NORTHBROOK, ILL. -- Drake senior linebacker Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) has been named a finalist for  the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. Finalists are selected based on their positive contributions to their community and campus.

Entering his third year as a starter, Morrison earned honorable mention All-Pioneer Football League honors last year while guiding the Bulldogs to an 8-3 overall record, including a 6-2 second-place league mark.

Morrison has been a part of several community organizations, being named the 2009 Drake community services captain . He has volunteered with the Special Olympics at Drake, the Sunrise Assisted Living Retirement Home, Prince of Peace YMCA Youth Camps, Willow Creek Community Food Pantry and participated in the Landre Foundation Walk for Troubled Teams.

He has organized community service events with the Boys and Girls Club in the Des Moines Community as well as the Blank Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines. He also has participated in the Bulldog Reading Program at Des Moines area elementary and middle school schools.

On the field, Morrison had 75 tackles in 2009, including 14.5 tackles totaling 57 yards in losses, while recording a team-high 10.5 quarterback sacks for 73 yards in losses.

"Ben has always been involved in everything that we do and he is a natural leader," said Drake head football coach Chris Creighton.

"Ben is special because his heart is in the right place. I believe there is a difference in serving because you are encouraged to do so or because it might look good on a resume and serving because you genuinely care and want to help other people. Ben is the latter."

This year 112 student-athletes were nominated for placement on the Good Works Team. That total eclipses the 106 nominees from last season, demonstrating the continued growth of a platform that is widely recognized as the most prestigious community service award in college football.

From the nominees submitted by sports information directors on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Good Works Team members and prominent college football media members is responsible for selecting two 11-player Good Works Teams – one comprised of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA – to be announced in September.