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Brandner Named to AFCA Good Works Team
9/21/2017 6:15:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke redshirt senior offensive tackle Gabe Brandner has been named to the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, the Allstate Insurance Company and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced on Thursday. The Good Works Team® award honors dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others.
Brandner, a 6-6, 285-pound Blythewood, S.C., native, has helped Duke's offense to a quick start in 2017 as the Blue Devils have scored 135 points through the first three games, the third highest total in program history. The Blue Devils pushed across 101 points in the first two contests, the most in consecutive contests as members of the ACC, surpassing the 100 scored against Texas A&M (48/2013) and Elon (52/2014).
Brandner has the Duke offense clicking, surpassing 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards in each of the first two games of the year. Against Northwestern, in the season's second contest, the Blue Devils converted 15-of-22 (.682) third downs, the most by a David Cutcliffe team at Duke.
A year ago, Brandner started the first 11 games of the season at left tackle before suffering a season-ending fractured ankle at Pittsburgh. He was part of a Blue Devil offensive line that helped Duke finish the season as one of four ACC schools to complete at least 62 percent of its pass attempts along with a 2:1 TD-to-INT ratio, joining Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
Brandner helped Duke's offensive unit become the lone ACC squad to have zero turnovers in the red zone in league action. His protection contributed to the success of redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Jones, who finished second in the balloting for ACC Rookie of the Year honors after setting or matching 23 school records including most total offensive yards by a freshman (3,322). Brandner also helped open holes for running backs Jela Duncan and Shaun Wilson, who combined to rush for 1,073 yards and 10 TDs while averaging 4.49 yards per carry.
“These select student-athletes and honorary head coach are an inspiration for their commitment to enriching the lives of others while contributing to the greater good of society,” said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel. “We are proud to honor this outstanding group of individuals and to help give back to the communities and organizations that are part of the fabric of college football culture.”
In the classroom, Brandner graduated from Duke in May, 2017 with a degree in evolutionary anthropology and a minor in chemistry and a final grade point average of 3.637. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in liberal studies.
Brandner, a recipient of a 2017 ACC Top 6 for Service honor for excellence in community service, has been extremely involved with the local community, serving with the Lideres Unidos Futbol Club, National Inclusion Project, Habitat for Humanity and Kid's Club in Oxford Manor.
Brandner is the ninth Duke player to earn the prestigious honor and sixth in the last six years, joining DeVon Edwards (2016), Kelby Brown (2015), Laken Tomlinson (2014), Dave Harding (2013), Sean Renfree (2012), Bryan Morgan (2010), Re'quan Boyette (2008) and Zaid Abdul-Aleem (1994).
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. Other growth platforms include predictive analytics company Arity and consumer-product protection plan company SquareTrade. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. In 2016, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $42 million to support local communities.
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.
The SEC leads all conferences with 71 selections to the Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 37 selections and the Big 12 Conference with 30 selections. Georgia is in first place with 18 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. The Bulldogs are followed by Kentucky and Nebraska with 14 honorees. Super Bowl XLII, XLVI 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."
2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
Daniel Carlson – Auburn University
Gabe Brandner – Duke University
Mavin Saunders – Florida State University
Brent Stockstill – Middle Tennessee State University
A.J. Cole, III – North Carolina State University
Brandon Smith – Pennsylvania State University
Harrison Phillips – Stanford University
Shaq Jones – University of Alabama-Birmingham
Aaron Davis – University of Georgia
Courtney Love – University of Kentucky
Tommy Openshaw – Vanderbilt University
Combined Divisions (FCS, II, III & NAIA)
Reece Foy – Amherst College
Josh Dalki – Bethel University (Minn.)
Ryan Stratton – Edinboro University
Jake Daugherty – Ferris State University
Tyler Schubert – Franklin & Marshall College
Jacob Jenness – Northwestern College (Iowa)
Gunnar Orcutt – Peru State College
Will Gillach – Saint John's University (Minn.)
Jake Wieneke – South Dakota State University
Patrick Mohorcic – The College of Wooster
Dillon Vaughan – West Texas A&M University
Honorary Head Coach
Pat Fitzgerald – Northwestern University
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