Troy native and current Troy Trojan John Johnson’s volunteer efforts have earned him two national nominations.

The Charles Henderson alum has been nominated for both the Allstate Good Works team and the Wuerffel Trophy.

“It means a lot to me since I grew up here,” Johnson said. “It feels good to be able to go out into the community and do stuff … to help people that sometimes can’t do things for themselves.”

Being able to help in a community that he knows and loves makes it even sweeter for the Trojan junior.

“It feels incredible,” Johnson said. “Growing up, some Troy football players would come to my school. It feels crazy that I am now in the same shoes they were in.”

The Allstate Good Works team is comprised of players who provided good works beyond the football field and who balance servitude, academics and athletics and donating their time to helping others.

During his time at Troy University, Johnson has been at the forefront of many charities including Reading Across America, an organization that goes in to school’s to read to children.

“We went to the elementary school for Dr. Seuss Day,” Johnson said. “My little brother goes there, so it’s kind of cool to see my little brother.”

Johnson also assisted with the Pike Count Heart Walk, passed out gift baskets during the holidays, assisted with the Salvation Army food drive and helped with several cleanup projects. Johnson has also helped with Habitat for Humanity and Troy’s Inaugural Beach Out for Breast Cancer.

Johnson has played in all 24 games since coming to Troy and even though he has had plenty of success on the football field, Johnson also wants to be remembered for the things he did off the football field.

“That is how you get support from the community, by helping the community,” Johnson said. “I feel like last year it really helped because we were able to go and visit season ticket holders and to just say thank you and I think that played a big role.”

Along with the Good Works nomination Johnson was also nominated for the Wuerffel Trophy, an award that is known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.”

Johnson hopes that this nomination and potential award will be an example for his fellow teammates as well as for youth of the Pike County area.

“I tell them to get involved with anything possible,” Johnson said. “It can be something small, whether it’s opening a door for someone to actually donating used clothes. Anything you can do to help and form a community bond would be great.”

The Good Works team roster made up of 25 players will be announced in September and for the first time the roster will be made up of 12 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 12 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA. An honorary head coach will also be named.