Defensive quartet named to All-NCAC squad

CLEVELAND — With Monday’s release of the 2024 All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Football Team, the Kenyon College Owls learned that they had a quartet of players listed among the honorees. Those four, all defensive players, were Andy Canonico, Dominic Simpson, Jared Hancock and Andy Melian.

Canonico was listed among the First Team selections, Simpson gained Second Team recognition, while Hancock and Melian landed spots on the Third Team. They were all part of a Kenyon defense that ranked third among all conference teams in yards allowed per game (285.5). The 2,855 yards yielded were the program’s lowest total since that of the 1986 team, which gave up 2,807 yards.

Canonico, a senior defensive lineman, had a brilliant final season for Kenyon. He started all 10 games and led the team in both tackles-for-loss (16) and quarterback sacks (7). Among all players in the NCAC, those totals ranked second and fifth, respectively. Canonico had 52 total tackles, which tied for the second best total on the team, and he also ranked second on the team with six quarterback hurries. The All-NCAC nod was the third in his career. He was named a member of the Second Team after each of the last two seasons.

Simpson, a sophomore defensive back, is now a two-time All-NCAC honoree. His Second Team spot this season was preceded by a Third Team selection one year ago. Throughout the 2024 campaign, Simpson started all 10 games at safety and led the team in tackles with a total (82) that ranked sixth best among all players in the conference. He also had three tackles-for-loss, four pass break-ups, one interception and one fumble recovery. 

Hancock, a junior linebacker, was among the team’s tackle leaders, as well. He tied for second with Canonico, racking up 52 tackles in 10 games played. Eight of his tackles went down for losses and one was a sack. He forced two fumbles, helping the Owls lead the conference in that category.

Back on the line, Melian, a senior, took on nose tackle duties. He played in seven games and chalked up 39 tackles. He had nine tackles-for-loss and 3.5 quarterback sacks. Additionally, he recorded three quarterback hurries and picked off one pass.

The four Kenyon standouts helped the Owls to a 5-5 record, the program’s first .500 or better mark over the last 12 seasons. They were part of a defense that held opponents to 22.3 points per game, the program’s best average since the 1999 team yielded 21.6 points per game.