NORTHBROOK, Ill. - University of North Dakota senior safety Justin Belotti (Kenosha, Wis.) found out on Tuesday that he is going to spend the first couple of days of the 2012 calendar year participating in one of his favorite pastimes – serving others. Only this time instead of helping out his local Grand Forks community, Belotti will be joining up with 21 fellow football student-athletes in New Orleans conducting a service project as a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.

Allstate Insurance Company and American Football Coaches Association officials announced the 2011 team on Tuesday, which will be honored at halftime of the 2012 Allstate Sugar Bowl. Belotti is part of a select group of college football players that earned one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in the sport. For the past 20 years, the award has recognized these student-athletes who have shown a commitment to making a difference in their communities.

A program record 132 players were nominated for the award this summer. From the nominations, a special voting panel, including former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and current college football broadcasters, selected the 22 players from across the country to be a part of this year's team. There is a pair of 11-member teams, one comprises players competing in the NCAA® Football Bowl Subdivision and the other, of which Belotti is a part of, is a combined team representing the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA.

"It is hard to really put into words what receiving an award of this magnitude means for Justin and this program," UND Head Coach Chris Mussman said. "Of the thousands of college football players across the country, he is one of 22 to be named to this team. That is extremely impressive, but more importantly, it is well-deserved."

Belotti has spent countless hours volunteering with a number of different organizations around the Grand Forks community, including the Special Olympics of North Dakota and the Circle of Friends Humane Society. He also lends a helping hand in yearly flood relief efforts around the area.

Besides those ventures, Belotti will also lead the UND football program's yearly fundraiser this December called 'Holiday Magic from Markus.' Sioux football players will conduct the event for the ninth time this year in honor of Markus Bryant, who was a young Fighting Sioux football fan that unfortunately lost his battle with cancer in December of 2002.
Belotti was the 2010 recipient of the Markus Bryant Memorial Scholarship, which is given annually to a Fighting Sioux player based upon his teamwork, leadership, dedication, character and spirit.

"There is no doubt that Justin is a special young man and this award just reinforces that," UND Athletics Director Brian Faison said. "I could not be prouder of this young man and the way he represents himself and this university. And, the great thing about an award like this, is it brings positive attention and a nice reward to the players who do all these wonderful deeds expecting nothing in return."

Fans will be able to vote for an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain by visiting ESPN.com and searching "Good Works." By viewing the player profiles on the website, fans can learn more about this year's team members and their selfless acts of kindness. The Team Captain and his fellow award recipients will take part in a special volunteer project in New Orleans leading up to the 2012 Allstate® Sugar Bowl®.
About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer known for its "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams® were 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 partnered to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

Since 1992, the Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with 54 selections to the Good Works Teams®, followed by the Big 12 with 40 selections and the Atlantic Coast Conference with 29 selections. With Aron White's selection this year, Georgia moves into first place with 13 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bulldogs are followed by Nebraska and St. Thomas (Minn.) with 12 honorees each. Super Bowl XLII and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Good Works Teams, respectively.

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."

The following players have been selected to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®:

Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A)

Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III, and NAIA)