Coach Ryan Day and Jaylen McClain Named Nominees for Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
7/20/2026 8:20:00 AM | Football
The team honors 22 college football players and one head coach for their extraordinary commitment to community service.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State head football coach Ryan day and junior defensive back Jaylen McClain were named as nominees for the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team as announced by the AFCA Monday morning.Â
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football student-athletes and coaches who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service, academics and athletics. Established in 1992 and presented by Allstate since 2008, the program honors players who use their platforms to strengthen communities and support causes important to them.Â
Off the field, McClain started Everyday Legends Foundation, a foundation started and operated by Jaylen McClain, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and strengthening underserved communities. Additionally this summer, he put on the inaugural Jaylen McClain Youth Football Camp which focused on leadership, skill-building, and confidence for young athletes. He also has been an active volunteer in seasonal outreach efforts, including holiday toy drives and Thanksgiving turkey donation initiatives.Â
Coach Day and his wife, Nina, established The Nina and Ryan Day Resilience Fund: Established with a $1 million donation to The Ohio State University, this fund focuses on research to identify risk factors for mental illness and cultivate resilience. The Christina and Ryan Day Fund for Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Wellness: Created in partnership with Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Kids Mental Health Foundation, this fund provides free "Day Time Break" curriculum kits to classrooms, teaching young students how to manage stress and boost mental health.Â
At an event in April, nearly 1000 students, teachers, counselors, coaches, and community members were present at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, New Hampshire for Ryan and Nina Day's speech about their work with The Kids Mental Health Foundation. Â
All 6000 students in the Manchester School District (Ryan and Nina's schools they attended growing up) are receiving their Day Time Break Kits from The Kids Mental Health Foundation. Â
TreVeyon Henderson, Julian Sayin and Caleb Downs also provided recorded videos to inspire kids to talk about their mental health and place as much importance on their mental health as they do on their physical health. Â
Ryan and Nina's kids and all their family members also attended. After the assembly Ryan took nearly an hour to talk to three local high school football teams and their coaches.Â
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Award ProcessÂ
The 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be announced in September and include 22 student-athletes and one honorary head coach. One student-athlete will also be selected as team captain and receive the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.Â
A selection panel composed of former Good Works Team members, college football coaches, journalists and other leaders connected to the award reviews nominations from across the country. Voters evaluate candidates based on the breadth and depth of their community service, demonstrated leadership, academic achievement and the measurable impact they have had on the people and causes they serve. The panel then selects 11 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players (FBS), 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) ranks, and one honorary head coach.Â
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football student-athletes and coaches who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service, academics and athletics. Established in 1992 and presented by Allstate since 2008, the program honors players who use their platforms to strengthen communities and support causes important to them.Â
Off the field, McClain started Everyday Legends Foundation, a foundation started and operated by Jaylen McClain, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and strengthening underserved communities. Additionally this summer, he put on the inaugural Jaylen McClain Youth Football Camp which focused on leadership, skill-building, and confidence for young athletes. He also has been an active volunteer in seasonal outreach efforts, including holiday toy drives and Thanksgiving turkey donation initiatives.Â
Coach Day and his wife, Nina, established The Nina and Ryan Day Resilience Fund: Established with a $1 million donation to The Ohio State University, this fund focuses on research to identify risk factors for mental illness and cultivate resilience. The Christina and Ryan Day Fund for Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Wellness: Created in partnership with Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Kids Mental Health Foundation, this fund provides free "Day Time Break" curriculum kits to classrooms, teaching young students how to manage stress and boost mental health.Â
At an event in April, nearly 1000 students, teachers, counselors, coaches, and community members were present at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, New Hampshire for Ryan and Nina Day's speech about their work with The Kids Mental Health Foundation. Â
All 6000 students in the Manchester School District (Ryan and Nina's schools they attended growing up) are receiving their Day Time Break Kits from The Kids Mental Health Foundation. Â
TreVeyon Henderson, Julian Sayin and Caleb Downs also provided recorded videos to inspire kids to talk about their mental health and place as much importance on their mental health as they do on their physical health. Â
Ryan and Nina's kids and all their family members also attended. After the assembly Ryan took nearly an hour to talk to three local high school football teams and their coaches.Â
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Award ProcessÂ
The 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be announced in September and include 22 student-athletes and one honorary head coach. One student-athlete will also be selected as team captain and receive the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.Â
A selection panel composed of former Good Works Team members, college football coaches, journalists and other leaders connected to the award reviews nominations from across the country. Voters evaluate candidates based on the breadth and depth of their community service, demonstrated leadership, academic achievement and the measurable impact they have had on the people and causes they serve. The panel then selects 11 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players (FBS), 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) ranks, and one honorary head coach.Â
Players Mentioned
No videos available.
