Spencer Leno, Kyle Sanning Named To Hampshire Honor Society

Defensive standouts recognized for their fine work on the field and in the classroom by the National Football Foundation.

Spencer Leno (left) and Kyle Sanning (right) have been recognized by the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society for their combination of academic and athletic success. File Photos | Erin Pence
Spencer Leno (left) and Kyle Sanning (right) have been recognized by the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society for their combination of academic and athletic success. File Photos | Erin Pence
May 5, 2014

Springfield, Ohio – Senior linebacker Spencer Leno (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon) and senior defensive end Kyle Sanning (Fairborn, Ohio/Tecumseh) are among 838 student-athletes from 267 schools who qualified for induction into the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society. 

To be nominated for the Hampshire Honor Society, student-athletes must have been a starter or significant contributor in their final season of eligibility while achieving at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and meeting all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements and graduation. 

Leno led the Tigers in tackles each of the last two years, culminating with a tremendous 2013 season in which he piled up 111 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and three sacks. He accumulated more than 300 tackles in his collegiate career. 

Leno, a two-time first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) selection, excelled in the classroom as well. He will earn his bachelor’s degree on May 17 after majoring in education and also completing a minor in political science. 

Sanning finished fourth on the team with 65 tackles, including team-highs of 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He earned honorable mention All-NCAC honors following the season. 

Sanning was a first-team Capital One Academic All-America Division III All-District 7 honoree in 2013, and he was named a finalist for the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Program. He will earn his degree in mathematics from Wittenberg on May 17. 

Wittenberg bounced back from a season-opening loss to NCAA Division I FCS opponent Butler to win its fourth NCAC title in the last five years and league-best 12th since joining the league in 1989. The Tigers advanced to the second round of the 2013 NCAA Division III Tournament before losing to eventual national runner-up Mount Union to finish with records of 10-2 overall and 9-0 in the NCAC. 

The Tigers will open the 2014 season with a home game against Butler at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Edwards-Maurer Field. Wittenberg will kick off the NCAC campaign a week later against DePauw, also at home.

Written By: Ryan Maurer