarnate Word (Texas)
Luke Grooters, Sr.. LB, Morningside College (Iowa)
Carl Jones, Sr., OL, North Carolina Central University
Corbin Jountti, Jr., RB, Northern Arizona University
Zach Clark, Sr., OL, Oklahoma Baptist University
Kaymon Farmer, Sr., WR, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Trent Brodbeck, Sr., TE, Wayne State University (Mich.)
Brett Kasper, Jr., QB, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
2016 Good Works Team® Members • Head Coach
Mark Richt, University of Miami (Fla.)
About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Now celebrating its 85th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In 2015, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 230,000 hours of service across the country.
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. 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.
About AFCA
The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."