NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- Western Michigan football graduate student
Mike Caliendo has been named a nominee for the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bronco offensive lineman is one of 109 student-athletes across all divisions of NCAA Football who is now eligible to me selected to the 22-member team in September.
The AFCA and Allstate are partners for the 30th edition of the Good Works Team in 2021. Student-athletes are selected based on community service, alongside academic dedication and impact on and off the field.
Caliendo was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American for the 2020 season and is a four-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. The Brookfield, Wisconsin, native has started 39 straight games at left guard for Western and will be moving to center this fall. He rated as the team's top run-blocker in 2020 per Pro Football Focus. Caliendo graduated from Western Michigan with a 3.90 grade-point average in biological sciences and currently boasts a 3.88 graduate GPA in the same field with plans to enter medical school when his football career concludes. He was named to the Wuerrfel Trophy watch list in 2020.
In the community, Caliendo has volunteer with the Ministry with Community, Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, YWCA, Kalamazoo Area Schools, Church Outreach and Bronson Hospital, while also serving on the WMU Football Leadership Council and leading team service efforts, including with Habitat for Humanity.
Caliendo and the Broncos open the 2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Michigan (Noon ET, ESPN) before the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 11, versus Illinois State. The 5 p.m. ET kickoff from Waldo Stadium will be Western's annual CommUniverCity game. Tickets are available at
WMUBroncos.com/tickets.
