University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior running back Alex Trotter was an all-state player at McCallie School.
Now he has been nominated for the prestigious 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. That was announced Tuesday.
Trotter was one of 169 college football players nominated for the award, recognizing their good works off the field. According to a news release, Trotter's impressive accomplishments include volunteer work as a positive role model with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga organization, reading to elementary school students and providing mentorship and helping during the annual Chattanooga Clean and Green beautification project, despite having surgery on his shoulder.
The 169 nominees will be whittled down to 22 - 11 from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 total from the Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Divisions II and III and the NAIA. The final roster will be unveiled in September.
Trotter is expected to make an impact on the field in 2018 for the Mocs. He has been hampered by injuries during his UTC career, which includes 289 yards rushing in 28 games. He had 113 yards on 28 carries as a junior, including a 14-carry, 58-yard performance in the Mocs' 23-21 upset of then eighth-ranked Samford on Oct. 28 in Birmingham.
He is one of only three scholarship running backs on the 2018 roster. The others are junior college All-American Tyrell Price and incoming freshman Isaiah Cobb.
Offensive coordinator Justin Rascati said during the spring that he expected Trotter to be an "elite back" this season.
"There's a huge place in this offense for Trotter," Rascati said. "His ability to change direction, his ability to play behind his pads. He comes to work every day with a great attitude, and he works hard. There's a huge place for him this year, and I think he's going to be very productive.
"I think a lot of people will know about him this fall."
On the field as well as off.
Mini plans available
UTC has three-game "mini plans" for 2018 football tickets on sale. A ticket package for either the home opener or homecoming game plus two of the three games against Samford, Wofford and Mercer costs $55 for a regular bleacher seat, $70 for a premium bleacher seat or $85 for a chairback seat.
See GoMocs.com.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress. com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.