(From L-R in graphic): Tyler Thimons, Bricker Thiel, Matt Buser, Joe Collins, and Jahiem Peake join an elite fraternity of JCU Football captains.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – With a week and a half before the start of the season, John Carroll Football has selected its captains.
A total of five Blue Streaks were elected for captaincy by their peers. The group features a mix of offensive and defensive players with several positions represented.
In alphabetical order, the 2023 JCU Football captains are: Matthew Buser, Joe Collins, Jahiem Peake, Bricker Thiel, and Tyler Thimons.
Matthew Buser is a stalwart running back who returns for his fifth year thanks to the COVID-19 blanket waiver. The Akron native has tallied 141 carries for 763 yards and 9 touchdowns during his 4-year career, including 135 rushing yards and 3 scores a year ago. In his four years, the Revere grad has added 23 catches for 274 yards and 5 scores.Â
Joe Collins is JCU's returning starter at quarterback, also using a fifth-year to pursue a grad program. During his first year as a starter, Collins threw for 2,286 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior. His stats earned him Second Team All-OAC honors, as Collins steered the Blue Streaks to an 8-2 record. The star signalcaller will be critical to the offense's success in 2023.Â
Jahiem Peake is a hard-charging linebacker who is back after a breakout junior campaign. Down the stretch last season, Peake became a star from his outside linebacker/safety spot. With 45 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and a team-best 7 sacks, Peake fully announced his presence. The OAC selected him as a First Team honoree, adding All-Region and All-American honors, with Lindy's and D3football.com selecting him as a Preseason All-America candidate.
Bricker Thiel is a cerebral yet rabid defensive end for JCU. Back for his fifth season, the London, Ohio native compiled big-time stats with 55 tackles, a team-best 14.5 TFL, and 6 sacks. A First Team All-OAC pick for two straight years, Thiel has also been picked as an D3football.com All-Region honoree in 2022 and a College Sports Communicators All-America player in 2021, with two career OAC Player of the Week awards, too.
Tyler Thimons is a menacing middle linebacker for the John Carroll defense. The Pittsburgher cemented his spot in the middle of the defense by leading the team in tackles a year ago, with a cool 71 stops. The Bethel Park grad supplemented his stat line with 8 TFL and 3 sacks. While not granted a spot on the All-OAC squad, Thimons did make both Academic All-OAC and CSC Academic All-District as a Business major.
The Blue Streaks, guided by the team's captains, will open the year against #11 Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday, September 2 at 1:30 pm at Don Shula Stadium.Â
