Football | 8/26/2025 2:10:00 PM

Granville, Ohio-The Big Red Football Team looks to improve on the success they had last season, as they sit fourth in the 2025 NCAC Preseason Poll, the same spot they were in last season's poll.

2024 Season Recap

Denison capped off their 2024 season with a 6-4 overall record while going 6-2 in conference play. This was the 11th consecutive winning season for the Big Red, excluding the 2020-21 COVID season. The team dropped its first two contests against nationally ranked Alma College and Linfield University before going 6-2 the rest of the way, including a signature end-of-season 28-14 win against rival Ohio Wesleyan University. The 2024 season featured 15 players earning All-NCAC honors, as kicker/punter Daniel Cunningham earned Special Teams Player of the Year Award, and rising sophomore quarterback Tyler Green won Denison's first-ever NCAC Newcomer of the Year Award.

• Along with their 11th consecutive winning seasons, the Big Red have won 6+ conference games in those 11 seasons as well.

• Fifth-year senior Trey Fabrocini broke numerous Denison rushing records last season. He broke the all-time career rushing record with 4,475 yards in the season finale against Ohio Wesleyan. He finished the game with 155 yards on 32 carries and one touchdown.

• Of the 15 All-NCAC selections, four were first team. Seniors Michael Ballenger, Collin Murphy, Jaylin Epps, and Cunningham all received the distinction.

• Green has already solidified himself in the Denison record books, as he is fourth all-time in pass completion in a single season (67%), and ninth all-time in pass completions in a single game (28 vs. Alma 9/14/24).

• The Big Red ranked 4th in points per game (31.2), rushing yards per game (140.7), and passing yards per game (233.8).

• The Denison defense ranked third in points per game (21.0), allowing only 210 points all season, and in rushing defense, allowing 97.2 yards per game.

2025 NCAC Preseason Poll
 

2025 North Coast Athletic Conference Football Coaches' Poll
Place	Institution (1st Place Votes)	Total Points
1.	DePauw (5)	75
2.	Wabash	64
3.	John Carroll (3)	63
4.	Denison	53
5.	Wittenberg (1)	50
6.	Ohio Wesleyan	34
7.	Kenyon	29
8.	Wooster	23
9.	Oberlin	14

 

Position-By-Position Breakdown

OFFENSE

Denison ranked fourth in the NCAC in points per game with 31.2 last season. They were led by rising sophomore Tyler Green, who threw for over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Big Red offense will need to replace its star running back, Trey Fabrocini, and three of its leading wide receivers for this upcoming season.

Quarterback

Green will be the projected starter for the 2025 season. Last year, he started in nine games, throwing for 2,233 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. He was awarded the 2024 NCAC Newcomer of the Year and was Third Team All-NCAC

Running Back

The Big Red will be dealt with replacing all-time leading rusher Trey Fabrocini, who ranked second in the league in rushing yards with 979 to go along with nine touchdowns. Rising senior Cade Nowik will return, as last year he was third on the Big Red in rushing with 119 yards and three touchdowns. Also in the mix will be rising junior Blayton Reid, who played in all 10 games and contributed in the run game.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Denison lost its top three receivers to graduation, as Tommy Asleson, Billy Guzzo, and Aidan Brownlee accounted for 1,758 yards and 17 touchdowns combined last season. Rising senior Jack Williams is the returning leader in the wide receiver room, as he posted 18 catches for 173 yards in the 2024 season. Rising senior Alex Stackhouse returns at Tight End, and rising senior Logan Yater will be in the mix for the new wide receiver room.

Offensive Line

The most experienced group on the offense, the Big Red return four starters to the offensive line, including Third Team All-NCAC players Brady Moffitt and Canyon Schneider. Rising senior Will Gause will return to tackle, and rising junior Justin King will be back at guard. Caden Winters, Cole Davis, and Ricky Kampmann all made starts last season.

 

DEFENSE

The Big Red defense gave up just 21 points per game, which ranked third in the conference, and surrendered just 97.2 rushing yards per game, which also ranked third. The Big Red will only have to replace one starting defensive lineman, but have to replace three players in the secondary for this upcoming season.

Defensive Line

The defensive line will have to replace its First Team All-NCAC selection Michael Ballenger, who led the team in sacks (7.5), second in tackles for loss (10), and third in total tackles (46). The line will return rising senior Ben Perin, who led the Big Red in tackles for loss with 12.5 tackles and 28 total tackles, rising junior Drew Duffy, who accumulated 38 tackles and was tied with Ballenger in tackles for loss, and rising senior Casper Rublowsky, who had 18 tackles on the season.

Linebackers

The linebacker unit will return two starters in Layton Reesor and Third Team All-NCAC Nick Pellicciotta, who recorded 102 tackles combined. Rising sophomore Rory Ralston will be in the mix to compete at the position, as he played in all 10 games last season, totaling nine tackles.

Secondary

The Big Red secondary will be tasked with replacing All-NCAC performers Collin Murphy and Jaylin Epps, but will return some experience to the group. Christian Lariviere will be back for his senior season, as he totaled 35 tackles and four pass breakups. Colton Morrow returns after having 30 total tackles and two tackles for loss last fall, and Jonathon Higle will be in the mix after recording 18 tackles and three and a half tackles for loss.

Special Teams

The Denison special teams unit will need to replace at all positions, as kicker/punter Daniel Cunningham was lost to graduation, along with Epps at returner. Cunningham was named Special Teams Player of the Year after going 6-for-6 on field goals and first in the conference in punt average with 40.85. Epps was the only returner in the conference with multiple kickoff return touchdowns. 

 

A Look at the Schedule

  Denison starts the year with three road games, traveling to Allegheny (9/6), Alma (9/13), and kicks off conference play at Wabash (9/27). Their first home game of the season will come against rival Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 4, before hitting the road once again in a two-game stretch. Three of the last four games will feature homestands against No. 16 DePauw (10/25), Oberlin (11/1), and the season finale against new NCAC school No. 25 John Carroll on Nov. 15.


 

Date	Location	Opponent (2024 Record)	Time
9/6/2025	Meadville, Pa.	Allegheny (1-9)	2 PM
9/13/2025	Alma, Mich.	(RV) Alma (8-2)	12 PM
9/27/2025	Crawfordsville, Ind.	Wabash (8-3)	2 PM
10/4/2025	Granville, Ohio	Ohio Wesleyan (4-6)	3 PM
10/11/2025	Wooster, Ohio	Wooster (3-7)	7 PM
10/18/2025	Springfield, Ohio	Wittenberg (6-4)	4 PM
10/25/2025	Granville, Ohio	DePauw (11-1)	3 PM
11/1/2025	Granville, Ohio	Oberlin (1-9)	12 PM
11/8/2025	Gambier, Ohio	Kenyon (5-5)	1 PM
11/15/2025	Granville, Ohio	#25 John Carroll (9-3)	1 PM