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Iowa State University Athletics
Allstate, AFCA Nominate Knott for Community Service Award
07.19.2011 | Football
NORTHBROOK, Ill. - First-team Preseason All-Big 12 linebacker Jake Knott is one of a record 132 nominees chosen for the 2011 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. This is the 20th year Allstate Insurance and the AFCA have given the award, which recognizes selfless contributions made by college football student-athletes across the country.
In order to meet the criteria required by Allstate and the AFCA, each player nominated must be actively involved and committed to a service group or charitable organization while keeping a good academic standing.
"Jake Knott is a well-rounded individual and a true ambassador of our football program," said Iowa State head football coach Paul Rhoads. "He not only accomplishes things on the field, but he takes care of business in the classroom. He serves the university community, the community of Ames and the state of Iowa and does everything in the right way to represent himself, his teammates and his family."
Knott, a junior, has already made the national watch lists of the Bednarik Award (top defender nationally), the Butkus Award (nation's most outstanding linebacker), the Lombardi Award (top college lineman or linebacker) and the Nagurski Trophy (national defensive player of the year).
Knott's community service began in August of 2010, as Ames and other Central Iowa communities suffered from major flooding. Knott and nearly half the Cyclone football team placed 50-pound sand bags around the Jacobson Athletic Building the morning the water began to rise. Knott also helped in moving athletics training equipment and furniture to the second floor, before receiving a call to assist Ames residents with sandbagging their homes.
Knott has serviced a variety of organizations during his Cyclone career. The 20-year-old visited Mary Greeley Hospital to meet patients, worked with the Ames Boys and Girls Club and traveled across Iowa to meet fans on Iowa State's tailgate tour. The Waukee, Iowa native visited his alma mater (Waukee High School) to speak about sportsmanship and promoted literacy by reading to elementary school students in Central Iowa.
Knott has achieved highly in academics. The 6-foot-2-inch, 243-pound Cyclone earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors and Big 12 Academic Commissioners Honor Roll recognition for fall of 2010 and fall of 2009.
Knott plays a vital role in Iowa State's defensive game. In his sophomore season he made a team-best 130 tackles, forced four fumbles and snatched four interceptions. The management major's 10.8 tackles per game ranked second in the conference and 12th nationally in NCAA Division I for the 2010 season.
Knott's on-field accomplishments were recognized by his teammates as he was selected co-captain for his junior season and received votes from Big 12 Coaches for 2010 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Off-the-field, being recognized by Allstate and the AFCA is considered the gold standard for character and leadership amongst college football student-athletes.
Players Mentioned
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