July 20, 2011
NOROLK, Va. - Old Dominion's Ronnie Cameron (Westbury, N.Y.) was among the record 132 nominees announced for the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. The award recognizes the selfless contributions to volunteerism and community service made by college football student-athletes across the nation.
This year marks the program's 20th year honoring college football players at all levels of competition who stand out for their "good works" in the community. Since 1992, selection to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has become the gold standard for off-the-field character and leadership for college football players. The honor is widely considered the sport's pre-eminent community service award.
"This program has grown dramatically throughout the years due to the volunteerism and commitment of these great student-athletes to their communities," said Mark LaNeve, Allstate Executive Vice President, Marketing & Sales Operations, who also serves on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. "To be associated with an award that reflects so positively on college football is an inspiration for Allstate, our employees and our agents, especially as the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® celebrates its 20th year."
While it is often college football players' on-field exploits that receive the most attention from fans and media, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® award shines a spotlight on student-athletes' efforts away from the playing field by sharing their stories of serving others.
From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team® members and prominent college football media members will select two 11-player Good Works Teams® - one comprising of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA. The 22 student-athletes named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be announced in late September.
Entering last season as a "Transfer to Watch" by the Sports Network after joining the ODU program from Hofstra, Cameron started all 11 games at tackle for the Monarchs and ended the year second on the ODU defense with 72 tackles (28 solo, 44 assisted). The Second Team All-State honoree was tied for eighth among FCS defenders in tackles for loss, averaging 1.73 TFL's a game and was second on the squad with 5.5 sacks. Cameron also led ODU with eight QB hurries, captured forced fumbles against VMI and N.C. Central and had a career-high 14 stops in the season finale at N.C. Central.
Entering this season, Cameron has been named to the College Football Peformance Awards Defensive Tackle Watch List
Away from the field, Cameron is active in the numerous Monarch Reachout programs including the annual National Marrow Donor Registry and the annual "Little Feet Meet" with ODU Special Olympics and has also participated in activities with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia and last week's clinic with the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Virginia. Cameron has also served as a volunteer at the United Methodist Church, homeless shelters and at the Westbury Recreation Center and volunteered at Leesville Middle School and Larchmont Recreation Center.
A Dean's List student, Cameron finished his undergraduate degree in three years and is currently working towards his MBA. In addition to being a captain of the ODU Football Monarchs, he is also a member of the ODU MBA Association and is a recipient of the Luke Hillier Endowment for academic and athletic success. Cameron also helped led, organize, and was a keynote speaker at the third annual Black Male Summit.