July 19, 2012
2012 College Sports Madness Preseason All-Patriot League Teams
Bronx, N.Y. -
Eleven members of the Fordham University football squad were named to the 2012 College Sports Madness Preseason All-Patriot League Team it was announced today. Patrick Murray and Justin Yancey were each named to the First Team; Dan Light, Robert Kubacki, Michael Martin and Jake Rodriques were placed on the Second Team; and Victor DiFusco, John Hohlt, DeAndre Slate, Brian Wetzel and Ian Williams were selected to the Third Team.
College Sports Madness has full FCS Football coverage. Shortly they will begin counting down the FCS Football Top 44 Team with in-depth previews. The previews began with #44 and countdown one per day until opening day when College Sports Madness reveals the preseason #1 team in the nation. As the teams are revealed they will be inputted into the College Sports Madness FCS Football Bracketology, predicting the playoff bracket and updated each week once the season begins. The countdown will also feed the initial FCS Football Top 25 team ranking which will also be updated each week during the season. Once the season begins they will be awarding Players of the Week honors on a national and conference basis.
The honor for Murray is the latest in a long list of preseason honors for the All-America punter. The senior was recently named a Preseason All-American by The Sports Network (Second Team). Murray, who was named to the 2012 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Punt Performer Award Watch List, punted 49 times for 2,160 yards last fall, an average of 44.1 yards/punt, tops in the Patriot League and third best in the NCAA FCS. He landed 21 of his kicks inside the opponent's 20 this fall and had 16 of his 49 punts travel more than 50 yards, including a season-long 73-yarder. The 73 yard punt, which came at Rhode Island, tied his career-high and was the second longest punt in school history (the Fordham record is 85 yards by Len Eshmont in 1939). Murray also booted a 73-yard punt at Colgate in 2009.
Murray's 44.1 punting average was the fourth best single season average in Fordham history while his 41.4 career punting average is second on the school's all-time list and his 5,585 career punting yards in sixth.
Yancey, a junior, is coming off a 2011 season that was cut short by an injury following the first game of the year at Connecticut. He made four tackles, two solo, and broke up a pass at UConn.
In 2010, Yancey appeared in all eleven games as a freshman for the Rams, starting eight at nose guard and led all freshmen and all defensive linemen with 41 total tackles, 28 solo. Included in his 41 tackles were a team-high 10.5 for loss, tying him for third in the Patriot League in tackles for loss/game (0.95) and he also tied for 13th in sacks/game (0.27).
Light, who was named to the 2012 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Tight End Award Watch List last month, enters his sophomore season after appearing in all eleven games as a rookie. He caught 23 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown last fall with his top game coming at Georgetown where he hauled in five passes for 53 yards and the following week at Lafayette, he caught four more for 51 yards.
Kubacki, a senior, appeared in nine games as a junior in 2011 for the Rams, starting six at right tackle. He helped the Fordham passing offense rank 41st in the NCAA FCS.
Martin, a two-year starter at linebacker, is coming off a 2011 season in which he led the Rams with 94 total tackles, 51 solo, including three for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had two pass breakups and one forced fumble. Martin finished sixth in the Patriot League in tackles/game (8.5) and recorded double figures in total tackles in a game three times. He made a career-high 15 tackles, 12 solo, against Lehigh.
Over his career, Martin has compiled 207 total tackles, 118 solo, including eleven for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Rodriques, a junior linebacker, appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore in 2011, starting ten at inside linebacker. He finished the season with 69 total tackles, 44 solo, including five for loss and 1.5 sacks, ranking third on team in total tackles and he also had one pass deflection. Rodriques made a season-high eleven tackles, including five solo and one for loss, at Penn.
DiFusco, a sophomore linebacker, appeared in all eleven games as a freshman last fall, starting one. He led all freshmen on the roster with 37 total tackles, 19 solo, and also had a tackle for loss. DiFusco made a season-high nine tackles, two solo, at Lafayette, including a tackle for loss, and he recorded seven stops, two solo, at Colgate.
Hohlt, a senior who is slated to start at right tackle in 2012, appeared in nine games as a junior for the Rams, helping the Fordham passing offense rank 41st in the NCAA FCS.
Slate, a sophomore defensive lineman, is coming off a successful freshman campaign in which he appeared in all eleven games, starting one. He made 23 total tackles, 14 solo, on the year, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks as well as one pass break up. Slate made a season-high seven tackles, including three solo and one for loss, at Lafayette.
Wetzel, a sophomore wide receiver, was one of the top pass catchers for the Rams in 2011, appearing in nine games, starting three. He hauled in 36 passes for 493 yards, ranking second on the team in receiving yards and third in receptions. Wetzel caught a season-high eleven passes for 118 yards at Georgetown and made seven catches for 79 yards against Bucknell.
Williams, a junior defensive back, appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore in 2011, starting ten at cornerback. He led team with eight pass deflections and tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Williams was fourth on the team with 54 total tackles, 41 solo, and he also recovered one fumble, He made a career-high 17 total tackles, eleven solo, and broke up a pass at Lafayette and intercepted two passes and made three solo tackles against Lehigh.
The Rams will open the 2012 season on Thursday night, August 30th, as they host the Lock Haven University Bald Eagles on Jack Coffey Field at 7:00 p.m. Season and individual game tickets are now on sale. For information or to order click here or call the Ticket Office at 855-RAM-TIXS (855-716-8497) or (718) 817-4759.
