COLUMBUS, Ohio (February 13, 2024) – Denison University senior Sam Secrest was honored at the 63rd annual Columbus Chapter of The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award Banquet at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University on February 12, 2024. Collegiate scholar-athletes from Ohio State, Ohio Wesleyan, Otterbein, Capital, Denison, Ohio Dominican and Kenyon received recognition.

Secrest, a defensive lineman from Lebanon, Ohio, finished the 2023 season with 27 tackles, including a career-best 15 solo tackles, and added 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He was also tied for fifth on the team with three quarterback hurries. Against the College of Wooster (Oct. 21), Secrest blocked a 47-yard field goal attempt by the Fighting Scots and was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for his efforts.

A Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) major with a 3.84 cumulative GPA, Secrest was also a member of the Academic All-District® Team for the second year in a row. He is a three-time member of the North Coast Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll, is a three-time Denison Top-50 Scholar-Athlete, and was a 2022-23 Denison Chi Alpha Sigma inductee.

Appearing with Secrest in the cover photo above is Ohio State associate head coach/defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who was presented with the Ohio Gold Award. This is the most prestigious honor that the chapter presents annually to a former player, coach, administrator or person who has had a positive impact on amateur football in Central Ohio. Previous Ohio Gold recipients include Ryan Day, Joey Galloway, Troy Smith, Orlando Pace, Eddie George, Archie Griffin, Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce, John Cooper, Gene Smith, Chris Spielman, Ann Hayes, Jim Tressel, A.J. Hawk and John Hicks, among others.

About the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is a member-supported, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of amateur football at local, state and national levels. The Foundation, with its chapters, annually awards nearly $1 million in scholarships to over 3,000 high school and college student athletes for continuing education. Learn more about the Columbus Chapter by visiting: www.nffcolumbus.com.