April 21, 2010
Photo Gallery of the Running Backs at 2010 Spring Football Practice
Bronx, N.Y. -
Throughout the spring practice season, we will attempt to post a positional breakdown of the Rams during the 2010 spring season. Today we look at the running backs.
The first two installments of the Fordham football spring preview focused on who was going to be throwing the ball and catching the ball for the Rams in 2010. This installment will feature the players who will be running the ball; the running backs.
The Rams will feature a powerful one-two punch at running back in 2010 with the return of Xavier Martin and Darryl Whiting, who combined to rush for over 1,200 yards last fall. They will be joined by Hofstra transfer Carlton Koonce, who has been enjoying a solid spring season, Jamir Livingston and Quasand Lewis to give Fordham a deep pool of talent in the offensive backfield.
Last fall, Whiting and Martin each gained over 600 yards rushing with Martin scoring six times and Whiting five, with each averaging 5.2 yards/carry. They both also caught the ball out of the backfield, with Martin grabbing eight passes for 112 yards and Whiting six for 52.
Koonce joins the Rams after a year at Hofstra in which he didn't appear in a game for the Pride. So far in spring practice he has displayed blazing speed and looks to give the Rams another option in the backfield.
Livingston is also enjoying a solid spring session for Fordham after gaining 100 yards on 17 carries as a sophomore last fall while Lewis gives the Rams a powerful short-yardage back.
Langston Lacroix, who missed all of the 2009 season with an injury, will also look for carries in the 2010 season.
Here is a look at the running backs competing at 2010 Spring practice:
Carlton Koonce (So., 5-8, 180): A transfer from Hofstra... Did not see action with the Pride in 2009... A graduate of Rancocas Valley High School in Mt. Holly, N.J. where he earned 2008 All-County honors... Named 2008 County Offensive Player of Year and recipient of the 2008 Mini Maxwell Award... A 2008 Brooks Irvine Scholar... Recorded 193 carries for 1,178 yards and 16 touchdowns, and 46 tackles and two interceptions in 2008... Three-time team MVP... Also a member of the track and field squad at Rancocas Valley... Cousin, Steve Smith, plays for the New York Giants
Langston Lacroix (So., 5-9, 200): Missed all of the 2009 season with an injury suffered in preseason camp... A graduate of New Egypt High School in New Egypt, New Jersey, where he played football for head coach Tom Farrell... A New Jersey Super 100 player... Earned All-State, All-South New Jersey and All-Area honors... A First team All-Conference and All-County pick.
Jamir Livingston (Jr., 5-6, 170): Appeared in six games as a sophomore... Gained 100 yards on 17 carries (5.9 yards/rush)... Rushed seven times for 83 yards in the season finale at Georgetown, including a season-long 40-yard carry... Gained 14 yards on five rushes against Bryant... Appeared in six games as a freshman... Netted 37 yards on 14 carries (2.6 yards/rush).
Quasand Lewis (Sr., 5-8, 199): Appeared in one game as a junior (at Georgetown)... Was a member of the junior varsity squad, gaining 95 yards on 15 carries against Columbia... Appeared in ten games as a sophomore... Rushed 45 times for 117 yards (2.6 yards/carry) and three touchdowns... Second on team in rushing yards and touchdowns... Gained 36 yards on eight carries in the win over Georgetown... Appeared in ten games as a freshman... Carried the ball 29 times for 84 yards (2.9 yards/carry) while scoring three touchdowns... Gained a season-high 31 yards on five carries in the win over Columbia.
Xavier Martin (Sr., 5-9, 180): Has rushed for 2,538 career yards on 538 attempts 4.7 yards/rush)... Is fourth on the Fordham career rushing yards list and third on the career attempts list... Has ten career 100+-yard rushing games... Appeared in all eleven games last year as a junior, rushing for 666 yards on 129 carries (5.2 yards/carry) with six touchdowns... Also caught eight passes for 112 yards (14.0 yards/reception)... Rushed for a career-high 187 on 25 carries with one touchdown (three yards) in the win over Old Dominion... Game was the ninth best single game in Fordham history... Followed that with 122 yards on 19 attempts and one score (28 yards) in the Bryant win... Rushed for 86 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns (2 and 17 yards) against Holy Cross... Picked up 63 yards on ten attempts at Cornell and 63 in 14 rushes versus Columbia... Made his mark as a sophomore, becoming the sixth Ram to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season... Ranked second in the Patriot League and 17th in the NCAA FCS in rushing yards/game in 2008... Had the fourth best single season rushing yard total in Fordham history... Rushed 274 times for 1,237 yards and seven touchdowns... The 1,237 rushing yards in the fourth best total in school history... Registered six 100-yard rushing games... Also caught nine passes for 92 yards and returned seven kickoffs for 126 yards (18.0 yards/return)... Gained a then career-high 186 yards on 40 carries in the win over Georgetown... 2007 Patriot League Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Patriot League selection as a freshman... Second on the team and third in the Patriot League in rushing in 2007... Appeared in ten games as a freshman... Rushed 127 times for 635 yards (5.0 yards/carry and 63.5 yards/game) and a team-best eight touchdowns.
Darryl Whiting (Jr., 6-3, 223): Emerged as a starter in 2009, leading the Rams with 132 carries for 681 yards (5.2 yards/carry) and five touchdowns... Also caught six passes for 52 yards (8.7 yards/catch)... Appeared in all eleven games... Had two 100-yard rushing games... Closed out season with a 25-carry, 172-yard, one touchdown game (two yards) in the win at Georgetown... Rushed for 101 yards on 14 carries with a 57-yard scoring run in the victory over Old Dominion... Recorded 72
rushing yards on 18 attempts in the Bucknell game and 70 yards on 18 rushes against Lehigh... Appeared in two games as a freshman in 2008... Rushed four times for eleven yards... Gained 13 yards on three carries at Holy Cross... Also appeared with the junior varsity, rushing for a touchdown and catching a 25-yard pass to set up another score in a win over Columbia.
