Springfield, Ohio – The Wittenberg University football team, which returns 16 starters among more than 50 letterwinners from last year’s 10-2 team, once again has experts believing it has the talent to make a run at a national championship. The publishers of Lindy’s 2013 College Football Preview ranked the Tigers eighth in their NCAA Division III preseason poll, while publishers of The Sporting News ranked the Tigers seventh in their NCAA Division III preseason poll.
In addition, The Sporting News named senior offensive tackle Aaron Coeling (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) a preseason All-American. Coeling was a first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and a third-team All-Great Lakes Region honoree in 2012.
Wittenberg, which enters the 2013 season with more wins than any other NCAA Division III football program, is no stranger to preseason or postseason accolades. A year ago, the Tigers won the NCAC title for the third time in the last four years to reach the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 13th time since the inception of the competition in 1973. Wittenberg’s season came to an end in the second round with a 35-10 loss at Hobart.
After averaging nearly 38 points per game a year ago, the Tigers welcome nine starters back to the offensive line-up in 2013. The catalyst figures to be senior quarterback Reed Florence (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern), who piled up 235 yards passing and 40 yards rushing per game in his first season as a starter under center. He accounted for 35 touchdowns in 2012.
Sophomore running back Jimmy Dehnke (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) returns after picking up NCAC Newcomer of the Year honors last year, in recognition of his Wittenberg freshman record rushing total of 827 yards. Four of the Tigers’ top five receivers are back as well, led by senior Brendon Cunningham (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont), who hauled in 61 passes and scored 10 touchdowns a year ago.
Defensively, the Tigers welcome their top four tacklers back to the line-up, starting with the senior linebacking trio of Spencer Leno (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon), Evan Killilea (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales) and Kyle Sanning (Fairborn, Ohio/Tecumseh).
Wittenberg is seeking its NCAC-best 14th title since joining the conference in 1989. The Tigers open the 2013 season on Saturday, Sept. 7, at NCAA Division I-AA powerhouse Butler. Wittenberg’s 2013 home opener against Oberlin is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at historic Edwards-Maurer Field.
Written By: Ryan Maurer