Stephen Candelaria is at it again.
Last fall, the 2012 Montezuma-Cortez graduate brought home honorable mention Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors for his play at right guard with the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers.
More recently, he was named a nominee for the Allstate Insurance Company and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team for the second consecutive year.
According to the groups’ press release on Wednesday, the Good Works Team was established in 1992 to recognize a select group of college football players who have made a commitment to service and enriching the lives of others. And for 25 years, the players selected have carried on the award’s mission by demonstrating that ‘good works’ extend beyond the football field.
Candelaria is one of 165 nominees nationwide, and one of three RMAC nominees along with Phydell Paris (Black Hills State) and Alex Belconis (CSU-Pueblo), Tim Flynn reported on the school’s athletic website. A final roster of 25 team members will be announced in September.
Candelaria has been actively involved in community service during his Mines career, the school said. In 2015-16, he served as president of the Mines Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), which worked with organizations including Ronald McDonald House and Make-A-Wish. He has also been active with the St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Golden.
Candelaria was also a Good Works Team nominee in 2015.
Last fall, he started all 11 games at right guard, earning Honorable Mention All-RMAC and NFFCC Academic All-Colorado Honorable Mention honors.
Mines had the nation’s No. 1 passing offense while allowing only 1.27 sacks per game. The offensive line also blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher in Sam Seeton while allowing the fourth-fewest tackles for loss in the nation.
The Orediggers will return four All-RMAC offensive lineman from last year’s 8-3 squad, including Candelaria. Lindy’s Preseason Division II poll has them ranked No. 18 entering the 2016 season.
