Dan Light Named to CFPA Tight End Watch List

Bronx, N.Y. (July 2, 2014) – Fordham University tight end Dan Light was named to the 2014 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS Tight End Award Watch List it was announced on Wednesday.

"Congratulations to Dan Light on earning a spot on this year's watch list," said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. "Light has been highly productive over his career at Fordham, including a D-I FCS tight-end best 66 receptions last season."

Light is the eighth Fordham player to be named to the CFPA Watch List for the 2014 season. He joins Sam Ajala, Tebucky Jones, Jr., and Brian Wetzel (all wide receiver), Michael Nebrich (QB), Brett Biestek (DL), Stephen Hodge (LB), and Ian Williams (DB) on the 2014 CFPA Watch List. Light was also named to two preseason All-America teams on Tuesday.

Light, one of the top tight ends in Fordham history who earned first team all-Patriot League honors for the second straight year in 2013, caught 66 passes (a school record for tight ends) for 588 yards (the second most receiving yards for a Fordham tight end) and two touchdowns last fall. He led all NCAA FCS tight ends with 66 receptions (he was second in all of the NCAA Division 1) and ranked second in receptions per game (4.7) and third in receiving yards per game (42.0). He was eighth in the Patriot League in receptions per game (4.7) and tenth in receiving yards per game (33.2).

Two Fordham players have earned CFPA honors. Former Fordham tight end Stephen Skelton earned CFPA honors in 2010, while current Tampa Bay Bucs specialist Patrick Murray earned the 2011 CFPA Punter Award and 2012 CFPA Placekicker Award.

The initial watch list includes 36 returning performers, vying for the top tight end award in the Football Championship Subdivision. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.

The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.

CFPA is now in its seventh season of recognition, utilizing objective rankings of player and team performance. CFPA's data index, used since 2008, spans offense, defense, and special teams.

Last season, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston earned the CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy for the FBS, while Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams earned the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy.

CFPA Trophy winner and former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was the first overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The full list of 2014 CFPA winners will be announced January 14, 2015.