Roaring on — and off — the field
Whether making tackles or completing community service, Towson University football’s Monty Fenner has had a big impact
By Kyle Hobstetter on August 30, 2018
Last year Monty Fenner was spotted all over Baltimore City and county. That’s because the Towson University defensive back was featured in the team’s ads on a Maryland Transit Administration light rail train.
The redshirt senior admits that he wasn’t expecting the ad to be so big. But after a trip to see the train at the Hunt Valley light rail station, he was amazed at the gigantic photo of himself diving for a football.
Fenner also couldn’t believe how many random Snapchat messages he received after the train started running through Baltimore.
“I thought ‘Wow, people really know me,’ which is great because you can’t really see who’s inside the helmet,” Fenner said. “Representing Towson University and having people notice speaks volumes about the work I’m putting in.”
Now entering his final season at TU, Fenner has done his best to represent the black and gold on and off the field. Along with football, the Chesapeake, Virginia, native is an aspiring detective working toward a degree in criminal justice.
He’s also found ways to integrate himself into both the campus and local communities. As a football player and a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Fenner has contributed countless hours of community service.
While he’s done everything from helping new TU students move into their residence halls to cleaning up the surrounding area, he most enjoys visiting local schools and hospitals to meet children.
“I want to give back to this community,” Fenner said. “TU is Baltimore’s college team, and we want to live up to that.”
In 2016 Fenner was chosen to receive the inaugural Wardell Turner Memorial Scholarship. The award honors Sgt. Maj. Wardell B. Turner, who was killed in action on November 24, 2014, in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Turner, who graduated from TU in 1989 with a degree in management, was a four-year letter winner at defensive back for the Tigers. The scholarship is awarded annually to a defensive back in good academic standing who demonstrates the qualities and attributes Turner exemplified: leadership, selfless service and commitment.
Fenner received the award from Turner’s widow, Katherine, and his youngest son, Xavier.
"I am very honored and humbled to be the first recipient of this award," Fenner said. "I feel the coaches, the athletics department and the Turner family trusted me with this honor. I have big shoes to fill.”
Fenner and the Tigers opened the season on September 1 with a 36-10 win at Morgan State in the second installment of the Battle for Greater Baltimore.
Fenner made four solo tackles in the Tigers' second straight win in the series.
The Tigers defeated the Bears last season 10-0 at Unitas Stadium, and it was a Fenner interception that led to the Tigers’ only touchdown.
Last season, Fenner started all 11 games for the Tigers, ranking first in interceptions and finishing second in total tackles. But the team finished the season with an overall record of 5-6 that put them in the bottom half of the Colonial Athletic Association standings.
After last season’s disappointment, Fenner understands that fans might have some hesitation. But with record attendance during summer camp and new coaches bringing a new attitude to practice, Fenner has high hopes for his senior season.
“I feel like we’re going to make a run for it this year,” he said.