(March 23, 2005) - The Fordham University campus is quiet for now as the students are away on Spring Break. But that won??t last for long. Upon their return from break next wekk, the Fordham Football Rams will take to the practice field for their 2005 Spring practice schedule. The Rams open spring practice on Friday, April 1st at 3:00 p.m. and will hold 14 practices as they work their way to the annual Spring Game which will be held on Saturday, April 30th at 10:30 a.m. on Murphy Field. For a complete spring practice schedule please click ??2005 Spring Practice Schedule?? under files available for download on the football home page. Unlike last year, head coach Ed Foley won??t have to fill a lot of holes on offense as seven of the eleven starters return, including quarterback Derric Daniels and running backs Jamaal Hunte and James Prydatko. But that doesn??t mean Foley won??t have a busy spring. This year he must look to replace five starters on the defensive side of the ball, including consensus All-American defensive back Tad Kornegay and two-time All-Patriot League selection at linebacker NaQuinton Gainous. Defensively, the linebacking corps took the biggest hit, losing all three starters to graduation. Along with Gainous, gone are Tyrone Thorne and Patrick Orah. The Rams will have plenty of linebackers returning with experience, however, including seniors Marcus Taylor and Alex Hunter and sophomore Ryan Kleve. The defensive backfield lost only Kornegay to graduation and returns seniors Tommie Stephens and Greg Whelan and junior Reshard Hicks, all who started last year. The defensive line returns senior starter Jay Edwards along with juniors Cory Terzis and Marques Brown and sophomore Michael Breznicky, who all saw extensive playing time last year. On the offensive side of the ball, Daniels is coming off a record-setting season for the Rams. Last year, he completed 146 of 304 passes for 1,876 yards and 23 touchdowns. The completions, passing yards and touchdowns were all Fordham records for a first-year player (Daniels missed all of the 2003 season with a thumb injury) while 23 touchdown passes was the second best single season total in school history. In the backfield, Hunte (194 carries, 799 yards, 5 TD), Prydatko (86 carries, 423 yards, 4 TDs) and sophomore Jonte Coven (52 carries, 223 yards), the 2004 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, all return for the Rams, giving Fordham three quality running backs. On the receiving end, the Rams will be looking for some new faces to catch the ball after losing their top receiver, Steve Porco, to graduation. Back are Hunte (24 catches, 265 yards, 2 TDs) and tight end James Caffarello (17 catches, 206 yards, 2 TDs) while Mike Melvin (7 catches, 156 yards, 2 TDs) will look to moving into a starting wideout spot. The offensive line returns three of the five starters in seniors Kevin Strahle (RG), Michael Bottiglieri (LG) and Michael Sabatini (LT). The special teams unit will be in the capable hands, or feet, of two All-League kickers. Back are junior placekicker Micah Clukey, a two-time First Team All-League selection, along with senior punter Anthony DiFino, a Second Team All-League pick last fall. Foley is hoping that the 13 returning starters will bring the experience necessary to win the close game. Last year, four of the six losses were by a touchdown or less with two of the losses being by a single point.