Junior defensive end Jake Lewellen thought he was coming to this week’s press luncheon to talk to the media about Kentucky football and an upcoming game against Jacksonville State. Instead, he walked into a celebration honoring the fact he was named to the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team for the extensive work he does in serving the community. Lewellen’s family and a few of the people he has worked with in his service to the community were in attendance as head coach Joker Phillips introduced Lewellen. In recognizing him for his work off the field, Phillips commended Lewellen for embodying the spirit of “Operation Win”, the mantra UK football has embraced under Phillips’ leadership.”Jacob stands for what we stand for here at the University of Kentucky and what we call Operation Win,” Phillips said, “which is winning in the classroom, winning off the field in the community and doing everything we possibly can do to win on the field.”Lewellen, a Louisville, Ky., native, regularly visits Lexington’s Hope Lodge as well as area schools as a guest speaker and reader. He makes mission trips during spring break and works most closely with Athletes in Action, a Christian sports ministry organization, where he leads weekly on campus Bible studies. In fact, Lewellen had to miss one of his Bible studies to attend the press luncheon Monday and many of those he studies with were present to honor him. Lewellen, to say the least, was surprised.”This is really not what I expected at all,” Lewellen said.Lewellen credited his family for instilling the values in him that inspire all the work he does and the coaching staff for giving him an opportunity to play on the team and have the platform of a UK football player. After he got over the surprise of the moment, he was thankful to be surrounded by all the people that came to support him even though he doesn’t naturally seek attention.”This is a humbling experience to have friends and family surround you,” Lewellen said. “To get the opportunities to what I’ve done because I play football here has been exciting.” Lewellen certainly appreciates all the recognition showered on him Monday, but he devotes so much of his time to helping others because of his own selflessness.”It’s something I’ll continue to do the rest of my life because it’s something fun and something that gives back,” Lewellen said. “There’s nothing like serving the community because seeing smiles on other people’s faces is way more important than seeing one on mine.”Lewellen is eligible to become Team Captain of the Good Works Team. Visit this link to cast your vote for him.Also, here is a photo gallery from Jake’s surprise.