Fordham Rams
2016 Record: 8-3 Overall, 5-1 in Patriot League
Head Coach: Andrew Breiner 2nd Season (8-3 Overall, 5-1 PL)
Last Patriot League Championship: 2014
Last FCS Playoff Appearance: 2015
Key Returning Players
Offense: QB Kevin Anderson (5th Sr.), RB Chase Edmonds (Sr.), WR Austin Longi (Jr.), LT Anthony Coyle (Sr.), C Ben Hartman (Jr.), RT Garrett Donaldson (Sr.)
Defense: NG Nick Angeli (Sr.), DT Manny Adeyeye (5th Sr.), DE Ty Green (Sr.), LB Max Roberts (So.), SS Antonio Jackson (Jr.), FS Cale Hamm (Sr.)
2016 Review
After three straight FCS playoff appearances the Rams came up just of making it a 4th consecutive trip to the postseason in 2016. Despite notching 8 wins, Fordham was one of the first teams left out of the field of 24. A porous defense (30.1 ppg allowed) cost the Rams greatly in key losses to league champion Lehigh and Big South member Monmouth. The Rams gave up 52 (Navy), 42 (Monmouth) and 58 (Lehigh) points in their 3 losses. The potent Ram offense (40.1) simply couldn’t do it alone in Andrew Breiner’s first year as head coach.
Fordham’s offense was once again led by consensus 1st Team All-American RB Chase Edmonds (1,799 yards 19 TDs). The sensational Fordham running back finished 4th in the Payton Award voting after ending the year second in FCS in rushing. Junior QB Kevin Anderson (272 ypg 27 TD 4 INT) also contributed in a big way. His favorite target was the diminutive but ultra-elusive Austin Longi. The shifty sophomore receiver had a breakout year for the Rams who suffered heavy graduation losses at the position following the 2015 season. The offensive line once again performed very well for the Rams.
While 8 wins would be cause for celebration at most places, 2016 had to feel like a bit of a disappointment on Rose Hill. Despite the coaching change, Fordham entered the season with high expectations given the amount of talent Joe Moorhead left behind. The Rams will certainly have a chance to make up for 2016’s disappointment. This year they get EWU and Lehigh at home which gives the Rams two great chances to solidify their 2017 postseason odds. Fordham has had the Lehigh game circled since last year’s debacle in Bethlehem.
2017 Offense
Key Returning Player to Watch: WR Austin Longi (Jr.)
Freshman to Watch: Hunter Harris
The Fordham offense should once again be one of the top units in FCS. Chase Edmonds is arguably the best player in the subdivision and 5th year senior QB Kevin Anderson (Marshall transfer) is one of the top players at his position in FCS. Combine that with an experienced offensive line and it’s hard to imagine Fordham playing less than 12 games this year. The key will be developing depth at wide receiver. The group has the potential to be very good but with the season about to start it’s not nearly as deep or proven as previous editions.
What the Rams do return at wide receiver is their #1, Austin Longi. Despite being 5’8 150 pounds, the junior was the team’s leading receiver with 774 yards and 6 TDs. Fordham’s 3rd leading receiver in 2016 was Longi’s backup in the slot, sophomore Corey Caddle (32 rec 368 yards 4 TDs). Two inexperienced juniors, Jordan Allen (6’2 190) and Jonathan Lumley (6’4 187), are expected to join Longi in the starting line-up. Allen and Lumley possess the size to be dangerous weapons but time will tell how well they gel with Anderson. The veteran QB will certainly give them a chance to succeed at a high level. Another pair of juniors, Noah Nix and Andrew Prince, will likely see significant time as well. Freshman Hunter Harris comes to Fordham with an excellent resume. He could see the field by the time league play starts.
In addition to the experienced skill players, Fordham returns a veteran and talented offensive line. The Ram O-line features two preseason 1st Team All-Patriot League selections, (T) Andrew Coyle & (C) Ben Hartman, and 3 year starter (T) Garrett Donaldson. Joining those three will be Anthony Solano and Dominic Lombard at the guard positions. Due to the amount of experience returning, there isn’t a lot of depth so that is a bit of a concern should injuries strike. Bad thoughts aside, this should be an excellent offensive line.
The final piece to the “O” puzzle will be figuring out the TE positon. With the graduation of Phazahn Odom there’s a large hole, literally and figuratively, in the Fordham offense. Isaiah Searight and Andrew Force are the two most likely candidates to battle for the starting role.
There’s no doubt Fordham is capable of surpassing last year’s 40 ppg average. The Ram offense will be scary good.
Defense
Key Returning Player to Watch: DT Manny Adeyeye (5th Sr.)
Freshman to Watch: LB Glen Cunningham
Much like Lehigh, Fordham’s defense must improve if the Rams want to maximize their elite “O”. Their first priority must be improving the rush D (186 ypg 5th in PL). The unit was run over and around for much of last year. The defensive line was a soft spot and Ram opponents exploited it with regularity. The pass defense ranked 3rd in the league in yards against (192) but did struggle when facing the more potent passing attacks on their schedule.
Getting a fully healthy Manny Adeyeye at DT should pay immediate dividends against the run. The 5th year senior has been plagued by injury during his career but has the potential to finish out his time at Fordham in a big way. He’s an All-league type talent if stays on the field. Joining him along the D-line will be returning starters Nick Angeli at NT and Ty Green (4 TFL, 2.5 sacks) at DE. Senior Jonathan Dimon is expected to start at the other DE spot. Depth will be Fordham’s biggest nemesis in the trenches. There’s virtually no experience beyond the starting unit. Defensive coordinator John Bowes will likely use two freshman (Sawyer Schwarcz & Ellis Taylor) and two sophomores (John Piccinich & Michael Ware) in the rotation.
The linebacker unit will be anchored by sophomore Max Roberts and junior Noah Fitzgerald. The duo has the potential to be really good by the time they leave the Bronx. Roberts is coming off an excellent freshman year where he tied for team lead in sacks (4.5) and tied for second in TFLs (9.5). Fitzgerald led FCS in fumbles recovered and had 3.5 TFLs. Robert Menyah is expected to start at the hybrid “star” position. The junior will play near the line of scrimmage when needed but is more adapt at dropping back into coverage. Vincent Sansone (Sr.) and freshman Glen Cunningham will see time at the two traditional linebacker positions.
The secondary returns a plethora of experience and talent. Senior Caleb Ham is a preseason 1st team All-PL selection at FS. Antonio Jackson (44 solo tackles 2 sacks 2 INTs) doesn’t get the notoriety as his secondary mate Ham but he might be just as good. If there’s some concern in the secondary it’s at cornerback. Dylan Mabin and Jesse Bramble must improve in coverage if the defense wants to take another step. If one or both struggle juniors James Biggs-Frazier and Bryce Petty will get an opportunity play beyond obvious passing downs.
Special Teams
Fordham’s special teams have to be a major concern for head coach Andrew Breiner. The Rams lost their punter, place kicker and top returner to specialist. All three were very good so finding their replacements will be crucial. Fordham will likely rely on freshman Andrew Mevis to handle the punting duties. The place kicking duties will come down junior Kyle Facibene and Mevis. Caddle and Mabin should be the main return specialists but don’t be surprised if Edmonds or Longi are given a chance in key situations.
2017 Outlook
Fordham has to be itching to get the 2017 season started given the wealth of experience and talent they return. The Rams enter the year with a rather large chip on their shoulders after just missing out on a Patriot League title and a 4th straight FCS playoff appearance. Usually when you combine talent and motivation big things happen. That’s why there’s every reason to believe that 2017 will be a banner year for the Rams. The team has the potential to capture the league title and advance in the playoffs while Edmonds enters the year as the favorite to win FCS’s highest individual honor, The Payton Award. QB Kevin Anderson should also be in the running for postseason accolades.
The defense will ultimately decide if Fordham’s program takes the next step nationally. The talent is there at every position to improve considerably over last year’s disaster. Manny Adeyeye’s return from injury drastically improves the defensive line. If Bowes can build depth at every level the Ram defense will be quite formidable. However, if the injury bug strikes or the unit is forced to spend too much time on the field the problems that plagued Fordham in 2016 will once again pop up.
Fordham plays an extremely exciting schedule in 2017. Army offers a stern, but winnable FBS game out of the gate. The Rams defeated the Blacks Knight in the 2015 opener. Fordham welcomes FCS power Eastern Washington September 16th in one of the year’s top out of conference games. An always tricky trip to Hamilton, NY to face Colgate on October 14th and a home showdown against Lehigh two weeks later should be Fordham’s biggest obstacles in the league race. Colgate prevented Fordham from winning the league in 2015 while Lehigh stood in the Rams way last year.
2017 Schedule
9/1 @ Army 6:00 PM
9/9 @ Central Connecticut State 12 PM
9/16 Eastern Washington 1 PM
9/23 @ Bryant 1 PM
9/30 Yale 6 PM
10/7 @ Lafayette 3:30 PM
10/14 @ Colgate 1 PM
10/21 @ Georgetown 2 PM
10/28 Lehigh 1 PM
11/4 Holy Cross 1 PM
11/11 Bye
11/18 Bucknell 12 PM
2017 Projection: 9-2 Overall, 5-1 Patriot League, Playoff Auto-Bid
