Fordham Football Announces 2015 Recruiting Class

Bronx, N.Y. (February 4, 2015) - Fordham University Head Football Coach Joe Moorhead announced the signing of 22 football players to letters of intent with Fordham for the 2015 season.

Fordham closed out the 2014 season with a #11 national ranking in the final Sports Network NCAA FSC poll, the 25^th straight week that the Rams have been ranked in the national poll. The Rams, who were also ranked 14^th in the final NCAA FCS Coaches Poll, enjoyed another successful season in 2014, going 11-3 overall and winning the Patriot League with a perfect 6-0 record. Fordham earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Championships where the Rams won a first round game for the second straight year, defeating Sacred Heart on Jack Coffey Field, 44-22, before falling to top-ranked New Hampshire in the quarterfinals.
 
The 2014 Rams saw eight players earn All-America honors, including freshman running back Chase Edmonds who received the 2014 Jerry Rice Award as the top NCAA FCS freshman in the nation. Fordham also had 20 players named All-Patriot League, including 15 to the first team, both league records. Highlighting the All-Patriot League selections were senior quarterback Mike Nebrich, who was named the Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight year, and Edmonds, who was named the league's Rookie of the Year.
 
The new class features 13 offensive players and nine defensive players. By position, wide receiver and defensive backs lead the way with six each, followed by four offensive linemen, two linebackers, two tight ends and one defensive lineman and one quarterback.

The 22 newcomers hail from 14 different states, from Connecticut to Washington.  Four of the 2015 recruits are from New Jersey, three from Illinois and two each from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Ohio. California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington are also represented among the new class.

After winning 23 games over the past two years, the Rams lost 18 starters to graduation from the 2014 squad. The new recruiting class will join the remaining returning starters in 2015.
 
"We are very excited about the young men we have added to our program," said Moorhead. "The class is not only high in quantity but it is also high in quality. They all have a chance to come in and contribute right away.  We can't wait to get them in here this summer as we look to build on the accomplishments of this year."

The Rams are scheduled to open their 116^th season of varsity football on Friday night, September 4, when they travel to West Point, N.Y., to face Army. Fordham is entering its 26^th season as a member of the NCAA FCS Patriot League.


Here is a complete list of the 2015 newcomers:
 

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown/High School (Last School)
Jordan Allen	DB	6-2	204	Chestnut Hill, Mass./Thayer Academy
John Boyd	OL	6-5	278	Chula Vista, Calif./Southwestern College
Corey Caddle	WR	5-9	175	Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep
Noah Fitzgerald	LB	6-0	204	Glen Burnie, Md./Old Mill
Andrew Force	WR	6-3	208	Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area
Antonio Jackson	DB	6-2	180	Leesburg, Va./Loudon County
Doniel Kennedy	OL	6-6	260	Cibolo, Tex./Byron Steele II
Ryan Kroeger	DL	6-2	280	Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Red Bank Catholic
Dominic Lombard	OL	6-5	290	Palatine, Ill./William Fremd
Tyler Long	DB	6-2	190	New Riegel, Ohio/Tiffin Calvert
Austin Longi	WR	5-8	150	Stamford, Conn./Greenwich
Jonathan Lumley	WR	6-4	190	Roslindale, Mass./St. George's
Dylan Mabin	DB	6-1	180	Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia
Lawrence Menyah	DB	6-2	201	Bronx, N.Y./Brooklyn Tech
Tristan Nevotne	OL	6-2	302	Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central
Noah Nix	WR	5-10	184	Atlanta, Ga./Westminster
Bryce Petty	DB	6-1	165	Carrol Stream, Ill./Bartlett
Andrew Prince	WR	6-2	185	Boynton Beach, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens
Erik Rottsolk	TE	6-6	240	Seattle, Wash./Lakeside
Isaiah Searight	TE	6-4	220	Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional
Colton Smith	QB	6-1	190	Sandy Hook, Conn./Fairfield Prep
Jarod Vyent	LB	6-3	208	West Orange, N.J./West Orange

 

2015 Fordham University Football Recruiting Class
 
Jordan Allen, DB, 6-2, 204, Chestnut Hill, Mass./Thayer Academy
A 2013 First Team All-ISL selection in 2013 and 2014 preseason First Team All-ISL pick… 2013 Track & Field ISL MVP… 2013 ISL 100m and 200m champions… ISL All-Scholastic Track & Field Award… 100m school record holder (10.80)… 200m school record holder (22.04)… Played for head coach Jeff Toussaint at Thayer Academy.  
 
 
John Boyd, OL, 6-5, 278, Chula Vista, Calif./Southwestern College
Has already enrolled at Fordham after transferring from Southwestern College in California… Southwestern College Scholar-Athlete of the Year… Named to the Rivals.com National preseason Watch List for junior college players in 2014… Rivals.com two-star rated offensive lineman… San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic in 2012… Played for head coach Ed Carberry at Southwestern College.
 
 
Corey Caddle, WR, 5-9, 175, Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep
Two-way starter on the 2014 Non-Public Group 4 State Championship team… Named First Team All-HCIAL… An ESPN New Jersey Tp-50 Player… First Team MSG All-State selection… Totaled 1,158 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns in 2014… A Second Team NJ.com All-State honoree… Played at St. Peter's Prep for head coach Rich Hansen.
 
 
Noah Fitzgerald, LB, 6-0, 204, Glen Burnie, Md./Old Mill
A First Team All-State selection in 2014… Also a Second Team All-Met pick… Voted team's Most Valuable Defensive Back… Mind in Motion award winner… Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominee… Big-33 All-Star Game nominee… Played for head coach Chad McCormick at Old Mill.
 
 
Andrew Force, WR, 6-3, 208, Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area
A two-time All-Wyoming Valley Conference First Team selection… Two-time Enterprise Wide Receiver of the Year… School record holder for longest reception (97 yards)… 2014 Big 33 All-Star game nominee… 2013 Super Sixteen Dream Team selection… 2013 First Team All-Region, All-County and All-Area… Played for head coach George Curry at Berwick Area.
 
 
Antonio Jackson, DB, 6-2, 180, Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County
2014 First Team All-State punt returner and Second Team All-State wide receiver… First Team All-Region at wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner in 2014… First Team All-Conference at wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner in 2014… Set school record for touchdowns in a game with five… An Al-State high jumper… Set school high jump record (6' 6")… Played for head coach Todd Hill at Loudon County.
 
 
Doniel Kennedy, DL, 6-6, 260, Cibolo, Tex./Byron Steele II
Notched 61 knockdown blocks in 2013… Also had 14 receptions for 388 yards and one score in 2013… a two-year varsity starter… A multi-sport athlete in high school, playing football and basketball where he averaged 5 ppg and 7 rpg… Played high school football for head coach Scott Lehnoff at Bryon P. Steele II.
 
 
Ryan Kroeger, DL, 6-2, 280, Atlantic Highlands, N.J>/Red Bank Catholic
A First Team All-Metro pick and First Team MSG All-State selection… Named First Team All-State by the Shore Ledger and First Team All-Shore… A Shore Sports Zone top 50 Player… 2014 Vince Lombardi Award winner… Played at Red Bank Catholic for head coach Jim Portela.
 
 
Dominic Lombard, OL, 6-5, 290, Palintine, Ill./William Fremd
Blocked for an offense in high school that gained 2,123 rushing yards last fall… a 2014 First Team All-Northwest selection… A 2014 First Team All-Mid-Suburban Conference pick… A two-year starter… Played high school football for head coach Mike Donatucci at William Fremd.
 
 
Tyler Long, DB, 6-2,190, New Riegel, Ohio/Tiffin Calvert
A Second Team All-State pick in 2014 and First Team All-District selection… Also named First Team All-North Central Ohio by the Ohio Coaches Association… First Team TAAC All-Conference honoree… the 2014 TAAC Conference Offensive Player of the Year… An Academic All-Ohio selection… Rushed for 1,587 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2014… Also an All-State Track Champion with the 4x100 relay.. Played high school football for head coach Todd Fox at Tiffin Calvert.
 
 
Austin Longi, WR, 5-8, 150, Stamford, Conn./Greenwich
Set school record for rushing yards in a game with 360… Also holds school record for touchdowns in a game with seven… Totaled 67 touchdowns during his high school career… Netted 3,000 all-purpose yards as a senior… A two-time All-FCIAC First Team selection… State champion in the 55m… A two-time All-FCIAC 55m champion.. Played football for head coach Richard Albonizio at Greenwich.
 
 
Jonathan Lumley, WR, 6-4, 190, Roslindale, Mass./St. George's
A First Team All-State selection in 2013… A two-time First Team All-ISL selection (2013 and 2014)… Named Offensive MVP in 2013… An All-New England track nominee… A First Team All-ISL track honoree… Played high school football for head coach John Mackay at St. George's.
 
 
Dylan Mabin, DB, 6-1, 180, Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia
A First Team All-Suburban League selection at both wide receiver and defensive back… A Second Team All-Northeast District Team pick… Also named to the Akron Touchdown Club All-Star Team… Served as team captain of the 2014 State Division II Runners-Up… Recorded 54 tackles and 19 pass breakups in 2014… Had 41 receptions for 905 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2014… Played for head coach Jeff Fox at Nordonia.
 
 
Lawrence Menyah, DB, 6-2, 201, Bronx, N.Y./Brooklyn Tech
A 2014 First Team All-City selection… Also a First Team All-Brooklyn pick… Led the PSAL in receptions… Named team MVP and captain… Played for head coach Kyle McKenna at Brooklyn Tech.
 
 
Tristan Nevotne, OL, 6-2, 3-2, Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central
A two-way varsity starter in 2013 and 2014… Recognized by Tom Lemming as one of Illinois's top players… A Chicago Sun-Times Top 100 player… Named Chicago Sun-Times' 2014 preseason top pass rusher… A three-sport athlete in high school (football, track and basketball)… A West Suburban All-Academic honoree (4.0 GPA)… Played for head coach Rich Tarka at Hinsdale Central.
 
 
Noah Nix, WR., 5-10, 184, Atlanta, Ga,/Westminster School
A two-way starter on the state semifinalists in 2014… Averaged 16.5 yards per touch in 2014… An Honor Roll student… Also a two-year letter winner with the lacrosse team… Member of the 2013 state championship lacrosse team… Played high school football for head coach Gerry Romberg at the Westminster School.
 
 
Bryce Petty, DB., 6-1, 165, Carol Stream, Ill./Bartlett
An Honorable Mention All-Conference pick in 2013 and 2014… Named Academic All-Conference in 2013 and 2014… An All-Conference track performer in 2012.. Played high school football for head coach Tom Meaney at Bartlett High School.
 
 
Andrew Prince, WR., 6-2, 185, Boynton Beach, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens
Recorded 22 receptions for 430 yards and five touchdowns in 2013… Had 14 catches for 350 yards and four scores in 2014… A three-year varsity starter… Also a member of the varsity track team… Ran a 48 second 400m in 2013… Played high school football for head coach Robert Freeman at Palm Beach Gardens.
 
 
Erik Rottsolk, TE, 6-6, 240, Seattle, Wash./Lakeside
A Scout.com ranked player in the state of Washington… Had eight receptions for 120 yards and three touchdowns in two game in 2014… A preseason First Team All-State selection at tight end and Second Team pick at defensive line in 2013… A 2013 NUC All-American… Recorded 34 receptions for 601 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013… A four-year starter with the varsity basketball team… Played high school football for head coach Casey Selfridge at Lakeside.
 
 
Isaiah Searight, TE, 6-4, 220, Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional
A Second Team All-State selection and First Team All-Region pick in 2014… Also a First Team All-County and All-Shore honoree… A First Team Class A Central Division selection.. Had 76 receptions for 887 yards and nine touchdowns in 20145.. A two-year team captain… Played high school football for head coach Rich Mosca at Monmouth Regional.
 
 
Colton Smith, QB, 6-1, 190, Sandy Hook, Conn./Fairfield Prep
A First Team All-State Class LL Coaches selection… Also a First Team MSG Varsity All-Connecticut pick… Named a Second Team All-State by the New Haven Register… A Southern Connecticut Conference All-Conference team honoree and All-Area pick by the New Haven Register… Named of the Hearst Super 33 All-Star Team… A MSG Varsity All-Metro Honorable Mention… Played high school football for head coach Tom Shea at Fairfield Prep.
 
 
Jarod Vyent, LB, 6-3, 208, West Orange, N.J./West Orange
A First Team All-Super Essex Conference selection… Had 20 receptions for 323 yards and three touchdowns in 2014… Also notched 22 tackles and eleven tackles for loss in 2014… Voted team MVP… A three-sport athlete in high school… Played high school football for head coach Jim Matsakis at West Orange.