By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
JC Heim probably could have benefitted in some areas from redshirting his freshman football season at Washburn University last fall.
Former Washburn Rural star JC Heim is already a veteran for the Washburn University defense after seeing extensive action last fall as a true freshman. [File photo/TSN]
But the Ichabods benefitted a lot more from having the 6-foot-3, 225-pound sophomore inside linebacker on the field.
"Last year he was just too good not to play and we had a big need where he was playing,'' said first-year Washburn head coach Zach Watkins, who was Heim's defensive coordinator last fall. "Now, with a full year of college under his belt and a full summer of development and our new coaching staff getting him in the right position, he's been exactly what we want with our culture and the standard of his position on defense for this team.''
The former Washburn Rural star admitted that he had some self doubt when he first took the field for the Ichabods.
"At first it was tough,'' Heim said. "Personally, I didn't think I was ready even though the coaches and the players around me believed in me for sure. The biggest part is you've got to believe in yourself.
"As I started getting out there, the guys around me, that's what we made me better. That's what made me get this experience. That's what made me get better each day in practice where by the end of the year I was doing a lot better than I did in the first game.''
Heim saw action in all 11 games for the 3-8 Ichabods last season with a pair of starts, finishing the year with 29 tackles (13 solo), two forced fumbles, a 58-yard fumble return and a season-high 10 stops against Central Missouri.
And even though he's still just a sophomore, Heim will be counted on to be a leader for the WU defense this fall.
"This second year has definitely gone a lot better than the first fall camp that I had,'' he said. "Having a good spring and coming in knowing stuff now has just made my life easier and now I get to help the young guys and prepare them to get on that field early and do what they can do.''
And there are likely to be times this season that there are two Heims on the field at the same time, with JC's twin brother Jaren (6-2, 220 linebacker) vying for playing time after redshirting a year ago.
"Jaren's exactly my other half,'' JC Heim said. "He is the brains of the operation. He has helped me with more stuff than anybody has ever known. He's a trooper, man.
"I know it could be tough that I was playing and he wasn't, but he was right there on the side with me helping out when I needed it, especially in school. He's a big help in school.''
The Ichabods, who held their first practice of fall camp on Wednesday, will open the 2025 season on Aug. 30 at home against non-conference foe Truman State (1 p.m. kickoff).
