JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman football kicker Curt Duncan has been named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works team. He becomes the third Eagle in three years – following Byron Bell (2011) and Kevin Day (2012) – to make the team.
Carson-Newman and Nebraska are the only two football program's in the country to have three consecutive players honored by Allstate and the American Football Coaches' Association.
"To see where the Lord has brought me from," Duncan said. "And taken care of so many drastic things that could have happened to me. It's such a testimony to the Cross and what Jesus has done for me. It's just a true privilege."
Duncan was a CoSIDA Academic All-American a year ago and made the preseason BSN all-America team.
His exploits off the field are perhaps even more prolific.
From his infancy to age 16, Duncan was raised in the mission fields of South Africa. His
father, Alan Duncan, a former kicker at the University of Tennessee, raised Curt to help others.
As such, from the age of 8 to his sophomore year in high school, he actively guided native South Africans to a life of Christ.
"This is more of an honor than anything on the field because we spend more time off the field than on it," Duncan said. "I wouldn't be here without my family or teammates."
Since coming to America, Duncan's life has continued to be Christ-centered. He's presented the Gospels to elementary school-aged children as a worship leader at Manley Baptist Church where he also serves as a drummer for Youth Band and Services – 2008-present
He's acted as a mentor for high school aged boys under the leadership of Manley Baptist's youth pastor. Duncan also teaches Sunday school in this role and has given testimony at more than 10 churches throughout East Tennessee as a part of his continued calling to Christ.
"I do what I can't not do," Duncan said. "I ask myself daily why I deserve anything the Lord has given me, and I really don't. I just ask myself daily, 'what would Jesus do?'"
His service work is bountiful, too. Duncan's worked with Appalachian Outreach, Luke 14 and Food on Foot.
For more than two decades, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has recognized college football players at all levels of the sport for inspiring acts of service and off-the-field achievements. This summer, the program received a record 150 nominations from colleges and universities across the country. From the nominations, an esteemed voting panel comprised of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® members and college football media selected 11 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 players from the Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA to comprise the 22-player team.
"The AFCA, along with our partner Allstate, has been honoring football student-athletes for their good works, volunteerism and community service for 22 years with the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team," Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive Director said. "The 2013 class of Good Works Team members is another great example of the outstanding athletes, and even better men, that our nation's college football programs produce each year."
Fans can vote for the 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain by visiting ESPN.com and searching "Good Works." There, fans can learn more about this year's team members and vote for the player who they feel represents the "best of the best" in the areas of giving back and contributing to the greater good of their communities. The Team Captain and his fellow award recipients will be invited to New Orleans to take part in a community project leading up to the 2014 Allstate® Sugar Bowl®.
The 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel includes: former Good Works Team® members Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team); media members Lou Holtz (ESPN), Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN), Tom O'Toole (USA Today), Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star); current AFCA President and University of Texas Head Coach Mack Brown; 1987 AFCA President LaVell Edwards, former head coach at Brigham Young University; and Cynthia Whitfield, field vice president of Allstate's Southern Region.
The following players have been selected to the 2013 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®:
Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A)
Name Cl. Pos. School Hometown
Fred Lee Sr. WR Buffalo Chester, S.C.
Nick Forbes Jr. LB California Frederick, Md.
Jordan Luallen Sr. FB Cincinnati Greenwood, Ind.
Dave Harding Sr. OL Duke Orlando, Fla.
Jacob Karam Sr. QB Memphis Friendswood, Texas
Stephen Morris Sr. QB Miami (Fla.) Miami, Fla.
C.J. Zimmerer Sr. RB Nebraska Omaha, Neb.
Asa Watson Sr. TE North Carolina State Rock Hill, S.C.
Jeff Budzien Sr. PK Northwestern Hartland, Wis.
Eric Soza Sr. QB Texas at San Antonio Beeville, Texas
Carey Spear Sr. PK Vanderbilt Mayfield Village, Ohio
Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II, III and NAIA
Name Cl. Pos. School Hometown
Tyler Simmons Sr. DE Aurora Crystal Lake, Ill.
J.D. Mehlhorn Sr. DB Bethel (Minn.) Lakeville, Minn.
Curt Duncan Sr. PK Carson-Newman Morristown, Tenn.
Ryan Cobb Jr. TE Delaware Saddle River, N.J.
Miles Williams Jr. DB Elon Roebuck, S.C.
Kevin Rodgers Jr. QB Henderson State Rockwall, Texas
David Brackett Sr. OL Kenyon Ahoskie, N.C.
Jordan Sitzmann Sr. P Morningside Le Mars, Iowa
Jordan Reid Sr. QB North Carolina Central High Point, N.C.
Winston Wright Sr. DB South Dakota State Lee's Summit, Mo.
Bo Cordell Sr. QB Tusculum Cincinnati, Ohio