Matt Wrather '25 Honored As Recipient For NCAA Impact Award

11/5/2025 3:00:00 PM | By: JCUSID

Matt Wrather '25 Named Recipient For NCAA Impact Award

Matt Wrather '25 has been named a recipient of the 2026 NCAA Impact Award, one of collegiate athletics' highest honors.

The NCAA Impact Award celebrates exceptional current and former student-athletes, coaches, and administrators whose achievements exemplify the spirit and values of collegiate athletics. This prestigious recognition honors one exceptional male and one exceptional female senior student-athlete from each division, selecting individuals who embody the highest standards of athletic excellence, academic achievement, and service to their campuses and communities.

Wrather finished his career as one of the most decorated student-athletes in Division III football last season and one of the most distinguished student-athletes in recent John Carroll University history.

In his 2024 season, the star Blue Streak earned the Rimington Award and received the following distinctions: D3football.com All-America First Team, AFCA All-American, AP Division III All-America Football Second Team, and College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® First Team.

During his 2023 campaign Wrather was named to the D3football.com All-America Second Team and the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® Second Team.

Wrather was named OAC Ken Wable Offensive Lineman of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. He earned All-OAC First Team honors for three seasons (2022, 2023, 2024), D3Football.com All-Region First Team recognition (2022, 2023, 2024), CSC Academic All-District honors (2022, 2023, 2024), and Academic All-OAC recognition (2022, 2023, 2024). Wrather was JCU's male Clyde Lamb Award winner via the Ohio Athletic Conference for the 2024-25 academic year.

His impact goes beyond the football field. Wrather was named to the 2024 Allstate Good Works Team for the time he dedicated towards service helping out his local community. Wrather and the rest of the Good Works team were honored during halftime of the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarter Final at the Sugar Bowl on January 2.

Wrather dedicated countless hours towards serving others and his community during his time in University Heights. Wrather's most outstanding contribution has been through John Carroll University's Jesuit Day of Service, an annual tradition that takes place at Jesuit educational institutions worldwide.

Wrather was a member of the core team in spring of 2024, helping to organize 350+ JCU community members from 40+ student organizations, athletic teams, and on-campus groups around Cleveland and sent them to 8 different community partners. Activities included spring clean up projects, painting projects, sorting and organizing activities and other meaningful work determined by our community partners. In the previous year's outing, Wrather served as the student leader of a service site and coordinated over 90 participants into different jobs and tasks. Wrather and his small army of Blue Streak volunteers supported the Fatima Family Center, a local non-profit community center by beautifying the grounds.

"This award is truly special, and I'm very blessed to have received it," Wrather emphasized. "Without John Carroll, I would never be in the position I am today. My time on campus shaped me into the person I am, and I'm deeply grateful for my family, teammates, coaches, professors, mentors, and the entire community that supoorted me along the way."

The outstanding Blue Streak also co-founded the John Carroll University Student Alumni Association, aiming to bridge the gap between students and alumni. Wrather, the Vice President of Finance, and the executive team recruited over 200 alumni and 150 students while sponsoring seven successful events over the past year.

Since graduating from JCU in May, Wrather has remained involved at JCU. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Gridiron Club and continues to volunteer his time. Matt now works at ALDI as a District Manager. He is also a budding content creator, starting the podcast, "Lock In With Matt" while creating videos for social media.

"JCU has instilled a mentality of making the people around me better," says Wrather. "I hope to continue doing that through my podcast and other work within the community. I'll always carry the values I learned during those years with me wherever I go."

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories

Sponsors