July 16, 2009
Bronx, N.Y. -
Five members of the 2009 Fordham University football squad were named Preseason All-Patriot League by Phil Steele's College Football Preview it was announced on Wednesday. Junior running back Xavier Martin was named to the first team while seniors James Crockett (LB) and John Skelton (QB), junior Jordan Bledsoe (OL) and sophomore Cameron Dean (P) were all named to the second team.
Martin made his mark as a sophomore last year, becoming the sixth Ram to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He carried 274 times for 1,237 yards, the fourth best total in school history, and seven touchdowns. Martin ranked second in the Patriot League and 17th in the NCAA FCS in rushing yards/game (112.5). He also caught nine passes for 92 yards and returned seven kickoffs for 126 yards (18.0 yards/return).
The 2007 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, Martin has rushed for 1,872 yards over the past two years. He has eight career 100+-yard rushing games, capped by a career-high 186-yard contest against Georgetown last fall, ninth best single game total in Fordham history.
For Skelton, who will serve as a team captain in 2009, the award is his third preseason accolade as he was also named one of the top 12 senior quarterback prospects by NFL.com and Honorable Mention Preseason All-American by the Consensus Draft Services.
Skelton completed 228 of 372 passes last fall for 2,605 yards and 15 touchdowns, bringing his career totals to 518 completions for 6,215 yards and 43 touchdowns. He broke Kevin Eakin's all-time record of 6,112 passing yards while tying Joe Moorhead's mark for career completions. Skelton is also just two passes shy of tying Eakin's career record for touchdown passes while his 56.2% career completion percentage is fifth best.
Skelton has throw at least one touchdown pass in 20 of the 23 games over the past two years while recording 14 200-plus yard passing games, including three 300-plus yard games.
His 228 completions last fall rank Skelton fourth on the Fordham single season list while his 2,605 passing yards is the sixth best total, just behind the 2,650 yard he threw for in 2007.
Crockett, who will serve as a captain in 2009, moves from linebacker to safety in 2009. Last year, he started all eleven games at outside linebacker, earning Second Team All-Patriot League honors for the season consecutive season. Crockett was second on the team with 67 total tackles, 39 solo, including 7.5 for loss and two sacks. He also intercepted a pass and broke up five others and led the Patriot League with three forced fumbles, while ranking 17th in total tackles.
Over his three-year career, Crockett has compiled 155 total tackles, 92 solo, including 14 for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also has four career interceptions and ten pass deflections.
Bledsoe, who will move over to the defensive line in 2009, spent the past two years on the offensive line. Last fall, he appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore, starting seven at left guard and was a cog on an offensive line that helped Martin become the sixth Ram to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season while also protecting Skelton, who set the Fordham career record for passing yards.
Dean, who handled most of the punting duties last year, kicked 48 times for 1,681 yards, an average of 35.0 yards/punt. He had a long punt of 54 yards, recording two kicks over 50 yards. Dean landed 22 of his 48 punts inside the opponent's 20 and was twice named Patriot League Rookie of the Week.
Fordham will open the 2009 season on Saturday, September 5th, when the Rams travel to Kingston, R.I., to face the University of Rhode Island at 1:00 p.m.
