Matt Wrather ’25, standout center for John Carroll University Football from Powell, Ohio, represented the University at the Sugar Bowl after earning a prestigious spot on the 2024 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team, an honor recognizing his exceptional commitment to community service and leadership.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is an elite group of 22 college football players from across Division I, II, and III, selected for their dedication to making a positive impact in their communities. Wrather is one of only five Division III players nationwide to receive this honor, and is the second student-athlete in JCU history to do so.
As a member of this select group, Wrather proudly represented John Carroll at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. There, he met notable Good Works Team alumni, including former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow and former Florida Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel. As part of the trip, Wrather also participated in a community service event with Son of a Saint, a non-profit dedicated to mentoring fatherless young men in New Orleans and was honored on the field during the Sugar Bowl halftime show.
“Being named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is a tremendous honor,” said Wrather. “Community service has always been an important part of my life, and I’m grateful that my education at JCU has empowered me to give back to others and become the best version of myself.”
Throughout his collegiate career, Wrather has dedicated over 260 hours to community service, including his leadership role in John Carroll's Jesuit Day of Service, organizing over 350 participants across 40 organizations in Cleveland. He also co-founded the John Carroll University Student Alumni Association, connecting over 200 alumni with 150 students for networking and mentorship opportunities.
On the field, Wrather has been a key player in JCU’s offensive line, helping set program records for passing efficiency (198.08) and completion percentage (74.8%). He allowed just one sack in 12 games and led an offensive line that averaged 442.8 yards per game and helped John Carroll advance to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Wrather's efforts earned him consensus All-American honors from D3football.com, AFCA, and the Associated Press (AP). He also earned the Ohio Athletic Conference’s (OAC) Ken Wable Award for the second year in a row, and made history as the first player in JCU program history to earn the Division III Rimington Award, recognizing the nation’s top center in each division.
“Matt Wrather represents the very best of John Carroll University,” said Brian Polian ’97, Vice President for Athletics and National Engagement at John Carroll. “His dedication to excellence on the field is matched by his commitment to serving others. Matt's recognition on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is a testament to his character and leadership, and we are incredibly proud to have him as a member of our family.”
For more information about the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, visit ESPN.com/Allstate.
