April 28, 2008
Bronx, N.Y. -
It's been a long ride from high school soccer player to NFL free agent for Fordham University senior punter Ben Dato (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing). Not having kicked a football before his sophomore year in high school, Dato made up for lost time, becoming an All-American punter at Fordham in 2007 and then signing a free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
The signing completes a busy spring for Dato, who worked out for Philadelphia, Atlanta, Green Bay, Chicago and San Francisco, but decided that his best shot came with the Ravens.
"It came down to today," Dato told the New York Daily News on Sunday night. "My agent and I evaluated each opportunity and which team would give me the best chance for the future. In the end, we thought Baltimore was best. I'm excited that they're bringing me in for my punting and kickoffs."
A Consensus All-American in 2007, Dato earned First Team Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America honors by the CollegeSportsReport.com and The Sports Network as well as Second Team All-America by the Associated Press.
A First Team All-Patriot League selection this fall for the second straight season, Dato led the League and ranked third in the NCAA FCS (tenth in all of the NCAA Division I), averaging 44.66 per punt. He kicked 67 times for 2,992 yards with 26 of his 67 punts being downed inside the opponent's 20. His 2,992 punting yards is a Fordham single season record, surpassing the former record of 2,931 yards set by Anthony DiFino in 2005.
Dato was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week twice in 2007. He helped the Fordham punt return squad record the highest net punting averaging in all of NCAA Division I football (40.52 yards/punt).
Over his career, Dato punted 125 times for 5,579 yards, an average of 44.6 yards/punt. His 44.6 yards/punt average is a Fordham career record, surpassing Barry Cantrell's mark of 39.9 yards/punt set between 1994 and 1997. Dato also is ranked fifth on Fordham's all-time punt yardage list.
The Rams finished the season with a 8-4 overall record, 5-1 in the Patriot League, winning their second League championship and advancing to the NCAA Football Championship where they fell to Massachusetts, 49-35, in the first round.
