Fordham Football Report #8

Bronx, N.Y. – We're midway through week two of the 2017 Fordham football fall camp and we continue our position-by-position look at the Rams as we check out the offensive line.
 
Fordham returns three starters from the 2016 line, a line that helped the Fordham offense lead the Patriot League and rank fourth in the NCAA FCS in total offense, averaging 498.2 yards/game, and lead the league and rank 12th in the NCAA FCS in rushing offense, averaging 229.7 yards/game. The Rams also led the Patriot League and were fourth in the nation in scoring, averaging 40.1 points per game last year while running back Chase Edmonds set a single-season team rushing mark with 2,527 yards.
 
Leading the returners is senior Anthony Coyle, a first team All-Patriot League selection in 2016, who started all eleven games at left tackle. The two-year starter was also named First Team All-ECAC and recipient of the 2016 Lansing Trophy as Fordham's outstanding lineman.
 
Also back is senior center Ben Hartman, who started all eleven games at center for the Rams. He was named to the 2017 preseason All-Patriot League team.
 

Senior Garrett Donaldson, who appeared in nine games, starting seven, at right guard for the Rams last fall is also back as is junior Dominic Lombard, who saw action in eight games on the offensive line, starting five at left guard in 2016.
 
Also back on the offensive line are juniors Tristan Nevotne, who missed last season with an injury, Erik Rottsolk, who moves over to the to the offensive line after playing on the defensive line last year, along with sophomores Anthony Solano, who was limited by injuries last fall, Marcel Deya, who saw limited action on the line as a freshman.
 
Freshmen looking to see playing time on the offensive line include Jack Trautman, Matt Donovan, Will Conley, Chris Johnson and Nick Zakelj. Trautman, a graduate of Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, where he was a 2016 First Team All-WPIAL 6A and a member of the 2016 Pennsylvania District 7 championship team. Donovan attended Deerfield Academy last year where he was a Second-Team All-Central New England selection on the offensive line. Conley is a graduate of New Canaan High School in New Canaan, Connecticut, where he was a member of four state championship teams and a 2016 First Team All-FCIAC pick, while Johnson comes to Fordham after a successful career at Georgetown Prep in Washington, D.C. Zakelj is a product of Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School in Broadview Heights, Ohio, where he was a 2016 First Team All-Suburban League and 2016 Cleveland.com All-Star selection.