Bricker Thiel and Matt Wrather Crowned as CSC Academic All-Americans

1/23/2024 12:00:00 PM | By: Danny Gibel, Staff Writer

Thiel is JCU Football's first-ever three-time honoree, and Wrather is the 11th individual to earn the distinction.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS -- For the first time since 1983, two John Carroll Football student athletes have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® Team.

As announced today by CSC, defensive end Bricker Thiel and center Matt Wrather were both named Second Team Academic All-Americans.

After being named to the Second Team in 2021 and the First Team in 2022, Thiel is now the first John Carroll Football player in history to be named a three-time Academic All-American.

Thiel had another productive season for the Blue and Gold. The London, Ohio native tallied 32 tackles with 3.0 sacks. His sack total ranked second on the team behind only Jake Phillips. Thiel also registered two pass breakups on the season.

Wrather is now a member of a prestigious group of John Carroll student-athletes, as he is the 11th member of the football program to receive the honor. This is just another achievement for Wrather after he was named a Second Team All-American in December.

The junior from Powell, Ohio anchored one of the best Division III offensive lines in the country in 2023. As a unit, they surrendered the fewest sacks in the OAC and protected Joe Collins while he set a new program-record for season completion percentage and pass efficiency.

Thiel and Wrather have been equally as impressive in the classroom as the two Finance majors boasted near 4.0 GPAs. Thiel had a 3.96 and Wrather had a 3.73 GPA.

"This is a tremendous honor for Bricker and Matt," said Head Coach Jeff Behrman '95. "It is a reflection of their commitment to maximize their ability to be a complete student athlete. They are an example to our current players and future Blue Streaks that high academics and high athletics can coexist at John Carroll University. Both are also all conference players on the field. Congratulations to both Bricker and Matt on being true Men of Carroll."

John Carroll's previous CoSIDA Football Academic All-Americans:

2023
Matt Wrather, 2nd
Bricker Thiel, 2nd
2022
Bricker Thiel, 1st
2021
Bricker Thiel, 2nd
2014
Brody Zangaro, 2nd
2013
Brody Zangaro, 2nd
2006
Matt Lemke, 2nd
2005
Doug Phillips, 2nd
2003
Santino Fanelli, 2nd
1988
Thomas Curtis, 2nd
1987
Michael McGarry, 2nd
1986
Joe Burrello, 1st
1985
Joe Burrello, 1st
1983
Jim Sferra
Nick D'Angelo
1982
Nick D'Angelo, 2nd

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories

Sponsors