Mattheus “Stretch” Carroll ’21, a defensive lineman at Kent State University, has been named to the watchlist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. The nomination follows Carroll’s nomination this past August to the watchlist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.

Now in its ninth year, the Witten Award is presented annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football player who has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field. Carroll is one of 67 nominees for the award, which will be presented at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2026. Twenty semifinalists will be announced in late October. In December, three finalists will be revealed.

Entering its 21st year, the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy is college football’s premier award for community service. The trophy is presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. Carroll is one of 116 players being considered for the trophy. Eleven semifinalists will be selected later this fall, and the winner will be announced in December, with the trophy being presented at a gala on January 31, 2026.

Carroll is pursuing his MBA at Kent State, having already earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies, summa cum laude, in December 2024. He serves as his team’s representative on Kent State’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and earned a spot on the academic all-conference list for the 2024 season.

Read more about Mattheus, the Witten Award, and the Wuerfel Trophy.