Fordham Football Report #9

Bronx, N.Y. – The second week of the 2017 Fordham football fall camp is coming to an end so we continue our position-by-position look at the Rams as we breakdown the defensive line.
 
Fordham lost two starters on the defensive line to graduation, including All-Patriot League selection Justin Vaughn who was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the 2017 CFL draft, but return a pair of players with a lot of experience.
 
Last year, the Rams defensive line helped Fordham rank second in the Patriot League and eleventh in the NCAA FCS in sacks/game (3.00) and second in the conference in tackles for loss per game (6.5).
 
Leading the returners is graduate student Manny Adeyeye, a preseason All-Patriot League selection, recovered from an injury to appear in five games as a senior, starting one on the defensive line. He recorded 16 total tackles, 13 solo, including three for loss and three sacks, and also had two pass breakups and one forced fumble.
 
 

Also back is senior Nick Angeli who started in place of the injured Adeyeye and appeared in all eleven games for the Rams. He recorded 17 total tackles, 13 solo, including 0.5 sacks, and also intercepted a pass and had one quarterback hurry.
 
Seniors Ty Green, Jonathan Dimon and John O'Boyle are also back on the Fordham defensive line in 2017. Last year Green played in all eleven game, starting six, at defensive end and recorded 26 total tackles, 15 solo, including 4.0 for loss and 2.5 sacks. Dimon, who saw action six games last, both on the defensive line and special teams, also returns after making two solo tackles last fall, while Boyle saw action in one game as a junior.
 
Sophomores Michael Ware, who appeared in ten games in 2016, recording five total tackles, and Johnny Piccinich, who did not see action as a freshman, give the Rams depth on the defensive line.
 
Freshmen looking to see playing time on the offensive line include Deondre Carter, Anthony Diodato, Mike Marinelli, Sawyer Schwarz and Ellis Taylor. Carter is a graduate of Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas, where he was a 2016 First Team All-District and Second Team All-Area selection while Diodato attended Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Pennsylvania, where he earned First Team All-State 5A honors on both the offensive and defensive lines. Marinelli is a product of DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, New Jersey, where he was a 2016 Second Team All-State and First Team All-Conference selection. Schwarz comes to Fordham from Naples High School in Naples, Florida, where he was a 2016 Florida North vs. South All-Star selection as well as a First Team All-FACA pick. Taylor, is a graduate of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where he was a 2016 First Team All-Chicago Catholic League and Second Team Chicago Tribune All-Area pick.