James Tabbed as Good Works Team Candidate

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami longsnapper Clay James was among those players selected to the watch list for the 2021 AFCA Good Works Team, Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced.

Honorees for the Good Works team have stories of exemplary community service, alongside their academic dedication and impact on and off the field. A voting panel will select a 22-member team with players who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities.

James, who has served as the team’s starting longsnapper the past two seasons, helped the Hurricane excel on special teams last year. Along with James, the Hurricanes featured the nation’s top special teams duo in 2020; Jose Borregales won the Lou Groza Award as the top kicker in FBS, while Lou Hedley was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award honoring the nation’s top punter.

The Cocoa, Fla., native leads the Hurricanes in community service hours and has spent his time working with the Grove Food Pantry in Coconut Grove, the Community Fridge Organization in Overtown, the Lotus House, the Miami Mission Homeless Shelter and several other organizations.

James became the fifth Hurricane recognized with preseason honors, joining quarterback D’Eriq King (Maxwell Award, O’Brien Award), safety Bubba Bolden (Bednarik Award), wide receiver Michael Harley (Biletnikoff Award) and tight end Will Mallory (John Mackey Award).