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John Carroll University Athletics

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D3football All-Region
Nikolena Samac

Football Joe Ginley '16, SID

7 Blue Streaks Secure D3football.com All-Region Status

Tyren Montgomery and Matt Wrather lead the way as First Team picks

Football Joe Ginley '16, SID

7 Blue Streaks Secure D3football.com All-Region Status

Tyren Montgomery and Matt Wrather lead the way as First Team picks

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – With the program's first playoff appearance since 2018, the Blue Streaks have racked up a bevy of All-Region honors. 

On Wednesday afternoon, D3football.com released its annual All-Region Teams. As part of Region 4, John Carroll Football notched 7 All-Region honorees. 

Tyren Montgomery and Matt Wrather lead the way for the Blue Streaks as First Team picks. Luke Gibbons, Nathan Kovach, Kenneth Rawls, Owen Schuckert, and Tyler Thimons all garnered Second Team status. All seven add this honor on top of First Team All-OAC selections. Wrather is the lone repeat All-Region honoree for JCU. 

The seven selections are the most for the Blue Streaks since 2016. The five Second Teamers are the most for John Carroll since 2014. JCU has notched a pair of First Teamers for the second time in three years. John Carroll has never tallied three All-Region offensive linemen. 

This is the 20th D3football.com All-Region team. Football Gazette posted an All-Region squad from 1994-2004. The D3football.com All-America team will be announced on January 2. 

Full All-Region Teams

Matt Wrather adds this honor to his growing list of accolades, as this is his third straight First Team honor. Wrather is just the second Blue Streak to make the First Team All-Region list three times in a row, with David Ziegler (1997-1999) being the first to do it. The Powell, Ohio native is certainly deserving, helming an offensive line that paved the way for one of the most efficient passing attacks in the country. Not only that, Wrather and Co. guided a fierce rushing attack with several successful backs. The Olentangy Liberty grad allowed just a single sack this past season. A member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, the American Football Coaches Association has already honored Wrather as an All-American. The OAC's Ken Wable Award Winner will look to become JCU's sixth repeat D3football.com All-American.

Tyren Montgomery is the 39th individual Blue Streak to be a D3football.com First Team All-Region pick. The Ed Sherman Award Winner as the top wideout in the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Nicholls State transfer flashed his speed and playmaking ability all season long. The Texan, just the second from the Lone Star state to play for JCU Football, set the school record for receiving touchdowns in a season with  17. Not only that, Montgomery added 3 touchdowns on the ground, tying with Mike Ten Brink for third in program history with 20 total touchdowns this season. Fittingly, Montgomery is the first JCU receiver to be a First Teamer since Marshall Howell, whose record Montgomery broke. 

Luke Gibbons enjoyed a consistent career at John Carroll, capped off with this Second Team honor. The fifth year guard is as reliable as they come, a strong figure on the offensive lineman since his first snap in the spring of 2021. The Broadview Heights native served as a key cog of the offensive line this season, starting at right guard. The veteran allowed just one sack this season, earning high marks from the coaching staff. Gibbons is just the second guard at JCU to garner Second Team status. 

Kenneth Rawls put on a show in debut season in the Blue & Gold. The grad transfer wowed at tight end this season, hauling 22 receptions for 317 yards and 6 touchdowns. A true threat in the red zone, opposing defense always needed to keep an eye on Rawls. The Nashville native formed a connection with Nick Semptimphelter, his high school teammate, from the start. Rawls' top performance occurred in the regular-season finale, as the North Alabama transfer hauled in two touchdown receptions to help JCU race past Marietta. Rawls is just the fourth JCU tight end to be an All-Region choice. 

Nathan Kovach helped to anchor the offensive line all season at left tackle. The graduate student proved to be invaluable in protecting Semptimphelter from harm on the edge. Not only that, the Dublin, Ohio native showcased his agility in the run game, often pulling to open gaps for JCU's three-headed monster in the backfield. The Jerome grad was vital in helping Semptimphelter set a program record for completion percentage (76.4%, currently tops in all of college football). Kovach's leadership added plenty to the line, too. 

Owen Schuckert provided an invaluable service on special teams as a dynamic punter. The OAC Special Teams Player of the Year averaged 40.2 yards per punt this season. The Brooklyn Heights native notched 11 punts inside the 20-yard line, and eight punts of over 50 yards. His longest punt of the season was a 61-yard bomb in the season opener. JCU currently ranks 15th in Division III in net punting thanks to Schuckert. 

Tyler Thimons was the heart and soul of the defense this year. The linebacker returned for a graduate year, which proved to be a fantastic decision. The Pittsburgher topped the team with 83 tackles (30 solo, 53 assists), giving him 268 total tackles for his career. Not only that, the Bethel Park grad supplemented his statline with 5.5 tackles for loss. Thimons provided a steadying force in the middle of an overall young defense this season. 
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Players Mentioned

Luke Gibbons

#79 Luke Gibbons

OL
6' 2"
Fifth Year
Nathan Kovach

#55 Nathan Kovach

OL
6' 3"
Graduate Student
Owen Schuckert

#52 Owen Schuckert

K/P
6' 1"
Junior
Tyler Thimons

#57 Tyler Thimons

LB
6' 0"
Graduate Student
Matt Wrather

#54 Matt Wrather

OL
5' 11"
Senior
Tyren Montgomery

#4 Tyren Montgomery

WR
6' 1"
Graduate Student
Kenneth Rawls

#13 Kenneth Rawls

TE
6' 4"
Graduate Student
Nick Semptimphelter

#14 Nick Semptimphelter

QB
6' 1"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Luke Gibbons

#79 Luke Gibbons

6' 2"
Fifth Year
OL
Nathan Kovach

#55 Nathan Kovach

6' 3"
Graduate Student
OL
Owen Schuckert

#52 Owen Schuckert

6' 1"
Junior
K/P
Tyler Thimons

#57 Tyler Thimons

6' 0"
Graduate Student
LB
Matt Wrather

#54 Matt Wrather

5' 11"
Senior
OL
Tyren Montgomery

#4 Tyren Montgomery

6' 1"
Graduate Student
WR
Kenneth Rawls

#13 Kenneth Rawls

6' 4"
Graduate Student
TE
Nick Semptimphelter

#14 Nick Semptimphelter

6' 1"
Graduate Student
QB

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