April 12, 2010
Bronx, N.Y. -
Throughout the spring practice season, we will attempt to post a positional breakdown of the Rams during the 2010 spring season starting today with the quarterbacks.
Photo Gallery of the quarterbacks at 2010 spring practice
Quarterbacks
The most important position on a football squad is the one with the biggest question for the Rams this spring. After seeing record-setting signal caller John Skelton hold the starting job for the past three-and-a-half years, head coach Tom Masella is looking for a new starter for the 2010 season. The good news is that he has a stable of five players to choose from. The bad news is that only one has any varsity experience, and that consists of throwing one pass last fall. Here is a short bio for the five quarterbacks on the spring roster (listed alphabetically- class ranking is the projected class for the 2010 season):
James Avedesian (So., 6-1, 185): Played with the junior varsity last year, completing three of six passes for 15 yards... Also rushed for touchdown, the only score in a 7-0 win over Wagner... A graduate of State College High School in State College, Pennsylvania, where he lettered in football for head coach Al Wolski... Named a Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFFCHF) Scholar-Athlete... Served as a 2008 team co-captain... Named team MVP... An All-Mid Penn Conference selection... Mid-Penn Player of the Week... Received offensive player of the game honors in September and October... Led team to a 12-1 record in 2008 and a final ranking of sixth in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Quad A... Twin brother, Daniel, is a linebacker for the Rams.
Benjamin Heiser (So.6-5, 231): Appeared with the junior varsity last fall, completing three of five passes for 53 yards... Completed two of four passes for 36 yards and rushed four times for 25 yards against Columbia... A graduate of Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio... First Team All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference (FAVC) selection in 2007 and 2008... 2008 runner up for FAVC Offensive Player of the Year... Named WLWT quarterback of the week (win in season opener)... Served as team co-captain... Named Team MVP... Recipient of Walnut Hills High School Offensive Coach's Award... 2007 Honorable Mention All-Southwest Ohio... Honorable Mention All-City (2007 & 2008).
Ryan Higgins (So., 6-3, 193): Completed nine of 26 pass attempts for 111 yards with the junior varsity in 2009... Was 5-for-13 passing for 63 yards against Columbia... Connected on four of 13 passes for 63 yards against Wagner... A graduate of Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York, where he lettered in football for head coach Bill Basel... Recipient of the Oliver DeJesus Award as Chaminade's MVP as a senior... New York Catholic High School Football League (NYCHSFL) All-League... NSCHSAA Senior Bowl All-Star... Threw for ten touchdowns and rushed for two more in 2008... Member of the National Honor Society.
Doug Papy (Jr., 6-1, 211): The lone quarterback with varsity experience... Appeared in three games as Skelton's back-up last year, attempting just one pass... Completed one of three passes for eight yards in the 2009 Spring Game... Appeared with the junior varsity program in 2008, completing five of ten passes for 35 yards in a win over Columbia... Connected on two of six passes in a junior varsity contest with Nassau Community College... A graduate of Gulliver Prep in Pinecrest, Florida, where he earned varsity letters in football... Second Team All-Dade County pick as a senior and an Honorable Mention selection as a junior... 2007 recipient of the University of Miami accuracy award... Led 2007 team to the FHSAA state playoffs... Completed 63 of 114 passes for 1,077 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior... Also rushed for four touchdowns... Guided 2007 team to national adidas 7 on 7 tournament third place finish... Served as a team captain in 2007... Named 2007 team Most Valuable Player... 2006 Miami Dade Honorable Mention All-Area... member of the Honor Roll at Gulliver Prep.
Blake Wayne (So., 6-0, 180): The newest addition to Fordham, joined the Rams at the beginning of the spring semester after playing for Diablo Valley Community College in 2009... Completed 209 of 354 passes for 2,527 yards and 18 touchdowns... A graduate of De LaSalle High School in Concord, California... Named 2008 All-State and All-East Bay at De LaSalle... Completed 84 of 146 passes for 1,520 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2008... Also rushed 127 times for 619 yards and 14 scores... 2008 Team Captain and Team MVP... Led team to a 2008 North Coast Section Division 1 Championship.
