Football | 2/13/2026 11:19:00 AM

Columbus, Ohio (Feb. 9, 2026) - Senior Canyon Schneider of the Denison football team has received the John McConnell and Worthington Industries Columbus Scholar-Athlete Award presented by the Columbus Chapter of the National Football Foundation (NFF) this past Monday at the 65th annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet at the Ohio Union at Ohio State University. 

Schneider, along with fellow collegiate scholar-athletes from Capital, Kenyon, Ohio Dominican, Ohio State, Otterbein, and Ohio Wesleyan, were recognized as scholastic players voted outstanding in football performance, academic achievement, and school leadership, with Schneider receiving the top honor for a scholarship to help further his post-graduate education.

"To be honored as the Denison representative at the NFF banquet was a fantastic honor and experience. To have my family there with me, along with Coach Hatem and his wife, made it even more special. To be named the NFF Columbus Scholar-Athlete of the Year is more than just an award; it is a vote of confidence as I pursue my life after football," said Schneider.
 

Schneider has been the anchor of the Denison offensive line for the past four seasons, starting in all 40 games throughout his career. He blocked for many record breakers, including running back Trey Fabrocini, who holds the career rushing record at 4,475 yards and rushing touchdowns with 59, and this past season, helped quarterback Tyler Green break the single-season record in passing yards (3,440).

 "Canyon Schneider is a senior offensive lineman for Denison University's football team, known for his consistency, toughness, and leadership on and off the field. He has started every game in his college career (40 straight games) and earned All-Conference and Academic All-District honors for his performance on the gridiron and in the classroom, showing both physical grit and intellectual commitment," said Denison head football coach Jack Hatem. "Beyond athletics, Schneider serves as president of Mission34, a mental health initiative, has volunteered hundreds of hours in his community, and was selected to the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, an award recognizing student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding service and character."

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.