March 29, 2012

Photo Gallery - 2012 Fordham Spring Football (March 28, 2012)

Spring practice for the Fordham University Rams has entered week two and that means that players have donned pads and the action is getting physical. Head coach Joe Moorhead continues to run the squad through a spirited and up-tempo practice as the Rams look ahead to the 2012 Spring Game on Saturday, April 28th.

Today we break down the offensive side of the ball, a unit that will look to rebound from last year with a more explosive game plan, and with seven starters back, the Rams are optimistic that the offense can get back on track in 2012. .

Quarterback

Moorhead, a former record-setting Ram quarterback, will have to decide on a starter and he has a group to choose from that includes two players who started last year, led by Ryan Higgins, who started the final seven games on 2011. He completed 151 of 263 passes for 1,788 yards and seven touchdowns. Peter Maetzold, who started the first four games of 2011, completed 70 of 117 passes for 668 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

Also competing at quarterback is Griffin Murphy, who was the Fordham wildcat quarterback last year, rushing 27 times for 79 yards and he also caught a pair of passes out of the backfield for 24 yards.

Others in the quarterback fold include Nick Glogau and Oliver Hildebrandt.

Running Backs

The Rams lost last year's leading rusher, Darryl Whiting, to graduation but return three players who recorded carries last fall, led by Langston Lacroix and Carlton Koonce. Lacroix was the team's second leading ground gainer in 2011 with 135 yards on 39 carries while Koonce rushed 28 times for 77 yards and two touchdowns and he also was the team's second leading receiver, catching 38 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns, tying him for the team leading receiving scores.

Also competing for carries this spring will be Jeramie Brown while Kevin Soares, Kevin Scanlon and Jack Bandazian will line up at fullback.

Wide Receivers

The good news on offense for the Rams is that they return most of the receiving corps from last fall, led by Blake Wayne, Greg Wilson, Brian Wetzel, Sam Ajala and Andrew Spanarkel along with tight ends Dan Light and Nick Talbert.

Wayne, a converted quarterback, led the 2011 Rams with 38 catches for 349 yards and one touchdown while Wetzel was third on the team with 36 catches for 493 yards. Wilson hauled in 26 passes for a team-best 539 yards (207 yards/catch) and four touchdowns while Light (23) and Ajala (15) also finished with double digit catches last year.

Also lining up at wide out/tight end this spring are Nick Talbert, Andrew Spanarkel and Lourenzo Smith, who all caught at least one pass last year, along with Adam Malkiewicz, Marc DeSisto, Stephen Hodge, Alex Leo, James Avedesian and David Lulgjuraj.

Offensive Line

Of course, the offense will only go as far as the offensive line allows it and the good news for Fordham is that the Rams return 2011 starters Robert Kubacki (right tackle), Steven Tapia (right guard) and Thomas Fisher (left tackle). Last year, Tapia and Fisher started every game while Kubacki started six.

Also seeing time on the offensive line this spring are John Hohlt, Andrew Milmore, Chris Watkins, Matt Stolte and Alex Locker, who all saw time on the line last year. Locker started four games at right tackle last fall while Milmore started three games at left tackle.

Also back is 2010 starter Lloyd Morrison, who sat out last year, along with Mason Halter, Joseph Mizera and Anthony Perrone.

Also, the 2012 Fordham football schedule was officially announced today.