NORTHBROOK, Ill. - Carson-Newman senior safety Major Williams (Fort Myers, Fla.) has been nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, the AFCA announced Tuesday.
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their "good works" off the field. This year's 178 nominees champion causes including mental health awareness, youth mentorship, hunger relief, domestic abuse prevention, and many more. In addition to being actively involved with a charitable organization or service group, each player must also maintain strong academic standing to be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The final roster of 23 award recipients announced later in September will bring together:
- 11 players from the NCAA FBS
- 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
- 1 honorary head coach
All members are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members, current and former head coaches and journalists who look for exceptional leadership on and off the football field.
Carson-Newman junior safety Major Williams was lauded with a spot on the D2football.com Elite 100 list following the 2023 season. The rebranded listing is D2Football.com's All-America team, making Williams the Carson-Newman football program's 129th All-American all-time. Carson-Newman's 129 All-Americans are the most in the South Atlantic Conference.
Williams continues a sensational run by Carson-Newman defensive backs, joining Desmond Fairell (2019), Darius Williams, no relation (2017), Jerry Miclisse (2016) and Eien Jacob (2014) as DBs to have earned All-America status in the last decade.
Carson-Newman's third-leading tackler in 2023, Major Williams did things no other defensive back has done in the history of the football program. Williams made 53 tackles on the year, including 10 behind the line of scrimmage. He is the first defensive back in the history of the Carson-Newman football program with double-digit tackles for loss in a single season. He also had two sacks, both against Erskine (Oct. 14) to become the first defensive back with two sacks in a game as well. The Fort Myers, Fla.-product also had a pick, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, five pass break ups and five quarterback hurries on the year. Williams topped out with eight tackles in three consecutive weeks against Newberry (Sept. 30), Tusculum (Oct. 7) and Erskine (Oct. 14).
He had multiple stops behind the line of scrimmage against the Fleet, Pioneers and at UVA Wise (Nov. 5). His contest at Wise featured his first career fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, bring back a loose pigskin 40 yards to the house. He tallied his lone interception of the year in the Eagles' opener against Virginia Lynchburg (Aug. 31).
Off the field, Williams spends time in the offseason ready to kids at area elementary schools in his native Fort Myers, something that he has carried over doing in Jefferson City in season. He is a volunteer coach in the offseason at Dunbar High School in Florida and trains youth in the community for football, basketball and baseball.
He is a volunteer coach at the football camps hosted by VL Sports in his hometown. Twice a week, he works with the Fort Myers Beautification Committee to pick up trash and do basic yardwork in his community in the offseason.
Finally, he spends time helping out at an area barber shop that cut his hair as a child, sweeping and mopping.
When he is in school, he works with Luke 14, a special needs student project through Manley Baptist Church.
Historically, Carson-Newman is one of the most well-represented clubs on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Ever committed to community service and helping others with a servnt's heart, Carson-Newman has seen six players recognized as members of the AFCA All State Good Works Team.
Carson-Newman's football program has more Good Works team honorees than the rest of the South Atlantic Conference combined. Three Tusculum Pioneers have been honored, while Wingate saw linebacker Eric Mapoles recognized in 2014.
From 2011-2016 Carson-Newman had four players honored, the most of any program in the country from NCAA Divisions I, II, III and NAIA.
The Eagles' six selections are the most among NCAA Division II institutions all-time.
Former Carson-Newman quarterback Joey King was selected in back-to-back seasons in 2005 and 2006.
Carson-Newman then had a run of three straight players selected from 2011 to 2013. Future pastors Byron Bell (2011) and Curt Duncan (2013) bookended the run while future coach Kevin Day (2012) was the meat in the sandwich.
Dan Gallman was C-N's last selection, receiving recognition in 2016.
All players honored were recognized at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans for their accomplishments.
