Bronx, N.Y. (February 3, 2016) - Fordham University Head Football Coach Andrew Breiner announced the signing of nine football student-athletes to letters of intent with Fordham for the 2016 season.
 
The new class features four offensive players and four defensive players along with one athlete. By position, offensive line leads the way with three, followed by two defensive linemen, one linebacker, one running back, one defensive back and one athlete.

The nine newcomers hail from five different states, from New York to Ohio. The Buckeye state was kind to the Rams this year with four of the nine signees hailing from Ohio followed by two from New York and one each from New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
 
The new recruiting class will join 18 returning starters in 2016, ten on offense and eight on defense.

Fordham closed out the 2015 season with a #19 national ranking in the final Sports Network NCAA FSC and FCS Coaches polls. The Rams have now been ranked in the top 25 for 42 consecutive weeks dating back to 2013. Fordham enjoyed another successful season last fall, going 9-3 overall, 5-1 in the Patriot League, and earning its third straight berth in the NCAA FCS Championships. The Rams are just one of seven teams to advance to the NCAA FCS Championships in each of the past three years.
 
Over the past three years, Fordham has won 32 games, fourth among all NCAA FCS schools, and the Rams boost an .800 winning percentage over that stretch, also fourth best among all NCAA FCS teams. Fordham is also one of four NCAA FCS teams to defeat two NCAA FBS schools (Temple and Army) over the past three years.
 
The 2015 Rams saw three players earn All-America honors, sophomore running back Chase Edmonds, the 2015 ECAC and Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, graduate linebacker Stephen Hodge and senior offensive lineman Garrick Mayweather, Jr. Those three joined five other teammates in earning All-Patriot League honors.
 
"We are very excited to welcome the nine new student-athletes to our program," said Breiner. "I believe that the group has unlimited potential and brings both speed and size to our team. We look forward to them arriving this summer and helping us build on the tremendous accomplishments of the past three years."

The Rams are scheduled to open their 117^th season of varsity football on Saturday, September 3, as they travel to Annapolis, Maryland, to face the Navy Midshipmen. Fordham is entering its 27^th season as a member of the NCAA FCS Patriot League.

Here is a complete list of the 2016 newcomers:
 

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown/High School (Last School)
Jesse Bramble	DB	6-0	180	Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville
Jeff Ginn, Jr.	ATH	6-2	205	Cleveland, Ohio/Ginn Academy/Glenville
Gavin Grewal	OL	6-4	285	Durham, N.C./Deerfield (Mass.) Academy
Alex Hall	OL	6-6	275	Louisville, Ohio/Louisville
D'Angelo Palladino	RB	5-10	190	Ironton, Ohio/Ironton
Johnny Piccinich	DL	6-4	240	Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan
Max Roberts	LB	6-1	230	Delaware, Ohio/Delaware Hayes (Salisbury)
Anthony Solano	OL	6-5	272	Harlem, N.Y./Choate Rosemary Hall
Michael Ware	DL	6-4	260	Allison Park, Pa./Shady Side Academy

  
Jesse Bramble, DB, 6-0, 180, Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville
A 2015 First Team All-City selections… Also named MSG Varsity Second Team All-Metro… Rushed for 926 yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a senior… 2015 Al Fabbri Award winner (Staten Island's top player)… Played at Tottenville with current Ram Anthony Coyle for head coach Jim Munson.
 
 
Jeff Ginn, Jr., ATH, 6-2, 206, Cleveland, Ohio/Ginn Academy/Glenville
2015 First Team All-Senate League pick… A 2015 Senate League All-Star… Helped team to a 12-2 record, 7-0 in league play… Had 25 receptions for 452 yards and six touchdowns as a senior… Recorded 17 tackles and one interception on defense… Played for head coach Ted Ginn, Sr… Cousin of current Carolina Panther wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr.
 
 
Gavin Grewal, OL, 6-4, 285, Durham, N.C./Deerfield Academy (Mass.)
A four-year varsity letterman and three-year starter… A three-time All-Conference selection… 2014 All-Metro, All-Region and All-District pick… Played at Deerfield Academy for head coach Brian Barbato.
 
 
Alex Hall, OL, 6-6, 275, Louisville, Ohio/Louisville
Named 2015 Division III First Team All-State in Ohio… A 2015 All-NBC First Team selection… 24/7 Sports three-star rated offensive lineman… A three sport athlete at Louisville High School where he also lettered in basketball and tennis… An Ohio High School Scholar-Athlete… Played for head coach John DeMarco at Louisville.
 
 
D'Angelo Palladino, RB, 5-10, 190, Ironton, Ohio/Ironton
Named Division V Offensive Player of the Year in Ohio's Southeast District as a junior in 2014… 2014 Division V First Team All-State pick… A 2014 Ohio Valley Conference First Team honoree… Rushed for 1,507 yards and 18 touchdowns during the 2014 season… Played for head coach Mark Vass at Ironton.
 
 
Johnny Piccinich, OL, 6-4, 240, Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan
Three-year starter… Led Old Tappan to a perfect 12-0 record for the first time in school history in 2015 and the North 1, Group 4 championship… Second Team All-State and a Group 4 All-State selection in 2015… A 2015 First Team All-Bergen County and All-North Jersey honoree… Second Team All-Metro as a senior… Registered 95 total tackles in 2015, including 25 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks and forced three fumbles… First team All-County in 2015… Served as a team captain as a senior… Recorded 72 total tackles as a junior, including 14.0 for loss… Played for head coach Brian Dunn at Old Tappan.
 
Max Roberts, LB, 6-1, 230, Delaware, Ohio/Delaware Hayes (Salisbury)
Led Salisbury to an 8-1 overall record in 2015, 6-0 in the conference… Recorded eleven receptions for 143 yards and one touchdown and made 42 tackles, including three for loss, and intercepted a pass on defense… Played for head coach Mike Golden at Delaware Hayes High School and head coach Chris Phelps at Salisbury School.
 
 
Anthony Solano, OL, 6-5, 272, Harlem, N.Y./Choate Rosemary Hall
Led Choate Rosemary Hall to back-to-back undefeated NEPSAC Championship seasons in 2014 and 2015… Named 2015 All-New England at offensive tackle… Choate Rosemary Hall was a perfect 20-0 over his junior and senior seasons… Played for head coach L.J. Spinato at Choate Rosemary Hall.
 
 
Michael Ware, DL, 6-4, 260, Allison Park, Pa./Shady Side Academy
A 2015 First Team All-Allegheny Conference selection… 2015 Allegheny Conference Co-MVP… An all-conference tight end/defensive end as a junior in 2014… Served as a team captain in 2015… Also a member of the basketball team at Shady Side… Scored more than 1,000 career points with the basketball squad… An Honor Roll student… Played at Shady Side Academy with current Ram Jarred Brevard for head coach Dave Havern.