Emily Orsini, Sports Editor–
With over 4,000 yards of offense and 45 touchdowns, Denison’s offense ranked among the best in the country. But every high-powered offense needs a spark – and for the Big Red, that was provided by quarterback Tyler Green ’28
Green was among the best quarterbacks in Division III, where he ranked first in the nation for completions per game (30.7) and second in passing yards (3,440) and passing yards per game (344).
The Concord, North Carolina, native said the key to the success came down to mindset.
“Really just being resilient and coming out and playing all four quarters is what really helped us this season,” said Green. “We’ve had a few tough first halves, so being able to compete from start to finish really benefitted us.”
That resilience wasn’t just a mindset, it showed up in real moments.
“A major turning point for [the team] was our game against Wittenberg. We came out slow in the first half and were down [27-7] at halftime. We ended up coming back in the second half and won the game [43-40]. That was the point in the year where we found our identity as a team,” said Green.
Green shredded Wittenberg’s defense for 409 yards passing and four touchdowns, a breakout performance.
According to captain and center Canyon Schneider ’26, the numbers reflect just how much Green has evolved.
“Tyler has grown a lot both on and off the field since his freshman year,” said Schneider. “The football speaks for itself, but I think what sticks out to me the most is his balance of competence and confidence in his leadership. Tyler plays with so much energy and swagger, and he consistently backs that up with making the right decisions and bringing people along with him.”
Green was named NCAC Newcomer of the Year in 2024 and was third-team All-NCAC. Green treated these accolades as motivation rather than validation.
“Obviously we had a pretty good season last year, and it’s really nice to be recognized, but I didn’t really read much into it,” said Green. “I wanted to come out and play better this year, which I think I did, so it’s always about looking to take the next step. [I] put last year in the past so I was able to focus on this year.”
His perspective and aspirations for this year weren’t isolated to only him – the entire team was on the same page: they wanted to be better.
“All the guys had the same mindset. We all knew that we wanted to be better this year than we were last, which really helped me focus and is why I think some of the guys had the numbers that they did,” said Green.
The Big Red finished 6-4 overall the last two years and were 5-3 in the NCAC this season after going 6-2 the previous year.
Green also is a member of the baseball team and said playing both sports requires him to find new ways to stay connected. While the football team is having spring practices, Green is unable to attend.
“Staying engaged with football in the spring is tough because I’ll be focusing on baseball,” said Green. “Keeping up with my teammates and checking in on the work they’re doing in the spring is how I’ll stay connected.”
Managing two sports means Green never truly steps away from competition – something he believes keeps him sharp for both sports. That mindset becomes even more important as he heads into an offseason where the demands only grow.
“I want to build on this year and become more of a vocal leader. We want to make a run in the conference and at least try to get a bowl game after the regular season, so really I just want to build off this year and see what happens.”
Green’s numbers may headline the story, but it’s his drive that gives the Big Red something deeper: belief. And if that carries into next fall, Denison won’t just be chasing a conference championship; they’ll be chasing a new standard.