Carlton Koonce, Jake Rodriques, Steven Tapia and Ian Williams have been named 2013 Fordham University football team captains it was announced by head coach Joe Moorhead, who served as a captain for Fordham as a senior in 1995, as the Rams prepare for their season opener on Thursday night, August 29, on Jack Coffey Field at 7:00 PM.
 
Koonce, who has received a plethora of preseason awards including being named to the 2013 Walter Payton Award Watch List and a preseason All-American, earned First Team All-Patriot League honors in 2012, rushing 300 times for 1,596 yards, breaking the Fordham single season school rushing mark of 1,477 yards set by Kirwin Watson in 2003. He also led the Rams with 13 rushing touchdowns and was second on the team with 48 receptions for 313 yards and two scores.
 
Koonce led the Patriot League and was fourth in the NCAA FCS in rushing yards/game (145.1) and had two 200-yard games in 2012, including a 250-yard contest at Columbia where he tied a Patriot League record with a 92-yard touchdown run. Koonce also led the Patriot League and was sixth in the NCAA FCS in all-purpose yards/game, averaging 173.6/contest.
 
Rodriques, a linebacker, started all eleven games at linebacker for the Rams in 2012, recording 81 total tackles, 47 solo, last fall and he led the team with 9.5 tackles for loss (50 yards) and with 4.5 sacks. He also had one interception, one pass deflection, two quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.

Rodriques finished sixth in the Patriot League in tackles for loss and was eleventh in the League with 4.5 sacks as well as 13^th in tackles/game. He tied his career-high with eleven tackles, including five solo and one sack, versus Georgetown and he also made eleven stops, nine solo, and intercepted a pass at Holy Cross.
 
Over his first three years at Fordham, Rodriques has 156 total tackles, 95 solo, including 14.5 for loss and six sacks.
 

Tapia, an offensive lineman, is a two-year starter at right guard. Last year, he helped running back Carlton Koonce set the school single season rushing record with 1,596 yards and also helped the Fordham offense average 435.7 yards/game, second best in the Patriot League and 20th best in the NCAA FCS. The Rams' offense scored 31.2 ppg, second in the league and 31st in the NCAA FCS and had the second ranked passing offense in the Patriot League in 2012, averaging 279.6 yards/game, 18th best in the NCAA FCS.
 
Williams, a senior who was placed on the CFPA Defensive Back Watch List as well as being named a preseason All-Patriot League pick, was named Second Team All-Patriot League at defensive back last fall. He was second on the squad with 86 total tackles, including a team-high 69 solo, and two tackles for loss. Williams led the squad with five interceptions and he also had eleven pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He finished third in the Patriot League and tied for tenth in the NCAA FCS in interceptions/game (0.45) and was fourth in the Patriot League in passes defended/game (1.00) and 12th in tackles/game (7.8). Williams notched double figures in tackles three times in 2012, including a season-best 14 tackles, 12 solo, in the Lafayette.
 
Over his three-year career at Rose Hill, Williams has accumulated 140 total tackles, 110 solo, with two tackles for loss. He also has seven interceptions and 19 pass breakups.
 

Fordham opens the 2013 season on Thursday, August 29, as the Rams host the University of Rhode Island on Jack Coffey Field at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale by calling the Fordham Ticket Office at 855-RAM-TIXS or online at Fordhamsports.com.