Matt Wrather Exalted as Rimington Award Winner as Top Center in NCAA Division III

1/6/2025 12:00:00 PM | By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

Wrather is the first Rimington Award winner in program history

NEW YORK, NY – For the first time in program history, John Carroll Football claims the top center in all of NCAA Division III.

On Monday, January 6, the winners of the 2024 Rimington Award were announced, heralding the top centers in the FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA.

Matt Wrather is the 2024 Rimington Award winner for Division III, a first for the program.

This distinction adds to the rapidly growing list of accolades for Wrather, cementing his legacy in program lore. Since the award's inception in 2003, the Ohio Athletic Conference has notched six winners, though Wrather is the first OAC lineman since 2016 to win.

Just last week, the Olentangy Liberty grad became a consensus All-American, heralded as First Team via D3football.com and the Associated Press, and Second Team via the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Only 20 other players in the 100+ seasons of program history have been First Team All-Americans.

On Thursday, Wrather represented John Carroll with pride at the Sugar Bowl, as a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He became just the second Blue Streak in program history to be so honored.

The Powell, Ohio native anchored an offensive line that paved the way for a return to the NCAA Playoffs for the Blue Streaks. Along the way, program records for completion percentage and pass efficiency were set, while a three-headed monster in the backfield ran wild. Individually, Wrather allowed just one sack in 12 games.

Soon after the regular season, Wrather made program history as the first repeat winner of the OAC's Ken Wable Award. Plus, the JCU offensive line made the D3football.com Team of the Week on November 19.

And the awards might not be done with, as Wrather will be up for College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors after being a Second Teamer a year ago. His GPA is impressive, as his work in the classroom as well as the community has been nothing short of fantastic during his collegiate career. His future off the field is plenty bright, as well.

About the Rimington Award:

The Rimington Award is presented to the premier centers in the FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA divisions of college football. Originating in 2003, it is the only individual award given to every four-year division of college football. Since 2008, the recipients of the Rimington Award have been chosen by Jason Dannelly.

The Rimington Award winners are selected by Jason Dannelly, coordinator of the award and a prominent voice in college football for non-FBS divisions. Dannelly, the founder of the Victory Sports Network and a 20-year member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), continues the tradition of celebrating excellence with one of college football's most distinguished honors. Nominations for each level come from a variety of scouts, coaches and media. In order to be considered for the award, the athlete much achieve a minimum of All Conference status.

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Wrather is the first Rimington Award winner in program history

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