UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — The 2025 Sugar Bowl was a great experience for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and its fans as the team defeated Georgia’s Bulldogs, 23-10 Jan. 2 to advance in the College Football Playoff semifinal game.

It was also a day to remember for John Carroll Blue Streaks’ senior standout center Matt Wrather, who attended the game as an honoree and had the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of college football’s best.

Wrather, of Powell, Ohio, represented JCU at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans for earning a spot on the prestigious 2024 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. The honor recognized Wrather’s exceptional commitment to community service and leadership.

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is an elite group of 22 college football players from across Divisions I, II, and III, selected for their dedication to making a positive impact in their communities.

Wrather is one of only five Division III players nationwide to receive the honor, and is the second student-athlete in JCU history to be named to the Good Works Team.

While at the game, Wrather met notable Good Works Team alumni, including former NFL quarterback and Florida Gator Tim Tebow, and another former Gator, quarterback Danny Wuerffel.

As part of the trip, Wrather also participated in a community service event with Son of a Saint, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring fatherless young men in New Orleans. He was also honored on the field during the Sugar Bowl halftime show.

”Being named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is a tremendous honor,” Wrather stated in a JCU release. “Community service has always been an important part of my life, and I’m grateful that my education at JCU has empowered me to give back to others and become the best version of myself.”

Throughout his collegiate career, Wrather has dedicated more than 260 hours to community service, including his leadership role in John Carroll’s Jesuit Day of Service organizing greater than 350 participants across 40 organizations in Cleveland.

He also co-founded the John Carroll University Student Alumni Association, connecting more than 200 alumni with 150 students for networking and mentorship opportunities.

On the field, Wrather has been a key player in JCU’s offensive line, helping the team set program records for passing efficiency (a rating of 198.08) and completion percentage (74.8 percent). He allowed just one quarterback sack in 12 games and led an offensive line that averaged 442.8 yards per game, which helped John Carroll advance to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Wrather’s efforts earned him consensus All-American honors from D3football.com, AFCA, and the Associated Press. He also earned the Ohio Athletic Conference’s Ken Wable Award for the second straight year, and made history as the first-ever JCU player to earn the Division III Rimington Award, which recognizes the nation’s top center in each division.

”Matt Wrather represents the very best of John Carroll University,” said JCU Vice President for Athletics and National Engagement Brian Polian (‘97). “His dedication to excellence on the field is matched by his commitment to serving others.

“Matt’s recognition on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is a testament to his character and leadership, and we are incredibly proud to have him as a member of our family.”

For more information about the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, visit ESPN.com/Allstate.

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