Bronx, N.Y. – As we reach the halfway point of the 2019 Fordham football fall camp, it's time to move from the offense to the defense as we continue our position-by-position look at the Rams with the defensive line.
 
Fordham entered the 2018 season with very little experience on the defensive line as the two-deep was stacked with freshmen and sophomores. The good news is that those players gained experience that will benefit the Rams this fall.
 
The Rams return all four starters on the line, led by junior Anthony Diodato, who started all eleven games at defensive end, recording 34 total tackles, 15 solo, including 3.5 for loss and 0.5 sacks. He also blocked three kicks and recovered a fumble.
 
Junior Ellis Taylor also returns to the line after appearing in all eleven games on the defensive line as a sophomore, making 25 total tackles, 15 solo, including 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also had three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
 
Junior Jeremy Imperati saw action in all eleven games as a sophomore, starting four on the defensive line. He recorded 21 total tackles, 13 solo, including 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks, along with three quarterback hurries.

Also returning to the line is junior Mike Marinelli, who appeared in all eleven games, starting nine at nose tackles, as a sophomore. He registered 12 total tackles, six solo, including two for loss and had one pass breakup.
 
Junior Deondre Carter saw plenty of action last fall, appearing in all eleven games on the defensive line for the Rams in 2018, starting six. He had 33 tackles, 19 solo, including 3.0 for loss and one sack.
 
Other returning players with experience include junior Sawyer Schwarz who saw action in six games as a sophomore, recording eight total tackles, three solo, including 1.5 for loss and 0.5 sacks, along with sophomore Gavin Watson who appeared in three games as a freshman, making two tackles, one solo; sophomore Alfonzo Dixon IV, who appeared in five games as a freshman, recording three total tackles, two solo, including 0.5 for loss; sophomore Luke Simon, who saw action in two games as a freshman; and senior Anthony Solano, who moves back to the defensive line after appearing on the offensive line last year.
 
Newcomers to the line include junior Jonathan Coste, a transfer from ASA College where he made 17 total tackles last year, ten solo, including 6.5 for loss and one sack; Elisha Armstrong, a Herald-News All-Area pick at Bolingbrook High School in Bolingbrook, Illinois; Dajour Dixon, a 2018 First Team All-Golden League selection at Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California; John Turley, a product of Malverne Prep in Malverne, Pennsylvania; and Tom Callahan, who played his high school football at Seton Hall Prep in New Jersey.