CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The watch lists are coming fast and furious heading into the 2023 season. The Shrine Bowl 1000 was released Monday with two Chattanooga Mocs, edge Jay Person and offensive lineman Griffin McDowell, firmly on the radar of NFL front offices. Another was recently shared covering the impact off the field as much as on it for junior defensive back Reuben Lowery III.
Lowery is the Mocs nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The squad was started in 1992 and is one of the most coveted community service awards in collegiate athletics. It starts with the current list of 136 before paring it down to 23.
The 23-person final roster includes 11 student-athletes from the FBS and 11 more from FCS, NCAA DII, NCAA DIII and NAIA programs.
“Reuben is a fantastic young man,” Chattanooga coach Rusty Wright explained. “He is the very definition of student-athlete and what this team is all about. He’s a dedicated student excelling in a challenging degree program (Mechanical Engineering), a pillar in the campus community and plays a vital role in our defense.
“We’re very happy to see him nominated and hope he gets the recognition he so richly deserves.”
Lowery started all 10 games he played in 2022 in the pivotal slot safety position in the Mocs 4-2-5 defense. The second team All-Southern Conference performer ranked top 10 in the league in tackles for loss despite missing the final seven quarters of the season due to injury.
He was a CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District winner and is active in many charitable endeavors in the Chattanooga area. His biggest impact possibly comes in his efforts with Chattanooga Fellowship of Christian Athletes both on campus and in the community.
Lowery is the only SoCon student-athlete on the nomination list. He’s one of three from Tennessee schools, joined by Richard Kinley (MTSU) and Jacob Warren (Tennessee).
The Mocs open camp in a few weeks to prepare for the season opener on Saturday, Sept. 2, at North Alabama. Kickoff is 7 p.m., Eastern time. The home opener is a week later with the first-ever meeting with Kennesaw State at 6 p.m., at Finley Stadium.
ABOUT THE ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM
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 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.