Photo Gallery
 
Wrapping up our look at the 2013 Fordham University defense is a preview of the defensive backfield, a position that returns three starters from 2012, led by senior cornerback Ian Williams, a preseason All-Patriot League selection.
 
Williams, who was placed on the CFPA Defensive Back Watch List earlier this summer and who was named a team captain on Wednesday, earned Second Team All-Patriot League accolades 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.

 
Chapman, who appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore, starting nine at cornerback, finished the 2012 season with 30 total tackles, 19 solo. He also had four pass breakups and an interception, returning the interception 64 yards for a score in the Lafayette win.
 
Dixon started all eleven games at strong safety as a sophomore, registering 55 total tackles, 36 solo, including two for loss, and he also had two interceptions, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He made a career-high nine tackles, five solo, at Lehigh and tied that career-best with nine more tackles, six solo, in the win over Georgetown.
 
The starter at free safety is a competition between juniors De'Nard Pinckney and Levon Williams.
 
Pinckney appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore for the Rams, recording 24 total tackles, 17 solo, on the year. He made a season-high five tackles, four solo, at Lehigh. Williams saw action in all eleven games in his first year with the Rams after transferring in from Nassau Community College. He recorded eight solo tackles and also had one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.
 
Also returning to the defensive backfield for the Rams in 2013 are juniors Lourenzo Smith, Marc DeSisto, Alex Leo and Eric Darnell, sophomore JQ Bowers and senior Nick DiFilippi.
 
Smith, who saw action in one game as a sophomore, moves over to the defensive backfield from wider receiver while DeSisto appeared in six games as a sophomore, both in the defensive backfield and on special teams, finishing with five total tackles, four solo.
 
Bowers saw action in two games last fall for the Rams while Leo, another transfer to the defensive backfield from wide receiver, Darnell and DiFilippi did not see action in 2012.
 
The lone newcomer to the defensive backfield is freshman Marcus Fulmore. A graduate of The Pennington School in Pennington, New Jersey, Fulmore was a three-time First Team Newark Star-Ledger State Prep selection and a  three-time First Team Independence League (RB/DB) pick.
 
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.