GRANVILLE, Ohio – The Denison University football team looks to build off a strong finish to last season as it continues to remain in the mix among a very competitive top half of the North Coast Athletic Conference in 2024. 
 
2023 SEASON IN REVIEW: The Big Red put together a 7-3 showing in 2023 with a 6-2 mark against NCAC competition. 
 
The Big Red have won at least six games in every full season since 2013. Under Jack Hatem, who enters his 14th season leading the program, Denison has seven wins or more eight times in the past 10 seasons. The Big Red have put together 10-consecutive winning seasons overall. 

"The 2023 season taught us that there is a very fine line between winning and losing against elite competition," Hatem said. "Every detail is critical as you prepare for each opponent."

Denison splits its non-conference games to open the campaign. The 2023 season started with a 45-35 road win over Capital. The Big Red offense rolled up 668 yards behind a balanced attack in the opener. Denison sported a balanced attack, as they tallied 386 yards through the air and 282 on the ground. Quarterback Jimmy Stines had his way with the Comets' defense, as he tossed four touchdowns, including a pair to Billy Guzzo, who finished with 168 yards on just three catches. Cade Nowik also put together a strong day with four catches, 111 yards and a score. Denison committed just one turnover and punted the ball just once. Trey Fabrocini did the heavy lifting on the ground with 153 yards and two touchdowns. 
 
The Big Red dropped a 28-14 decision to seventh-ranked Linfield a week later. Despite taking an early lead on a 41-yard touchdown catch by Josh Aiello from Stines, a big second quarter proved to be too much to overcome for the Big Red. A touchdown pass late in the third quarter gave Linfield some breathing room in the two touchdown victory. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. Aiello finished with six catches for 90 yards. Stines put up 259 yards but Linfield was able to use a pair of interceptions to stall the Denison offense. 
 
Denison rolled to road wins the next two weeks to start 2-0 in NCAC play. The Big Red shut out Oberlin 70-0 before tacking on a 55-24 win over Hiram the following week. Fabrocini rushed for 186 yards and 127 yards, respectively, in those victories. He combined for seven touchdowns in those two victories. Jaylin Epps set the tone with an early 86-yard interception return for touchdown in the win over the Yeomen. 
 
The following week Denison returned home for a clash with Wittenberg on Big Red Weekend. The Big Red were once again up to the task early on defensively, as they held the Tigers off the scoreboard over the first 30 minutes and led 7-0 at halftime. Wittenberg scored twice in the third and carried a 14-7 lead into the final quarter. After exchanging a pair of scores, Denison leveled the score on a 20-yard TD reception by Aiello with just 1:09 to play. The Big Red were forced to settle for a field goal in overtime and fell when Wittenberg used a 24-yard TD pass to secure the win. 
 
Denison traveled to DePauw a week later for another NCAC showdown. A slow start hindered the Big Red in the loss. Denison's lone score came in the fourth quarter of a 17-6 loss. Coming off back-to-back losses, Denison responded with its signature win a week later. Denison scored a touchdown in each quarter to narrowly defeat Wabash, 28-24, at Deeds Field-Piper Stadium. The Big Red were powered by a three-touchdown day by Aiello.
 
The win over Wabash sparked a four-game winning streak to close the season. The Big Red earned another close win, downing Wooster by a 35-31 score on Oct. 21. Fabrocini finished with 224 yards and a strong fourth quarter pushed Denison to the win over the Fightin Scots. After its bye week, another big day for Fabrocini followed, as his four-touchdown performance helped Denison win 38-15 over Kenyon. 
 
Denison closed the season with a 29-26 win over Ohio Wesleyan on Senior Day. A pair of Fabrocini touchdowns and a pair of field goals by Daniel Cunningham helped lift Denison to the season-ending victory. 
 
A total of 14 members of the Big Red were recognized with All-NCAC laurels. Fabrocini, Aiello, Kevin Stone, Jeff Moore, Clay Denstorff and Jaylin Epps collected First Team honors. 
 
Additionally, Fabrocini, Stone and Moore were Second Team D3football.com All-Region. Aiello was a Third Team choice for All-Region. 
 
 
2024 NCAC PRESEASON POLL
Rank    School (1st place votes)          Points
1.         DePauw (6)                                 77
2.         Wabash (1)                                 68
3.         Wittenberg (1)                             61
4.         Denison (1)                                59
5.         Ohio Wesleyan                            49
6.         Wooster                                       34
7.         Kenyon                                        26
8.         Hiram                                           16
9.         Oberlin                                         15
 
 
POSITION-BY-POSITION BREAKDOWN
 
OFFENSE
Denison averaged 34.4 points per game last fall. Behind a strong offensive line, Fabrocini put together a strong season on the ground. He was the lone NCAC rusher to surpass the 1,000 yard mark. The strong running game allowed Denison to rank 14th in time of possession and 16th in red zone offense.
 
Quarterback 
 
Denison will be tasked with replacing graduating quarterback Jimmy Stines. He finished with 24 touchdowns and 2,274 yards last season in his lone year as starter. The competition appears to be wide open as the season nears. 

"We have some very strong returning players at QB and some very talented first years," Hatem stated. "I am extremely excited about the possibilities."

Running Back
Fabrocini returns for a fifth-season to head up the ground game for the Big Red. The three-time First Team All-NCAC honoree and 2023 D3football All-Region pick enters the season ranking fifth in Denison history in rushing yards (3,496). He led the NCAC with 19 rushing touchdowns and 1,406 rushing yards last fall. 
 
His 3,496 rushing yards also ranks first among active Division III running backs. 

"Trey is one of the best players in the country and very dynamic on offense," Hatem said. "Trey is also one of the best leaders Big Red Football has ever experienced."

Wide Receiver/Tight End
Denison will be tasked with replacing Aiello, who pulled in 15 touchdown receptions last fall. That total was more than half of the receiving scores by Denison as a team. 
 
Billy Guzzo returns as the most accomplished receiver. Guzzo finished with 662 yards and four touchdowns last fall. 
 
Cade Nowik, Aidan Brownlee and Jack Williams all had at least one touchdown reception last season. 
 
Offensive Line
The Big Red must replace fill some holes on the offensive line, as Kevin Stone and Brian Stone, a pair of fifth-year linemen, as well as Ted Dunn, were lost to graduation. 
 
Austin Smith and Canyon Schneider return as starting guards. They helped pave the way for Fabrocini and will be relied upon heavily again in 2024. Will Gause, who played in eight games and made six starts, returns at tackle. 
 
DEFENSE
The Big Red defensive unit surrendered just 22.7 points per game, which ranked second in the NCAC last season. Their pass defense ranked first in the conference, allowing just 181.8 yards per game through the air. They ranked second in run defense and second in total defense. The Big Red will need to replace three starters on the defensive line, two at linebacker and one in the secondary. 

The group will be led by first year defensive coordinator Jovon Johnson, who joined the Big Red after spending time at NCAC rival Wittenberg University, where he was the Special Teams Coordinator, Linebacker Coach and Head JV Coach.

"Coach Johnson is a very bright young football coach," Hatem said. "His passion and knowledge of the game has been tremendous in the early development of our defense."

Defensive Line
The Big Red will be tasked with replacing a few lost players on the defensive line. That group includes Clay Denstorff, who earned First Team All-NCAC after leading the team with 15.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and an additional 10 quarterback hurries. 
 
Michael Ballenger is the key returner for the unit. The senior collected 11 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hurries and 40 total tackles last fall. Ballenger earned All-NCAC Second Team honors. His tackles for loss number ranked as fourth most in the NCAC.
 
Linebacker
The Big Red will need to replace Jeff Moore, the team's leading tackler from a season ago. Moore finished with 82 total tackles and 10 quarterback hurries in his final year with the program. Jack Nimesheim, who had 70 total tackles, is also gone from last year's team. 
 
Layton Reesor returns at the position after appearing in all 10 games last season. He made 49 tackles and six tackles for loss as a first-year player. 
 
Defensive Back
Denison brings back its most experience group in the secondary. Both safeties, Christian Lariviere and Collin Murphy, return to the fold. 
 
Lariviere finished with 54 tackles to rank third on the team. Meanwhile, Murphy was a Third Team All-NCAC pick with 47 total tackles and 11 pass breakups. 
 
Jaylin Epps, who finished the year as the NCAA statistical champion in passes defended, had 15 pass breakups and two interceptions during the year. 
 
Special Teams
 
Daniel Cunningham returns at kicker for his senior season. Cunningham made 5-of-8 field goal attempts and converted 45-of-47 point after touchdown attempts in 2023. The 2022 All-NCAC pick should provide an important presence in the kicking game. 
 
Denison will need to find a replacement at punter after the graduation of Michael Mead. 
 
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE 
 
Denison will open the 2024 schedule on the west coast. After falling in a competitive game last year, the Big Red will travel to Oregon to face 23rd ranked Linfield in the opener on Sept. 7. A week later, Denison will be tasked with another tough test, as seventh-ranked Alma comes to town for the home opener at Deeds Field – Piper Stadium on Sept. 14. 

"We are very excited to open our season against two top opponents," Hatem said. "This level of competition should serve us well in preparation for our NCAC season."

A stretch of three straight home games continues with back-to-back conference contests versus Kenyon (Sept. 21) and Hiram (Sept. 28). Denison heads out on the road for conference games at Wittenberg University (Oct. 5) and Wooster (Oct. 12). The Big Red hosts DePauw on Oct. 19 ahead of its bye week.
 
Denison closes out the season with games in three-straight weeks. The Big Red heads to Wabash on Nov. 2 looking for its third-straight win in the head-to-head series. 
 
The Big Red close out the home portion of their schedule versus Oberlin on Nov. 9. The regular season concludes a week later when Denison heads to Ohio Wesleyan on Nov. 16. 
 
Denison will once again be under the direction of Hatem. The Big Red has compiled an 86-46 record during his tenure. His time has been highlighted by an appearance in the 2018 NCAA Division III playoffs. The Big Red went 8-1 in NCAC play to earn the conference's automatic berth in the 2018 playoffs. During the year, Denison earned back-to-back wins over perennial contenders Wabash (34-10) and DePauw (20-12) in the middle of the season.