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All-OAC FB 2023 UPDATED

Blue Streaks Notch 15 All-OAC selections, Led by Wrather as the Wable Award Winner

| By: Joe Ginley '16, SID
Matt Wrather is JCU's 6th Wable Award winner and third in four seasons.
WESTERVILLE – Following a strong campaign, John Carroll Football has reeled in plenty of recognition from the Ohio Athletic Conference.

On Monday morning, the OAC released its all conference team for football, with significant representation for John Carroll.

The Blue Streaks tallied 14 All-OAC selections, with seven First Team honorees.

Joe Collins, Lucas D'Orazio, Brennan Fugh, Jahiem Peake, Matthew Russo, Matt Wrather, and Yanni Volas garnered First Team awards. Luke Gibbons, Nate Kovach, Evan McVay, Jake Phillips, Bricker Thiel, and Joey Torok secured Second Team honors. Jacob Hufnagel and Tyler Mintz snagged Honorable Mention status.

The headliner for John Carroll is Matt Wrather. The Olentangy Liberty grad has earned Ken Wable Offensive Lineman of the Year honors. The center shares the illustrious award with Mount Union's Ben Lilly. 

Wrather did exceptional work all season, anchoring the JCU offensive line. For much of the season, the Blue Streaks stood out amongst the tops in the nations for sacks allowed. JCU surrendered just six sacks in 10 games this season. And thanks in part to the O-Line, the Blue Streaks set new single-season records for passing efficiency (194.1) and average yards/pass (10.6).

Wrather, a Powell native, becomes the sixth Wable Award recipient for JCU all-time, joining Matt Payne (2002), Victor DeBoer (2004), Anthony Latina (2015), Blake Herideen (Spring 2021), and Jack Faron (2022). Wrather now stands as a two-time First Team All-OAC honoree.

Matthew Russo joined his neigbor on the First Team squad after starting all 10 games at left guard. The junior from Depew, NY helped to key the pass game as well as the rushing attack. John Carroll averaged 178.9 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry on the ground. Russo and the O-Line won OAC Athlete of the Week honors on October 16. 

Joe Collins orchestrated the offense behind his strong linemen up front. The Michigander shined in his extra year made possible by the blanket Covid waiver. Collins cemented himself amongst the best quarterbacks in recent memory for JCU. The Grand Rapids native set career records for completion percentage (69.2%) and average yards/pass (9.5) while marking his name down atop both single-season categories with a 73% completion rate and 10.8 yards per pass this season. Collins topped the OAC in both yards per game (256.0) and yards per attempt this season. His 99-yard TD pass to Joe Torok also will go in the record books. 

A fantastic field general, Collins finished the season with 2,323 yards and 25 touchdown passes against just 4 interceptions. In two campaigns as the starter, Collins registered a 15-4 record. He concludes his career fifth all-time in passing touchdowns with 52 scores, and seventh in both passing yards (4,702) and completions (341). This is his second All-OAC honor (last season he got Second Team) to go with two OAC Athlete of the Week awards. 

His top target, Brennan Fugh, joins him on the All-OAC list. The Pittsburgher departs as one of the most accomplished receivers in program history. Fugh stands as a four-time All-OAC selection, and the first receiver in program history to garner first team all-conference honors three times as a wideout. Fugh achieved the honor in 2023, 2022, fall 2021, and got All-OAC honors in the shortened spring 2021 season. As a member of the three-time First Team All-OAC club, Fugh joins legends such as Willie Beers, Ryan Haley, Michael Hollins, David Ziegler, and Conner Bogard.

Fugh completed his fifth year leading the team in every receiving category including receptions (42), yards 714), touchdowns (9), and yards per catch (17.0). The Shaler Area grad stands near the top of a number of career receiving categories, including second in receiving yards (2,768), third in receptions (168), and tied for third in touchdown catches (24). 

Lucas D'Orazio made an immediate impact at tight end as a grad transfer. In his first year playing the position, the Cuyahoga Heights native thrived. D'Orazio caught 26 passes for 374 yards and 4 touchdowns. In doing so, he joins his brother Jordan D'Orazio with All-OAC honors, as the family becomes the first since Aramis and Randy Greenwood to produce a pair of All-OAC brothers. 

Jahiem Peake was the heart and soul of the John Carroll defense this season. After a breakout junior campaign, Peake developed into a team captain and a vocal leader of the defense as a senior. The playmaking linebacker starred in the middle of the defense, standing second on the team with 69 tackles. The Akron native topped the team with 7 tackles for loss, adding 2.5 sacks. 

This is Peake's second time as a First Team All-OAC honoree. In addition to his work on the field, Peake has been a stellar member of the community off the field. Peake has served as SAAC President and in Student Government, worked in sports information, and much more. 

Yanni Volas garners All-OAC honors for the second consecutive year, this time on the First Team. The North Canton native tallied 41.35 yards per punt, with eight of his 26 punts landing inside the 20-yard line and four punts of 50+ yards. Additionally, the Hoover grad converted 8-of-11 field goals and 47-of-51 extra points. 

Luke Gibbons is an All-OAC selection for the second time, a Second Teamer this year after being a First Team choice last year. Gibbons' work was no less superb, as the Broadview Heights native excelled at the right guard spot. The senior was a model of consistency, starting all 10 games on a strong offensive line. 

His fellow lineman, Nathan Kovach, can claim the honor for the first time in his career. The first-year starter at left tackle anchored the left side of the line well, protecting Collins excellently. The Dublin Jerome grad deserves plenty of kudos for helping to keep a clean pocket and also playing a key role as a blocker in the run game. 

Joe Torok makes the All-OAC squad for the second time in as many years, this time an upgrade to the Second Team. The Kirtland native finished second on the team only to Fugh with 32 catches for 506 yards and 4 touchdowns. Chief amongst his plays this season was a beautiful 99-yard TD reception to tie the JCU and NCAA records.

Evan McVay is also a repeat customer on the All-OAC Second Team. The star running back helmed the ground attack for John Carroll, leading the team with 579 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. The Aurora native tallied 4.6 yards per carry for John Carroll. This is his second straight season with All-OAC Second Team honors. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Bricker Thiel now stands as a three-time All-OAC defensive end. The fifth-year senior has anchored the defensive line as a playmaker on the edge for the last several seasons, a veteran with smart instincts. The London, Ohio native concluded the year with a statline of 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. Thiel's contributions off the field as a service leader have also been phenomenal. Thiel has been a leader in the community, spending his free time serving others in a wide variety of endeavors. 

Jake Phillips snags his first OAC accolade as a Second Teamer. Phillips was a D3football.com Team of the Week selection after his effort in the Heidelberg game. The junior defensive end topped the team with 4 sacks. Phillips finished second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss, and fourth on the squad with 43 tackles overall. Additionally, he added 5 quarterback hurries along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery. 

Tyler Mintz secured All-OAC Honorable Mention status following a strong senior season. The Kenston grad caught 21 passes for 351 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mintz also topped the team in punt returns with 10 for 142 yards, as well as kick returns with 16 for 391 yards. He joins his father, Damon, as an All-OAC honoree. 

Jacob Hufnagel rounds out the list for JCU as an Honorable Mention pick. The freshman did not open the year as the starter at cornerback, but became a standout quickly. The Pittsburgh native picked off a pass and took it to the house against Heidelberg in his breakout game. Hufnagel topped the team with 3 interceptions and 5 pass breakups. He added 35 tackles for JCU.
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