2026 Allstate Good Works Team Nominees

One of the Hillsdale College football team's top players and leaders is being recognized for his work outside of football.

Senior wide receiver Shea Ruddy was one of 162 nominees for the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, announced by the American Football Coaches Association on Tuesday morning. Now in its 35th year of being awarded, the Good Works Team recognizes college football student-athletes and head coaches from all levels of the sport for their commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.

On the field, Ruddy is a dynamic and versatile talent, but off the field he's been just as multi-faceted, making a significant impact with contributions to several charitable efforts and volunteer causes. A Biochemistry major who plans to attend medical school after graduation, Ruddy has been an active volunteer at nearby Hillsdale Hospital, assisting staff in both the emergency room and surgery department over the past two years. Along with that work at the hospital, Ruddy also has been actively involved in the Hillsdale College football team's Be The Match Bone Marrow Registry Drive for the past three years, helping to add hundreds of potential donors to the bone marrow registry and serving as the event co-chair in 2026. 

Ruddy also has served as a host for the Hillsdale College football team's Victory Day event, working with community individuals with special needs to provide a football-themed day of fun that includes dinner, a special practice, and a chance to take the field during halftime of a home Hillsdale College football game. The senior also has worked with Wreaths Across America, decorating the graves of military veterans with wreaths during the holiday months, has served as a guest reader in local area kindergarten and elementary school classes as part of the Hillsdale County Book Buddies program, and served as a volunteer for three years at Hillsdale's Military Appreciation Dinner for vets and active-duty service members.

The senior has been a Swiss Army knife for the Chargers and one of the most explosive players in the country for the past three seasons. He's made his biggest impact as a kick returner, where he led not just the Great Midwest Athletic Conference or NCAA DII, but all of college football with 960 kickoff return yards in 2025, and tied for the national all-division lead with three kickoff return touchdowns of 97, 90 and 86 yards. His 33.1 yards per return average fell just shy of his own school and G-MAC record of 33.3 he set in 2024. Ruddy's achievements also helped him set a couple of Hillsdale career records. With 1,692 career return yards and five career return touchdowns, Ruddy officially surpassed Hillsdale College career records set by Chad Gurica in 2005.

In addition to his impact in the return game, Ruddy led the Chargers in receptions (43), receiving yards (695) and touchdowns (seven) for the second straight season in 2025. The senior also rushed for a score and threw a passing touchdown as well for the Chargers, becoming the only player in NCAA DII in 2025 and joining a very short list of collegiate stars in recording a passing, rushing, receiving and kickoff return touchdown in the same season. For his accomplishments, Ruddy was named a consensus NCAA DII All-American in 2025, and has won back-to-back G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

From the 162 nominees, a team of 23 will be selected and announced in September, including 11 players from NCAA FBS schools, 11 players from FCS, DII, DIII and NAIA schools, and an honorary head coach. One student-athlete will also be selected as team captain and receive the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy. 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.