By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University linebacker JC Heim was a tackle machine last fall as a sophomore, rolling up 142 total stops to lead the MIAA and rank second in the nation.
Former Washburn Rural star JC Heim returns for his third season at Washburn after ranking second in the nation with 142 tackles in 2025. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But like almost all great players, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Washburn Rural product would gladly sacrifice individual stats for more team success as the Ichabods try to improve on back-to-back 3-8 seasons and three straight losing campaigns overall.
"One hundred percent, 110 percent I would give up the stats I had for a few more wins and I'm just excited to see how it works out this year,'' Heim said.
Heim, a Washburn team champion, registered 71 solo stops a year ago to rank No. 3 in the nation and had seven tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while posting a career-high 17 tackles against Colorado School of Mines.
Heim admitted that he was surprised by last year's numbers.
"It definitely caught me off guard,'' Heim said. "During the game you just get in that flow state and you don't realize the tackles and stats you have. I don't really tend to worry about that much. I just worry about my job, but it came with how we play our defense and how the guys did up front and that's how I was able to get the stats I had.
"I surprised myself, but the coaches and the players around me, they're confident in me and how I play the game and what I do.''
Washburn star JC Heim is focused on helping the Ichabods take a big step forward this fall after a huge sophomore campaign. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn suffered five losses by seven or fewer points last season, including an overtime loss, and Heim feels like the Ichabods are poised to make a big jump this fall.
"We've got a lot of depth at a lot of positions,'' said Heim, who has 171 career tackles with 84 solo stops and eight tackles for loss. "We've got a lot of returners coming back and we've built a lot of leaders up, so I'm just excited to see how we respond to adversity this year and how we finish games.''
A big highlight for Heim this fall will be getting the opportunity to play alongside twin brother Jaren and younger brother Jordy, who both also play linebacker.
Jaren is a 6-2, 225 sophomore who registered 20 tackles last season while Jordy is a 6-1, 220 freshman.
"It was great this summer,'' JC Heim said. "My younger brother was staying with us over here around Washburn. In high school all three of us played on defense together and on offense, so I'm just excited to take my younger brother under my wing and teach him the defense but then also play with my twin brother next to me.
‘’Hopefully we're out there at the same time this year and get to play with each other and then my younger brother can learn from us and what the standard is over here at Washburn.''
