The receiver who delivered one of the greatest statistical seasons in Denison football history smiles as he recounts the humble beginnings to his Big Red career.
Grayson Kerscher ’27 caught one pass for three yards in his first two years at Denison — and it wasn’t thrown by a quarterback.
“It wasn’t even like a real play,” Kerscher says, sitting in the coach’s office weeks before the start of the 2026 season. “It came on a fake punt during my sophomore year.”
It was a Big Red herring — a gadget play they wanted to put on film to give future opponents something else to see and worry about on special teams.
Instead of being discouraged by his lack of offensive production, Kerscher got to work for the 2025 season.
He understood what needed to be done to gain his coaches’ trust. Kerscher committed himself in the weight room, adding muscle to an already sturdy frame. He also spent much of the spring prior to his junior season catching 150 balls a day launched from a Jugs machine in the auxiliary gymnasium.
“I had a problem catching the ball, which obviously isn’t great for receivers,” Kerscher says. “It wasn’t bad, but I definitely had more drops than the guys who were above me on the roster.”
His offseason dedication led to a breakout junior year. Kerscher evolved into a first-team all-conference player, catching 78 passes for 1,239 yards — the second-best single-season totals in Big Red history.
In the final four games, Kerscher averaged a whopping 174 receiving yards with eight touchdowns.
While nobody anticipated that level of improvement, coach Jack Hatem knew Kerscher was capable of becoming a key contributor.
“He comes into this season as one of the top receivers in the country,” Hatem says. “Grayson is one of the most disciplined players I’ve ever coached. From his work ethic, to his academics, to the way he interacts with others on this campus, he’s very mature in his approach.”
Academics has never been an issue for Kerscher, a native of Naples, Florida, who majors in economics with a finance concentration. Last season, he earned Division III second-team Academic All-American honors.
Kerscher spent the past few summers interning in the corporate finance department of Arthrex, a global medical device company headquartered in Naples.
Grayson Kerscher ’27 was a second-team Academic All-American in 2025. (Photo credit: Dan Coe)
“One of the reasons I chose Denison was for its amazing academics — it was a huge draw,” he says.
Kerscher also has strong ties to Central Ohio. His parents are from Columbus, and plenty of extended family still call it home.
The receiver gave the Kerscher clan ample reasons to make the drive to Granville last fall.
On Oct. 25, 2025, he caught a 10-yard pass against conference rival DePauw University and turned it into a record-setting 99-yard touchdown. The play highlighted the pace and power Kerscher possesses.
“The cornerback either slipped or took a bad angle, and I just took off down the sideline,” he recalls. “It was kind of a scary feeling because in my mind I’m thinking, ‘Just don’t get caught from behind.’”
Kerscher, a muscular 6-foot, 195 pounder, doesn’t have the typical receiver’s build.
“When I tell people I play college football they assume I’m a linebacker,” he says.
While a spring dedicated to weight training and pass catching helped produce the terrific 2025 season, it was an elevated level of confidence that rocketed Kerscher up the depth chart.
His big-play ability made him a favorite target of last season’s quarterback Tyler Green and fueled a Big Red passing attack that finished fourth in the nation, averaging 348.5 yards per game.
Kerscher entered the 2026 season with a new quarterback and a different set of challenges.
Grayson Kerscher ’27 races toward the endzone for a record-setting 99-yard touchdown reception against DePauw University. (Photo credit: Jace Delgado)
Brian Rager ’28 replaces Green as the team’s offensive leader. Meanwhile, opponents now have lots of video evidence of Kerscher catching passes from someone other than the punter.
“Everybody knows who he is,” Hatem says of Kerscher, who ranked eighth In Division III receiving yards. “Defenses will be geared toward him.”
Kerscher is motivated to prove the Denison offense can keep humming with Rager — a dual-threat quarterback who can stretch defenses with his ability to run.
“Last year, a lot of teams were just dropping eight guys into coverage against four or five receivers,” Kerscher says. “Brian will keep defenses honest and give us a chance for more big plays.”
Kerscher isn’t concerned about matching his individual stats from a season ago. An introvert by nature, he’s blossomed into a vocal team leader focused on what’s best for the Big Red.
“It’s about establishing a team-first mentality,” he says. “I don’t care how we win games as long as we win them. That’s all that matters this season.”
