Photo Gallery (Practice) | Photo Gallery (Linebackers)
 
Bronx, N.Y. (August 19, 2014) – The Fordham University football squad had its last two-a-days today and that means the season is getting closer, so it's time to start winding down the position-by-position breakdown of the 2014 Rams as we look at the linebackers.
 
The Rams return a group of experienced linebackers, led by Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Stephen Hodge, who will be joined by a pair of newcomers as the group looks to repeat last year's success in which two of the three starters earned All-Patriot League honors and were responsible for helping the squad lead the NCAA FCS in turnovers gained.
 
Hodge, who was named a Preseason All-American and Preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, is coming off a 2013 season in which he was named a Beyond Sports Network and College Sports Madness All-American and First Team All-Patriot League and ECAC-Star selection. He started all 14 games at linebacker, finishing the season with 124 tackles, 94 solo, including 16 tackles for loss, five sacks, five forced fumbles, four quarterback hurries, three fumble recoveries and an interception. Hodge led the nation in solo tackles/game (6.7) and led the Patriot League and was eighth the in country with five forced fumbles.
 

He is joined by senior Austin Hancock, a 2013 Second Team All-Patriot League selection, who started all 14 games as a junior. He recorded 80 total tackles, including 53 solo, and 2.0 TFL, finishing third on the team in total tackles.
 
Also back with experience from 2013 is senior Victor DiFusco, who appeared in 13 games as a junior, making two starts. He finished the season with 31 total tackles, 19 solo, including 4.5 for loss, and also had two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry. DiFusco earned Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors following the win over eighth-ranked Villanova where he recorded seven total tackles, including three tackles for loss, and he had two forced fumbles and one recovered fumble.
 
Sophomore George Dawson, who gained valuable experience as a freshman by appearing in all 14 games both at linebacker and on special teams, is also back for the Rams. Last year, he made 20 total tackles, 17 solo, on the year, including one for loss, and he also had three pass breakups.
 
Two returning players who join the linebacking corps this season are moving from other positions. Senior De'Nard Pinckney played in the defensive backfield last fall, seeing action in ten games as a junior, both in the defensive backfield and on special teams. He made 14 total tackles, 13 solo, and also recovered a fumble.
 

Junior Andrew Erenberg started camp as a running back but was moved to linebacker this week. He appeared in eight games as a sophomore, rushing twice for one yard at Yale.
 
Senior Griffin Murphy, who missed all of last year with an injury, is also making the move to linebacker, after playing on the offensive side of the ball, while senior David Barletta was also sidelined last year with an injury.
 
Sophomore Brett Lambert, who appeared in one game as a freshman, and junior Nick Zawisha, who did not see varsity action, are also back for the Rams in 2013.
 
Newcomers to linebacker are freshmen Niko Thorpe and Jonathan Dimon. Thorpe, a graduate of Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, was a 2013 First Team All-State selection and named the 2013 PIAA Defensive Player of the Year. Dimon is a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where he was an All-Area and All-CVC selection and was named Defensive Player of the week three times.