Aug. 22, 2012
Photo Gallery - The Offensive Line
Bronx, N.Y. -
With the season quickly approaching, it's time to finish our look at the 2012 Fordham University football offense with a preview of the offensive line.
The first three previews focused on the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers/tight ends. The one thing they all have in common is their dependence on the offensive line, since no one is running or throwing the ball without the cooperation of the offensive line. The offensive line is the least appreciated unit of a football team and, like baseball umpires, doesn't usually get recognized unless they make a mistake.
The Rams are fortunate that they return three starters from the 2011 offensive line, along with five others who saw extensive playing time last fall, and head coach Joe Moorhed is hoping that experience will propel the Fordham offense in 2012.
The returning starters are led by juniors Stephen Tapia and Thomas Fisher, who started all eleven games last year at right guard and left tackle, respectively. They helped the Fordham passing offense rank 41st in the NCAA FCS, averaging 229.7 yards/game.
Tapia appeared in seven games for the Rams as a freshman, making four starts at right guard, while Fisher started his freshman year at tight end before being moved to the offensive line. They helped the Fordham offense average 176.0 rushing yards per game, second in the Patriot League and 31st in the NCAA FBS. The 2010 Fordham offense was also ranked second in overall offense in the Patriot League (383.5 yards/game).
The other returning starter is senior
Robert Kubacki, who appeared in nine games as a junior for the Rams last fall, starting six at right tackle. Kubacki brings a wealth of experience to the line, having played in all eleven games as a sophomore, starting ten at left guard while as a freshman in 2009 he appeared in eight games, starting six at left tackle.
The line is also boosted by the return of senior Lloyd Morrison, who sat out the 2011 season. A two-year starter, he started all eleven games at right tackle as a junior in 2010 and at right guard as a sophomore in 2009. In 2010, Morrison helped the offense average 176.0 rushing yards per game, second in the Patriot League and 31st in the NCAA FBS. That Fordham offense was also ranked second in overall offense in the Patriot League (383.5 yards/game) and allowed just 16 sacks in eleven games, third best in the Patriot League.
In 2009 as the starting right guard, Morrison was a cog on the offensive line that helped the Rams set the school record for total offense in a season, amassing 5,377 yards, eclipsing the former record of 4,995 yards set by the 2002 team, The 2009 Rams led the NCAA FCS in total offense (488.82 yards/game) and were second in passing offense (337.09 yards/game) and tied for second in first downs per game (23.64).
Other returning offensive linemen include seniors
Chris Watkins, who is slated to start at center, and
John Hohlt, who entered camp as the starter at right tackle, and junior
Matt Stolte, who is penciled in as the starter at left tackle in 2012. Last year, Stolte appeared in six games at left guard as a sophomore while Hohlt appeared in nine games both as a sophomore and junior, starting eight at right guard in 2010. Watkins, who served as
Jonathan Sheridan's backup at center, played in three games.
Seniors Alex Locker, and Andrew Milmore and sophomore Joseph Mizera all appeared on the preseason two-deep, Locker at left tackle, Milmore at left guard and Mizera at center. Last year, Milmore appeared in nine games as a junior, starting two at left guard while Locker, who was moved from the defensive line to the offensive line prior to the season, saw action in eight games on the offensive line as a junior, starting four at right tackle.
Other players looking for playing time on the offensive line in 2012 include senior Anthony Perrone and sophomore Mason Halter.
Newcomers to the offensive line are sophomore Khamrone Kolb and freshmen Tim Donahue and Garrick Mayweather.
Kolb, a transfer from Penn State, appeared in one game for the Nittany Lions as a redshirt freshman last fall. He played high school football at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, where he was a teammate of current Fordham quarterback Michael Nebrich. And earned First-Team All-Met honors at offensive tackle.
Donahue, a graduate of Howell High School in Howell, New Jersey, was named Third Team All-Asbury Park Press last year and Second Team All-Shore in both 2010 and 2011. A three-time All-Division honoree (2009, 2010 and 2011), Donahue was a two-way lineman at Howell and recipient of the Vincent Lombardi Trophy in 2010 and 2011.
Mayweather, a product of McKinley High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was a two-time All-State and two-time All-District selection as well as a U.S. Army All Star Senior Bowl selection.
