April 20, 2010

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham senior quarterback John Skelton and senior offensive lineman Andrew Tyshovnytsky were featured in news articles today with each being featured in the NY Post and Skelton appearing in an article in USA Today. Below is a link to each article.

Rifle-armed Skelton about to make splash (NY Post)

Speedy tackle Tyshovnytsky a strong prospect (NY Post)

Is Fordham QB Skelton a Gem in Waiting? (USA Today)

The 2010 NFL Draft will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 22-24 at the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan. The first round will be held on Thursday night, the second and third rounds on Friday night and rounds four through seven will be on Saturday.

Skelton wrapped up a record-shattering career for the Rams this fall, closing out the year completing 284 of 441 passes (64.4%) for 3,708 yards and 26 touchdowns. He set new school marks for completions and passing yards, breaking Kevin Eakin's former school records of 247 completions for 3,072 yards set in 2003 as well as breaking Steve O'Hare's completion percentage record of 63.1% set in 1997. Skelton led the NCAA FCS in passing yards/game (337.09) and was ranked second in total offense (348.18 yards/game), fourth in completions per game (25.82) and total passing yards and tenth in passing efficiency (149.95).

Skelton threw for over 300 yards eight times in eleven games this year, including four 400-yard games. He completed 20 of 27 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns against Cornell on October 17th, breaking the school record of 413 passing yards set by Joe Moorhead in 1995 and coming up one shy of the school record for scoring passes of six, set by Kevin Eakin in 2003. Skelton then broke his own record two weeks later, completing 43 of 67 passes for 427 yards, all school records, against Holy Cross on October 31st. He finished one passing attempt shy of the NCAA FCS record for most pass attempts in a game without an interception, just missing the national mark of 68 set by Marshall's Tony Petersen against Western Carolina in 1987 (Peterson completed 34). Skelton surpassed his own school record of 420 passing yards in a game while breaking Matt Georgia's 1999 records of 36 completions and 65 attempts.

Over his career, Skelton completed 802 passes for 9,923 yards and 69 touchdowns, all school marks. He shattered Joe Moorhead's career completions record of 518 while also surpassing Eakin's career marks for passing yards (6,112) and touchdowns (45).

Last week, Tyshovnytsky was named the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year, an award that recognizes a student-athlete's dedication to strength training and conditioning. It is the third accolade garnered by Tyshovnytsky in 2009-10 who was named to the ECAC FCS All-Star Team in December and First Team All-Patriot League in November.

Tyshovnytsky, a three-year starter on the offensive line, started all eleven games at right tackle for Fordham this fall. He was a cog on the offensive line that helped the Rams set the school record for total offense in a season, amassing 5,377 yards, eclipsing the former record of 4,995 yards set by the 2002 team. The Rams led the NCAA FCS in total offense (488.82 yards/game) and were second in passing offense (337.09 yards/game) and tied for second in first downs per game (23.64).

Below are other links for John Skelton articles:

NFL Draft Profile: QB Skelton believes he has what it takes

Skelton's NFLDraftScout Page

2010 NFL Draft: Could Skelton Be the Browns' Joe Flacco?

Skelton Continuing to Prepare for the Draft (The Ram)

Burges graduate Skelton waits ... and waits ... for NFL draft (El Paso Times)

You can also follow Skelton on the WFUV Sports Blog