NORTHBROOK, Ill. — UTSA senior wide receiver De'Corian Clark has been chosen as a nominee for the 2023 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team®.
Clark, a product of Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt High School, landed on the list along with more than 100 other college football student-athletes who have been nominated for exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field.
A second-team all-conference performer last season, Clark hauled in 51 passes for 741 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing the last five games due to an injury. He averaged 82.3 receiving yards per game and 14.5 yards per catch to help the Roadrunners emerge as one of the most productive offenses in the nation. He set the program record for single-game receiving yards with 217 and matched his own single-game TD standard with three in the 52-24 win over Texas Southern last September. He will enter the 2023 campaign with 112 receptions for 1,559 yards and 16 touchdowns for his career.
Clark has been actively involved in several projects off the field during his time at UTSA. A founding member and the Public Relations Chair of Black Athletes Striving for Excellence (BASE), he was chosen to represent the university at the Black Student-Athlete Summit in 2022 and again this year. He has served as host of events, game nights and panels hosted by BASE and as a speaker at "Life as a Student-Athlete" and "Untangling the Truth: A Discussion on Black Hair" panels, as well as with various sports youth leagues and camps. He has volunteered his time with UTSA Move-In Day, ComicCon, Cooks Children's Hospital and Be a Champion Inc., which provides healthy meals and education services to children.
"I'm impressed and inspired by these young men because they're incredible athletes and amazing human beings," said Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Good Works Team member. "When you give back to the community, it gives you purpose and can change your whole life – and the lives of others."
The nominees spend their free time working to change lives by mentoring youth, feeding the hungry and donating their earnings. Some have even established their own non-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations. They've also maintained excellent grades and obtained Dean's List honors among other academic awards.
"These bright young athletes are role models," said Troy Hawkes, executive vice president and general manager, Allstate Sales and Distribution. "We've celebrated thousands of college football players around the country for years, and they've had a huge impact on their communities and on society."
The final 22-member team and honorary coach are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members, current and former head coaches and journalists. They look for exceptional leadership on and off the football field.
After the final team members are announced in September, fans can vote for this year's Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain through the official page on ESPN.com/allstate. Fans can join the conversation on social media with #GoodWorksTeam throughout the season.
"These players embody the best of what college football stands for: character, selflessness and the willingness to serve and give to others," AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. "The AFCA proudly stands alongside Allstate and each of these players' families and communities to applaud their inspirational work."
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 135 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will bring together 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision; 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); and one honorary head coach. To be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining strong academic standing.
The Roadrunners will kick off their 13th season of play and first as a member of the American Athletic Conference on Saturday, Sept. 2, when they travel to Houston to face the Cougars at 6 p.m. at TDECU Stadium.
UTSA will face Texas State for the home opener at 2:30 p.m. the following Saturday at the Alamodome. The Roadrunners will host Army at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, UAB on Oct. 14, East Carolina on Oct. 28, Rice on Nov. 11 and South Florida at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17.
Season tickets are on sale now by calling 210-458-UTSA (8872) or visiting goUTSA.com/tickets. Season ticket prices start at $90 per seat. Payment plans for all season ticket packages are available. Current UTSA students receive free admission to all home games by downloading tickets via their Account Manager.
Under the direction of two-time conference coach of the year Jeff Traylor, the Roadrunners are coming off an 11-3 campaign that saw them capture their second straight Conference USA Championship and play in a bowl game for the third year in a row. UTSA has been ranked in the top 25 in each of the last two seasons and boasts a combined 23 wins over that span, the fourth-best total among all FBS teams behind only Georgia (29), Michigan (25) and Alabama (24).
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