POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Red-shirt junior guard
Luke Butera is the Marist football program's nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Butera has established himself as a leader on and off the field. This spring, he took a leading role in the campus' White Ribbon Campaign as one of the event's speakers. The White Ribbon Campaign, aimed at ending violence against women, was first brought to Marist in 2008 by football players Al Ruiz and Dan Smith. It has now taken place for 12 straight years on campus.
Butera has also been active in Play for Your Freedom, a local organization that holds monthly wellness workshops conducted to help soldiers transition to civilians using fitness and peer-to-peer support. He has also taken part in team and group activities involving the Special Olympics, Hunger Walk, and pumpkin donations.
A two-time selection to the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll, Butera has started at right guard each of the last two seasons.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
From the 137 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will be announced in September, bringing 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 a strong academic standing.
The 2019 season is the Marist football program's 11
th as a member of the PFL. The Red Foxes open this year at Georgetown on Saturday, Sept. 7. Marist will play the first of its six home games at Tenney Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14 vs. Stetson. Season tickets are on sale; for more information, please
click here. Marist football alum Jason Myers is heading into his fifth season in the NFL. Myers was selected to the Pro Bowl last year while playing for the New York Jets, and signed a multi-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks in March.
