DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis quarterback Hunter Rodrigues earned one of 22 spots on the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, the coaches organization announced Friday morning. This is the 30th anniversary of the award, which honors "stories of exemplary community service alongside their academic dedication and impact on and off the field."

Eleven players represent the Division I FBS, while the remaining 11 student-athletes hail from FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA programs. Additionally, Texas Tech's Matt Wells was named as the Good Works Team's honorary head coach.

One of the 22 player honorees will be selected as Team Captain, with voting now taking place at ESPN.com/Allstate.

Rodrigues, a human development major from nearby Rocklin, led a crew of his Aggie teammates to volunteer at "Shining Stars," a prom for teens and young adults with special needs. He also volunteers with the Greater Sacramento Capernaum chapter of Young Life, a non-profit organization that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD. Rodrigues previously joined former teammate Kooper Richardson at the "Evening of Dreams," another Sacramento-area prom for people with special needs that predated Shining Stars.

"I'm very honored to get this award. It's something I didn't expect to happen," said Rodrigues. "I'm super proud of it, to be honest. I don't do it for the award, but to have the recognition means a lot."

His work through Capernaum, Rodrigues says, is the true reward for his volunteer service. "I don't know how to explain it, but it has created friendships and memories that will last forever. I'm thankful for all of the wonderful people who I've met along the way as part of Capernaum. All of the activities we've done, being around them and experiencing what they have to offer – that brings more than any award could ever bring."

In fact, the Greater Sacramento Capernaum website (https://gsc.younglife.org/) still shows a photo of Rodrigues and his friends from the organization at the 2019 home opener against Lehigh. While the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of opportunities to work with Capernaum last year, Rodrigues says he hopes to invite the group to a home football game this season.

"Throughout the 30 years of the Good Works Team, we have honored individuals who create lasting impact in their communities and at school," said AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry. "We have the perfect roster of outstanding individuals that continue that legacy for 2021 and beyond."

Rodrigues earned the team's Jerry Norris Award as the most valuable and inspirational player of the 2021 spring season. Thus far in the fall, he has completed 61 of 91 passes for 759 yards and six touchdowns, and has earned a pair of ROOT Sports Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year awards.

Off to the program's first 3-0 start in 17 years, UC Davis ranks No. 12 and 10 by Stats Perform and the AFCA, respectively, heading into Saturday's road game at Weber State.

Division I FBS Honorees
Darien Rencher - Clemson
Camren McDonald - Florida State
Harry Miller - Ohio State
Mac Brown - Ole Miss
Sean Clifford - Penn State
Nakobe Dean - Georgia
Kenneth Horsey - Kentucky
Cal Adomitis - Pittsburgh
Mo Hasan - USC
Race Porter - Washington
Elijah McAllister - Vanderbilt

Division I FCS, II, III, and NAIA Honorees
Austin Phillips - Ashland
Jaran Roste - Bethel 
Chibuike Odo - Davidson
Deven Osborne - Dixie State
Alnazir Blackman - Farleigh Dickinson-Florham
Philip Green - Minot State
Jessie Malit - North Carolina Central
Alex Shillow - Texas A&M-Commerce
Hunter Rodrigues - UC Davis
DeValon Whitcomb - South Dakota
Julius Wilkerson - Wayne State

Honorary Head Coach
Matt Wells - Texas Tech

ABOUT UC DAVIS:
Centrally located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, over 700 student-athletes across 25 teams enjoy an unrivaled undergraduate experience at the fifth-ranked public school in the country.

Ranked annually in the nation's top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility, UC Davis and its innovative Aggie EVO system helps student-athletes develop passions, connect with a comprehensive network of alums and industry leaders, gain real-world experience and thrive as a young professional following a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school.