SMU captain Alexander Kilgore earned a 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nomination for his leadership, community service and impact on a nine-win team at SMU.
Alexander Kilgore’s impact on SMU football stretches well beyond the scoreboard, and the senior leader is receiving national recognition for it again.
Kilgore was named a nominee for the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, marking the second consecutive season the Texas native has been considered for one of college football’s most respected off-field honors.
The award celebrates players who pair athletic achievement with academic commitment and meaningful service in their communities.
That description fits Kilgore’s growing role in Dallas.
A team captain in 2025, Kilgore helped SMU finish 9-4 and close the season with a victory over No. 17 Arizona in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl.
The win delivered the Mustangs their first bowl championship since 2012 and provided another milestone for a program that has continued raising its national profile.
Kilgore was part of a defense that made a habit of stealing possessions and slamming doors in critical situations.
SMU ranked fifth nationally in turnovers gained and red-zone defense, eighth in interceptions, 10th in defensive touchdowns and 11th in fumble recoveries.
The Mustangs also finished 14th in turnover margin, 18th in fourth-down defense, 19th against the run and 23rd in sacks.
Those numbers explain Kilgore’s value on Saturdays. His work away from the stadium explains the nomination.
Kilgore has volunteered at youth football camps in the Dallas and Houston areas, using his experience to coach and encourage young players.
He has also spent time with patients at Children’s Health Hospital, bringing attention and energy to kids facing challenges far larger than anything found on a football field.
The recognition carries additional weight because Allstate is again working with the Wuerffel Foundation to align the Good Works Team with the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
Both honors spotlight student-athletes who deliver in competition while using their platform to serve others.
The final 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be announced in September. It will include 22 student-athletes and one honorary head coach.
One player will be selected as team captain and receive the Wuerffel Trophy.
Kilgore’s candidacy isn’t built on one appearance or a single afternoon of volunteering. It reflects a pattern of leadership that has become part of his identity at SMU.
The Mustangs already know what he brings to their defense. This nomination shows the rest of college football what he brings when the pads come off.
