6:15 p.m., Oct. 5, 2010----University of Delaware senior defensive tackle Siddiq Haynes has been named one of 22 finalists for the 2010 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team, and Delaware fans can show their support by voting for him.

One of the most prestigious off-the-field honors in collegiate football, the award annually recognizes college football student-athletes who demonstrate a singular commitment to serving their communities, protecting the integrity of the sport and showcasing its positive impact well beyond the playing field.

Your vote counts

For the first time in the program's history, fans this year can go online and vote for a team captain.

Fans and friends of Delaware Athletics can vote for Haynes by visiting ESPN.com and searching for “Good Works.” Or, fans can vote by going to BlueHens.com or by visiting this special website. Voting ends Nov. 5.

During the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Dec. 9, the team captain will be recognized by ESPN personality Lou Holtz, who is Allstate AFCA Good Works Team national ambassador.

Only 22 student-athletes were selected from 112 nominated players from across the nation in all divisions of college football. Of the two 11-member teams, one includes players competing in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, and the other is a combined team representing the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The program is now in its 19th season.

About Siddiq Haynes

Haynes, a senior English major from Durham, N.C., has devoted more than 200 hours to community service projects involving the University of Delaware football team during his career. He has been involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs, Special Olympics, ABC TV Extreme Home Makeover, a bone marrow drive, A.I. duPont Children's Hospital, Lung Cancer Walk, March of Dimes Walk and New Castle County Youth Football. He also created a Facebook group “Fight Against Lung Cancer” with nearly 19,000 members.

“When others guys see that you put in that extra effort beyond the field, they want to be a part of it as well,” Haynes said. “It's something we don't have to do as part of our scholarship, but we want to help out because it's good to give back to the community.”

“The things he does in that locker room, in the classroom, in the community, on the playing field ... it's such a great story,” Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler said. “It's a great story because he came here and had to work for everything he got. He has, and it's been great for us.”

A_three-year letterwinner at UD, Haynes was one of only four student-athletes from the FCS classification selected among the 22 finalists and was the only player from the Colonial Athletic Association recognized.

“Reading about all the community service activities and off the field accomplishments of the 22 members of this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is humbling,” said Grant Teaff, AFCA executive director. “Even at a young age, they get what is really important in life, and they represent thousands of college football players across the nation that are doing the same things on campus and in their hometowns. We're proud to join Allstate in recognizing these outstanding student-athletes.”

AFCA Good Works Team

The voting panel is made up of previous Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members, including former University of Georgia lineman Matt Stinchcomb and former Tulane University running back Mewelde Moore, as well as prominent college football media personalities, including ESPN analyst Lou Holtz, ESPN.com writer Pat Forde and USA Today college sports editor Tom O'Toole. Also part of the selection committee are current AFCA president and University of Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres, 1996 AFCA president and former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy Fisher DeBerry and Allstate vice president Guy Hill.

Action photo by Mark Campbell