Mesko Named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
9/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 22, 2009
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WACO, Texas -- Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced today (Tuesday, Sept. 22) that University of Michigan fifth-year senior punter Zoltan Mesko (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg HS) has been chosen for the 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams®, honoring dedicated and hard-working student-athletes for their off-the-field achievements and selfless contributions to their communities. Mesko is the first Wolverine to be named to the Good Work Team since its inception in 1992.
The Big Ten leads all conferences with four representatives on the 11-player Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), joining Indiana defensive lineman Jammie Kirlew, Northwestern wide receiver Andrew Brewer and Wisconsin defensive back Chris Maragos.
Mesko graduated with a degree in marketing and finance last spring after maintaining a 3.61 GPA. He is currently working on a master's degree in sport management. Mesko is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree and this year was named one of three Big Ten Distinguished Student-Athletes on the U-M football team. He is also a four-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement recipient.
During the academic year, Mesko visits the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children and Women's Hospital every Thursday evening as one of his many off-the-field community service projects. He was also a three-time participant in the U-M Football Carr's Wash for Kids charity event that helped raise money for the building of a new children's hospital and has been counselor every year at the U-M Women's Football Academy, which benefits the university's comprehensive cancer center.
Mesko was a 2008 semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, which honors the nation's best punter. A first team all-Big Ten selection last year, Mesko led the conference in punting average and finished 19th nationally. Earlier this summer, he was named to the Playboy Magazine All-America team. He has appeared in 41 career games as the Wolverines starting punter, punting 213 times during his career for a 42-yard average, the second-best career mark in school history. He is Michigan's all-time career leader in punts and punting yardage. Mesko has pinned 68 of his 213 career punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line and has boomed 45 punts of 50 yards or better.
In order to meet the criteria set forth by Allstate and AFCA, each player must be actively involved and committed to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining good academic standing. Candidates must also display sincere concern and reliability, while also having made a favorable impression on the organizations with which they are involved. Neither athletic ability nor on-the-field achievements are among the selection criteria.
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
