April 30, 2010
Photo Gallery - Linebackers
Bronx, N.Y. -
Throughout the spring practice season, we will attempt to post a positional breakdown of the Rams during the 2010 spring season as they work their way to the 2010 Spring Game, slated for Saturday, May 1st at 11:00 AM. Today we look at the linebackers line.
After looking at the defensive line in yesterday's installment of the Fordham football spring preview, today we focus on the guys behind the line, the linebackers.
Despite losing three-year starter James Crockett to graduation, the Rams still return a lot of experience to the linebacking position this spring, bringing back two of four starters to a corps that helped Fordham rank 17th in the NCAA FCS in sacks, recording 2.55 per game, and 20th in tackles for loss, averaging 7.18 per contest.
Leading the returning linebackers is Nick Magiera, a Second Team All-Patriot League selection in 2009, who led the Rams with 80 total tackles. Included in those 80 were eight tackles for loss and two sacks while he also added two pass breakups. He is slated to again start at one of the middle linebacking spots in 2010.
Also back on the inside is Clifton Stuckey, who started eight games for the Rams last year, recording 56 total tackles, 31 solo, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks.
Isaiah Leake, who started seven games at inside linebacker in 2009, and Michael Martin, who enjoyed a solid freshman season on the outside, are fighting for a starting position. Martin made 44 total tackles last fall, including 6.5 for loss and a team-high five sacks while Leake finished the year with 32 tackles, including 1.5 sacks.
Bryson Wilson, who played in the defensive backfield last year, moves to linebacker in 2010 after making 50 total tackles, including three for loss, intercepting a pass and breaking up six others last season.
Andre Delaire and David Mendez, who each played significant roles last year with Mendez starting the last four games and Delaire starting two games, are sitting out the spring while they recover from injuries. Mendez registered 50 total tackles last fall, 27 solo, including two for a loss, while Delaire finished the season with 25 total stops, including three for loss and two sacks. Mendez also forced three fumbles and broke up three passes.
Others who are looking for time at linebacker in 2010 include Elliot Alston, Daniel Avedesian, Paul Barchitta, Chris Coratti, Benjamin Daley, Jay Jackson, Jock Payten, Will Quan and Chris Vingo.
Here is a quick look at the linebackers competing this spring:
Elliot Alston (So., 6'2", 205): Joined the squad last year, appearing with the junior varsity... A graduate of Bourgade Catholic High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he lettered in football... Played both linebacker and running back as a senior... Rushed 100 times for 505 yards (5.1 yards/carry) and three touchdowns while also catching six passes for 52 yards (8.7 yards/catch) in 2008... Defensively, recorded 47 total tackles, 31 solo, including one sack.
Daniel Avedesian (So., 6'0", 190): Did not see varsity action last fall... Appeared with the junior varsity... Made three tackles, including two for loss, in a junior varsity win over Wagner... A product of State College High School in State College, Pennsylvania, where he lettered in football for head coach Al Wolski... Earned Mid-Penn All-District honors... Served as a team co-captain... Led the team in interceptions.
Paul Barchitta (So., 6'0", 205): Appeared in two varsity games as a freshman in 2009 (Rhode Island and Old Dominion)... Notched one tackle... Also appeared with the junior varsity, making six stops, including one for loss, in a win over Wagner... A graduate of Monsignor Farrell High School on Staten Island where he lettered in football for head coach Ben Sarollo... Named All-Catholic League... 2008 Fugazzi Bowl captain and MVP... Selected to play in the 2009 Outback Steakhouse Empire Bowl.
Chris Coratti (Jr., 6'0", 229): Appeared in three games as a sophomore in 2009... Recorded two solo tackles at Cornell... Also a member of the junior varsity squad, recording six tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Wagner... Also made three tackles in a JV game against Columbia... Appeared in one game as a freshman in2008 (Rhode Island)... Also played with the junior varsity program, recording five solo tackles in a game against Nassau Community College.
Benjamin Daley (Jr., 6'2", 194): Appeared in eight games as a sophomore in 2009... Finished with the season with five tackles, four solo... Made three tackles, two solo, in the Columba game... Also appeared with the junior varsity in 2009... Appeared in one game as a freshman (Marist), recording one solo tackle.
Andre Delaire (Sr., 5'11", 217): Appeared in the first eight games of his junior season before missing the rest of the year with an injury... Started two games at outside linebacker... Registered 25 total tackles, 15 solo, including three for loss and two sacks... Finished with six stop, including three solo and one sack, in the Lehigh game... Made five tackles, four solo, in the season-opener at Rhode Island... Also had five tackles against Holy Cross... Started nine games at linebacker as a sophomore for the Rams in 2008... Missed last two games of the season with an injury... Led all tacklers with 71 total tackles, 48 solo, including five for loss and 2.5 sacks... Ranked seventh in the Patriot League in tackles per game (7.9)... Also registered two pass break ups... Made a season-high 12 tackles, six solo, including 1.5 for loss and one sack at Lehigh... Appeared in eight games as a freshman, starting one... Recorded 17 total tackles, 11 solo, including two for loss and one sack.
Jay Jackson (Sr., 6'1", 207): Appeared in nine games as a junior in 2009... Recorded two tackles on the year, including one sack which occurred in the Bryant game... Appeared in three varsity games as a sophomore... registered one pass break up... Also saw time with the junior varsity... Made two tackles in a junior varsity win over Columbia and three, one solo, in a JV game versus Nassau Community College... Did not see varsity action as a freshman.
Isaiah Leake (Jr., 6'0", 219): Appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore in 2009, starting seven... Recorded 32 total tackles, 22 solo, including 1.5 sacks... Also forced one fumble and recovered one fumble... Registered a career-high seven tackles, four solo, in the Columbia game... Made four tackles, including three solo and one sack, and forced a fumble in the Bryant win... Also had four stops in the win over Old Dominion and in the season finale at Georgetown... Appeared in four games as a freshman in 2008... Finished season with six total tackles, three solo... Made three tackles, two solo, in the season finale at Bucknell.
Nick Magiera (Sr., 6'2", 236): Second Team All-Patriot League selection in 2009... Appeared in all eleven games at inside linebacker... Recorded a team-high 80 total tackles, 44 solo, including eight for loss and two sacks... Also broke up two passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble... Made a career-high 12 tackles, two for loss, at Lafayette... Matched that career-high with 12 more, six solo, in the win over Bucknell... Finished with eleven stops, including three solo, 1.5 for loss and one sack, and broke up a pass in the season-ending victory at Georgetown... Made ten tackles, five solo, against Lehigh... Recorded eight stops, seven solo, at Colgate... Finished with six solo tackles in the win over Bryant... Appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore in 2008, starting eight... Compiled 51 total tackles, 24 solo, including 11.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks... second on team in tackles for loss and sacks and fourth in total tackles... Also had four pass breakups and one fumble recovery... Appeared in all 12 games as a freshman in 2007... Recorded 41 total tackles as a freshman, 22 solo, including 3.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks... Also recovered two fumbles and broke up a pass.
Michael Martin (So., 5'11", 225): Appeared in ten games as a freshman in 2009... Recorded 44 total tackles, tops among all Fordham freshmen... Included in his 44 tackles were 6.5 for loss and a team-high five sacks... Made eight tackles, including six solo and 1.5 sacks, in the win over Bucknell... Registered seven stops and forced a fumble at Colgate... Also had seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss and one sack, at Lafayette... Finished with seven tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in the season-ending win at Georgetown... Made four solo stops, one for loss, in win over Bryant.
David Mendez (Sr., 6'1", 222): Recovered from an injury suffered in 2008 to appear in all eleven games at linebacker in 2009 for the Rams... Started four games at inside linebacker... Finished the season with 50 total tackles, 27 solo, including two for loss and one sack... Also had three pass break ups, two fumble recoveries and one interception... Made nine tackles, three solo, and forced two fumbles in the win over Bucknell... Also had nine stops, six solo, against Columbia... Finished with eight total tackles, four solo, in the Lehigh game... Recorded five solo tackles, including two for loss and one sack, in the season-ending win at Georgetown... Did not see action as a junior in 2008 due to injury... Appeared in eleven games as a sophomore in 2007, both at linebacker and on special teams... Recorded eight total tackles on the year, three solo.
Jock Payten (Jr., 6'0", 210): Appeared in two games as a sophomore in 2009 (Rhode Island and Columbia)... Also appeared with the junior varsity... Appeared in six games as a freshman in 2008... Recorded one assisted tackle in the Marist game... Also appeared with the junior varsity program... Made three tackles, two solo, in a junior varsity win over Columbia.
Will Quan (Sr., 5'11", 206): Appeared in five games as a junior in 2009... Made two tackles... Appeared in three games as a sophomore in 2008... Had one assisted tackle in the Marist win... Appeared in eleven games as a freshman in 2007, both in the defensive backfield and on special teams... Finished the season with four total tackles, three solo... Made two solo tackles against Dayton... recorded one solo tackle in the Albany game.
Clifton Stuckey (Sr., 6'1", 224): Appeared in nine games as a junior in 2009, starting seven... Recorded 56 total tackles, 31 solo, including 5.5 for loss
and two sacks... Also forced one fumble and recovered one fumble... Made a career-high ten tackles, six solo, in the win over Old Dominion... Finished with nine stops, including three solo and one for loss, against Columbia... Recorded eight tackles, seven solo and 1.5 for loss, in the season opener at Rhode Island... Also had eight stops, including four solo and one for loss, and forced and recovered a fumble at Colgate... Made six tackles, five solo, in the win at Cornell... Had five tackles, including two sacks, in the season-ending win at Georgetown... Appeared in nine games as a sophomore in 2008... Finished with eleven total tackles, seven solo, including one sack... Made three tackles in the Marist win... Appeared in three varsity games as a freshman in 2007... Recorded one solo tackle in the win at Georgetown.
Nick Womack (Jr., 6'1", 216): Was limited by injury to four games as a sophomore in 2009... Finished with seven tackles, five solo, including one for loss... Made five stops, including four solo and one for loss, at Colgate... Appeared in five games as a freshman in 2008... Made three total tackles, two solo, on the season... Notched a solo stop in the Columbia and Colgate games... Also appeared with the junior varsity... Recorded four tackles, including one for loss and one sack, and broke up a pass in a junior varsity win over Columbia.
