On Sunday, John Carroll hosted the 2025 Blue Carpet Awards.
During the awards show, the Roman-Canning Award for Student Athlete Community Service (sponsored by Matt Canning ’95 and Greg Roman ’94) was given out. For the first time, a football player was honored.
Matt Wrather won the award, earning the distinction after an unforgettable football career and an impressive service resume, as well.
About Matt Wrather:
The All-American football player has compiled a lengthy list of accolades and awards. Most prominently off the field, Matt Wrather secured a spot on the prestigious 2024 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team, one of just 22 student athletes from across all divisions of college football to make the cut. Wrather represented John Carroll at the 2025 Sugar Bowl, participating in community service during the trip.
The Powell, Ohio native has been heavily involved in service at John Carroll, most especially through Jesuit Day of Service, an annual tradition that takes place at Jesuit educational institutions worldwide. The two-time OAC Offensive Lineman of the Year was a member of the core team last spring, 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. Wrather will be heavily involved again this year, as he is working to train the next group of student leaders to take his place.
The Academic All-American also co-founded the John Carroll University Student Alumni Association in 2023, 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.
Another important experience was Wrather’s work with Carroll Ballers. Wrather and fellow Blue Streaks spent a semester working with incarcerated youth at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center, playing basketball while forming meaningful connections.
His other activities include volunteering for 2nd and 7 Reading, the Mental Health Day Fair, More than Food (the organization founded by Bricker Thiel ’24 to combat hunger), Night to Shine (hosted by the Tim Tebow Foundation), Build the Bridge football camp, and the Cleveland Browns High School Showcase.
About Matt Canning and Greg Roman:
Matt Canning graduated from John Carroll University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Bachelor of Science in psychology. A leader on the football team, Canning played cornerback and was also a member of the track & field team. After graduation, he served on Coach Tony DeCarlo’s staff as an assistant coach. He has worked for Henkel (formerly Manco) for the last 28 years and is currently the VP of North American Sales. Canning has proudly worked with (and hired) several John Carroll student athletes and alumni during his time with the company.
Greg Roman is a member of the class of 1994 at John Carroll University, graduating with a degree in Political Science. Greg was an All-OAC defensive tackle on the football team at JCU. He has worked at the upper echelons of collegiate and professional football for over 25 years, holding coaching positions with the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Stanford University, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, and now the Los Angeles Chargers. From 2011-2014, as Offensive Coordinator of the 49ers, he led the team to three straight NFC Championship games as well as Super Bowl XLVII in 2012. Roman enters his second season as the Offensive Coordinator for the Chargers.
