(November 21, 2006) ?C Fordham University senior linebacker
Marcus Taylor (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) was named the 2006 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year by a vote of the conference coaches it was announced today. Joining Taylor in earning All-Patriot League honors were junior punter
Benjamin Dato (Wyomissing, PA/Wyomissing), who was named First Team All-Conference, and senior defensive lineman
Jay Edwards (Sunrise, FL/Ely), who was named to the Second Team.
Taylor, a 6-1, 244-pound linebacker, becomes the third Ram to earn Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors, joining Mark Blazejewski and Aaron Dougherty, who received the award in 1992 an 1993, respectively.
On the year, Taylor led the Rams with 116 total tackles, 53 solo, including a team-high 12 tackles for a loss. He also recorded four quarterback sacks in 2006 and intercepted a team-best three passes while breaking up four others. Taylor forced four fumbles this fall and he recovered four fumbles, one of which he returned 43 yards for a touchdown against Patriot League champions, Lafayette.
Taylor, who was named Second Team All-Patriot League in 2005, leads the league in both forced fumbles and fumbles recovered while ranking second in total tackles, tied for fifth in sacks and sixth in tackles for a loss. Nationally, he is ranked 11th in the NCAA I-AA in total tackles and 49th in tackles for a loss.
Over his four-year Fordham career, Taylor recorded 282 total tackles, 150 solo, including 19.5 tackles for a loss and seven sacks, in 44 career games. He also has six career interceptions and seven forced fumbles along with five fumble recoveries.
Dato, who took over the punting duties from 2005 First Team All-Patriot League selection Anthony DiFino, finished the 2006 season as the leading punter in the Patriot League, kicking 58 times for 2,587 yards, an average of 44.6 yards/punt. His 44.6 average is the second best single season average in Fordham history (All-American Barry Cantrell averaged 45.8 yards/punt in 1997) and is ranked third best in the NCAA I-AA this fall. His long punt covered 66 yards in the Columbia game with four of his kicks traveling more than 60 yards. He did not have a punt blocked in 2006 while placing four inside the 20.
Edwards finished the year with 40 total tackles, 26 solo, tied for fourth best on the squad. Among his 40 tackles were a team-leading six sacks and 12.5 for a loss, second best on the team. Edwards tied for third in the Patriot League in tackles for a loss and ranked fourth in the conference in sacks. He was also 43rd in the NCAA I-AA in tackles for a loss.
Edwards, who led the Patriot League in sacks as a junior in 2005, closes out his four-year Fordham career with 136 total tackles, 79 solo, in 42 career games. Included in his 136 career stops are 30.5 for a loss and 19 sacks.
