July 20, 2011
2011 Phil Steele College Football Preview Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Bronx, N.Y. -
Eight members Fordham University football squad were recognized by Phil Steele's College Football Preview as being the best among the preseason Patriot League rankings for their position. Honored were seniors Jonathan Sheridan, Darryl Whiting and Nick Womack, juniors Robert Kubacki, Michael Martin, Brendan Melanophy and Patrick Murray and sophomore Justin Yancey.
The eight Rams were not named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team due to the fact that Fordham began offering scholarships in 2009 and, as a result of that decision, is not eligible for the Patriot League title. Additionally, Fordham players are not eligible for All-Patriot League honors.
Sheridan, a two-year starter at center, appeared in ten games as a junior, starting nine. He helped the offense average 176.0 rushing yards per game, second in the Patriot League, and 383.5 total yards of offense per game, also second best in the League. Sheridan was a mainstay on an offensive line that allowed just 16 sacks in eleven games, third best in the Patriot League.
Whiting, a running back, appeared in ten games as a junior for the Rams last fall, starting four. He led the team with 771 rushing yards on 169 carries (4.6 yards/rush) with a team-best eight touchdowns, ranking second in the Patriot League in rushing yards per game (77.1) and 43rd in the NCAA FCS. He was also eighth in the Patriot League in total offense and ranked third in the Patriot League in scoring (touchdowns) at 4.8 points/game and sixth overall in scoring. Whiting's top game came against Georgetown when he gained 251 yards on 38 carries, both career highs, with two touchdowns. The 251 yards was the third most in a game all-time for the Rams.
Womack, a linebacker, moved into the starting lineup last year, appearing in eight games for the Rams, starting six. He recorded 24 total tackles, 17 solo, and led team with 3.5 sacks. Womack was also second on team with six tackles for loss and had three pass deflections and one forced fumble.
Kubacki, who is slated to start at right tackle in 2011, appeared in all eleven games for the Rams as a sophomore, starting ten at left guard. He helped the offense average 176.0 rushing yards per game, second in the Patriot League. The Fordham offense was also ranked second in overall offense in the Patriot League (383.5 yards/game) while the offensive line allowed just 16 sacks in eleven games, third best in the Patriot League.
Martin, a starter at linebacker, appeared in all eleven games for the Rams as a sophomore, starting nine. He was third on the team with 69 total tackles, 40 solo, and had 1.5 tackles for loss, three pass deflections and one interception, Martin ranked 19th in the Patriot League in tackles/game (6.3). He made a career-high 13 tackles, six solo, and broke up a pass in the Assumption game.
Melanophy, a starter at free safety as a sophomore last year, played in all eleven games, making eight starts. He finished the year fourth on the team with 64 total tackles and third on squad with 47 solo stops. Melanophy also had five tackles for loss, three pass deflections, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one sack. He was 23rd in the Patriot League in tackles/game (5.8) and made a career-best ten tackles, eight solo, in the win over Rhode Island.
Murray handled just about all of the kicking duties for the Rams last fall, including placekicking, punting and kickoffs. He led the Patriot League and was 38th in the NCAA in punting, averaging 39.3 yards/kick. He punted 49 times for 1,928 yards and landed 20 of his 49 punts inside the opponent's 20 and had ten punts of 50-yards or longer.
As a placekicker, Murray connected on 12 of his 21 field goal attempts, with a long of 48 yards - the third longest field goal in Fordham history. He also converted 22 of his 24 PATs. Murray was second in the Patriot League and tied for 39th in the NCAA FCS in field goals/game (1.09) and led the team and was third in the Patriot League in scoring with 58 points (5.3 points/game).
Yancey enjoyed a solid freshman campaign last year for the Rams, appearing in all eleven games, starting eight at nose guard. He led all freshmen and all defensive linemen with 41 total tackles, 28 solo, including a team-high 10.5 for loss. Yancey tied for third in the Patriot League in tackles for loss/game (0.95) and tied for 13th in sacks/game (0.27) and had one interception and one blocked kick.
The Rams will open the 2011 season on Thursday night, September 1st, as they travel to East Hartford, Connecticut, to face the University of Connecticut, the defending Big East champions, on Rentschler Field at 7:30 p.m. The home season opens on Saturday, September 17th as Fordham hosts Columbia on Jack Coffey Field in the annual Liberty Cup game at 1:00 p.m.
