Published on July 20, 2018 by Joey Mullins
Share this on:
The nomination makes Marion eligible for one of the most esteemed honors in college football; the 169 nominees for the Good Works Team are comprised of football student-athletes who demonstrate a unique dedication to community service and desire to make a positive impact on the lives around them.
Marion, a healthcare administration major from Spanish Fort, Alabama, has assisted with a number of community service projects during his time at Samford. His activities include working at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, Red Cross Blood Drive, Safe House of Shelby County and Firehouse Shelter, as well as mentoring and reading to kids at several local schools, including Oak Mountain Middle School, Glen Iris Elementary School, St. Mary's Catholic Middle School and Tarrant Elementary School.
Marion saw action in 10 games as a junior in 2017. For the season, he tallied 11 catches for 135 yards. During his first three seasons in a Samford uniform, Marion has caught 27 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown.
Comprised of 11 student-athletes from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and 11 student-athletes from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and NAIA, the final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September.
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.
Marion and the Bulldogs are set to open the 2018 season on Thursday, Aug. 30, when the team hosts Shorter at 6:30 p.m. at Seibert Stadium. Season tickets are on sale now.
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.