The 2016 Fordham Linebackers

Linebacker Photo Gallery | Practice Photo Gallery
 
Bronx, N.Y. – As the Fordham University football Rams prepare for their second scrimmage of the 2016 fall camp we continue our position-by-position breakdown of the squad with a look at the linebackers.
 
The linebacking corps has a lot of depth and returns three of the four starters from 2015, a season in which the Fordham defense led the Patriot League and ranked tenth in the NCAA FCS in both turnovers gained (29) and fumbles recovered (13).
 

Leading the linebackers in 2016 will be seniors George Dawson and David Barletta along with junior Niko Thorpe, an All-Patriot League pick last year. In 2015, Dawson started all 12 games at linebacker, compiling 65 total tackles, 40 solo, fifth best on the squad. He also had 9.0 tackles for loss, second best on the team, and 3.0 sacks. Barletta, who appeared in all 12 games at linebacker in 2015, recorded 33 total tackles, 18 solo, including 5.0 for loss, while Thorpe, who started all 12 games as a sophomore, notched 78 total tackles, 50 solo, third best on team and he led the team with 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
 
Also back is senior Brett Lambert, who played in ten games as a junior, making eleven tackles, nine solo, while senior Kyvaune Brammer, who moves over from wide receiver, begins his first year at linebacker.
 
Sophomore Noah Fitzgerald, who saw action in ten games as a freshman where he recorded 14 total tackles, seven solo, and intercepted a pass, is back as is junior Vincent Sansone, who appeared in six games as a sophomore, both at linebacker and on special teams.
 
Also back are sophomores Chris Geissler and Jarod Vyent, who missed last year with an injury.
 
Newcomers at linebacker include Kyle Cook, a transfer from Bryant University, Max Roberts, who made 42 tackles, including three for loss, and intercepted a pass at Salisbury School last year, and sophomore Zurab Akirtava, Jr., a product of St. George's School in Rhode Island.
 
Notes
The Rams had some fun after practice on Friday as a water balloon fight broke out followed by the players taking a turn on a slide and slide.


 
Today's practice was the last of the two-a-days for the Rams.
 
The placekickers were largely successful at the end of practice, connecting on field goals of more than 40 yards.
 
Fordham will have its second scrimmage of camp on Sunday at 1:45 pm on Jack Coffey Field.