Highlands grad Brayden Thimons named PAC Defensive Player of the Year
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Brayden Thimons has been a stalwart in his short time in the Westminster football program, culminating in a sensational 2021 fall season.
A rock-solid 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior lineman, Thimons was named Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
“I am shocked and honored to receive this (defensive player of the year) award,” Thimons said. “I am thankful for this coaching staff for putting me in positions to make the plays that made me stand out. Also, this award is due to the fact my teammates pushed me to work as hard as possible every day at practice.”
Thimons, a first-team all-conference selection as a junior, led the PAC in sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (16) this season.
The Highlands product recorded 57 tackles (26 solo) and had a 27-yard pick-6 against Saint Vincent. Thimons also was a threat on offense with one rushing touchdown and three receiving touchdowns.
“Brayden was, in my opinion, the most disruptive and best all-around defensive player in the PAC,” said Scott Benzel, Westminster’s veteran coach. “His athleticism and his intelligence allowed him to play multiple positions as well as impact games as a pass rusher, linebacker and a cover guy.
“Brayden’s strengths are, as I mentioned, his athleticism and his ability to dissect offense’s intentions before the ball is snapped. I’ve really enjoyed having Brayden on the team. He is a special talent. He’s a leader, and his passion for football is unmatched.”
Thimons, a marketing and professional sales major, competed at Robert Morris for two years before transferring to Westminster in the summer of 2019. He sat out a year, then participated in football at Westminster in the pandemic-shortened 2021 spring season.
He registered 27 tackles and led the Titans with 71⁄2 sacks in five spring games and was honored as a First-Team All-American by D3football.com.
“After playing and starting for two years at RMU, I needed to be in a different environment,” Thimons said. “Also, my best friend (Neshannock grad Frank Antuono, an all-conference and academic all-district honoree), who was also at RMU, had transferred to Westminster. But the final decision to transfer to Westminster was that my brother would be playing there, also.”
Westminster had 19 players voted all-conference this season, breaking the program record of 18 set in 2011.
“I feel we had a great season,” Thimons said. “We were the first Westminster team to win two football championships in one calendar year. Obviously, there were some games we wish we could get back, but that’s the game of football.
“We have a good group of guys returning to play their last season due to covid in the fall, so I’m planning on getting those losses back.”
Thimons, who has a fifth year of college football eligibility remaining, graduated from Highlands in 2017. He was a three-time first-team all-conference player, leading the Rams in tackles as a sophomore and junior and making 85 stops as a junior. He added six sacks and an interception in his junior season.
Thimons was named all-state as a senior and selected to play in the NFBD All-Star Football Game.
One of his teammates this season was his brother Daniel, a 6-2, 222-pound defensive end and individual interdisciplinary major and a three-sport standout at Highlands. He was an all-conference pick on the gridiron before graduating in 2019.
“Playing football with my brother has been hands-down the highlight of my career,” Thimons said. “When in high school, Daniel was the starting guard when I played quarterback. Now being able to experience something like that again is absolutely amazing.
“Daniel works really hard and has always been a great teammate. I’m excited to play one more season with him.”
Benzel anticipates watching the younger Thimons, who is 21, grow and develop into a more prominent role for the Titans next season.
“Daniel was not a starter for us. We had five of our defensive linemen named all-conference, so it was a very deep and talented group,” Benzel said. “I expect Daniel to have a bigger role next season. He has the ability, he just needs to go out and take it over.”