The Shadow
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – James Madison quarterback Blake Kendall has been selected as a nominee for the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, as announced by Allstate and the Wuerffel Foundation. Kendall was one of 197 nominees honored across all three Divisions for the annual award, which recognizes their commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron. The 197 nominees set a single-year record in the 34-year history of the award. He was also one of 11 Sun Belt Conference football student-athletes to be nominated.
A native of Wellington, Fla., Kendall has been involved with numerous community service activities, which includes leading a food donation drive for local elementary schools, raising funds and delivering food to the schools. This past spring, he connected with the family of John Paul Macri, a terminally sick child, and the team invited him to the 2025 Spring Game, where Kendall was able to hand the ball off to John Paul for a touchdown on the final play in front of thousands of fans.
He’s also helped every year with JMU’s Be The Match Bone Marrow blood drive and as participated in various reading days and field days at local elementary schools in the Valley. Kendall also raised awareness for kidney disease due to an immediate family member’s illness and helped out at local homeless shelters, making meals during the holidays both in Florida and in Maryland.
On the field, Kendall was the 2024 recipient of JMU’s Doug West Scout Team Offensive MVP award. He appeared in two games last season, taking a kneel down on the final play of the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl, played just miles down the road from his home. Academically, the four-time Dean’s List recipient was recently honored with a JMU College of Business scholarship for the 2025-26 academic term.
Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their “good works” off the field. In addition to being actively involved with a charitable organization or service group, each player must also maintain strong academic standing to be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
The final roster of 23 award recipients will be announced later in September, bringing together 11 players from the FBS, 11 from all other divisions and one honorary coach. A voting panel of former Good Works Team members, head coaches and journalists select the team roster based on outstanding leadership on and off the field.
