Fordham Football Report – The Offensive Line

Photo Gallery (Practice) | Photo Gallery (Offensive Line)

Bronx, N.Y. (August 16, 2014) – Today we wrap up our report of the 2014 Fordham Football offensive unit with a look at the most underappreciated part of the offense, the  offensive line.
 
Like an official, most of the time the offensive line goes unnoticed. When a running back breaks off a 15-yard gain or a quarterback is allowed two more seconds to complete a pass, the credit normally goes to the running back or quarterback. But it's the men in the trenches who deserve the credit.
 
The Rams return three starters from the 2013 squad, a team that shattered numerous school records and led the NCAA FCS in pass completion percentage (70.6%), ranked third in passing offense (360.9 yards/game) and total first downs (364), and seventh in total offense (515.3 yards/game). The 2013 Fordham offense finished the season with a 4,000-yard passer, three 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher, believed to be the first time an NCAA team has accomplished the feat.
 

On the university level, the offense scored 50 points or more five times, and accumulating 526 points for the season, breaking the school record of 418 set by the 2003 squad. The Rams also set school single season records with 7,214 total yards of offense, shattering the former school mark of 5,377 set by the 2009 team, and 5,052 passing yards, bettering the former record of 3,708 set in 2009.
 
The returners are led by senior Mason Halter, a preseason All-American and All-Patriot League pick, who started all 13 games at left tackle as a junior, and was named Second Team All-America by The Sports Network and First Team All-Patriot League.
 
Also back is senior center Joe Mizera, who started all 14 games in 2013, and junior Garrick Mayweather, Jr., who started all 14 games at left guard.
 
The Rams will need to find replacements for graduated seniors Thomas Fisher, an All-Patriot League performer at right tackle last year, and Stephen Tapia, who started at right guards last fall. Looking to fill the spot at right tackle will be senior Matt Stolte, who returns for a fifth year. He started the first three games of the 2012 season at left tackle before suffering a season ending injury, and appeared ten games on the line last fall.
 
Also looking to see time on the line in 2014 are senior Roman Herman, sophomores Charlie Credendino, Erik McCauley, Sam Marlin, Zack Johnson, Kyle Vaughn and Jack Treanor.
 

Herman, who played in three games last year for the Rams, moves over to the offensive line after playing on the defensive line his first three years at Fordham. Credendino, a First Team All-State and First Team All-League selection at Harrison High School, appeared in six games as a freshman on the offensive line, while McCauley, a First Team All-State pick at Shelby High school, and Marlin, a First Team All-Sentinel Conference pick at Mechanicsburg High School, each saw action in one game as a freshman.  Johnson, a member of the 2012 NYCHSFL championship team at Chaminade High School, appeared in two games as a freshman, while Vaughn, a First Team All-State selection at Staples High School, saw action in four games as a freshman, serving as center Joe Mizera's backup. Treanor, an All-Conference performer at Severn High School, appeared in one game as a freshman.
 
Freshmen who are competing for time on the line include Anthony Coyle, Garrett Donaldson, Ben Hartman and Sean Hoey.
 
Coyle is a graduate of Tottenville High School on Staten Island where was the 2013 Sal Somma Award recipient as Staten Island's top lineman. He also earned First Team All-City and First Team All-Staten Island honors.
 
Donaldson, who graduated from The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, Florida, was a First Team AP All-State and First Team All-Palm Beach County (FACA District 20) selection as a senior last fall.
 
Hartman is a product of Del Rio High School in Del Rio, Texas, where he was a four-year starter on the line and was named to the 2013 Class 5A Region IV Pre-Season Elite Team.
 
Hoey arrives at Rose Hill from St. John's Prep in Danvers, Mass., where he was a three-year starter and led 2013 team to the Division I Super Bowl title.