Tarrytown, N.Y. – Members of the 2019 Fordham University football squad were honored at the annual Fordham Football Awards Dinner held at the Westchester Marriott on Sunday, February 9. Special team awards presented to members of the team included the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year (Thomas Stolte), the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year (Antonio Cortez Feria), the Academic Achievement Award (Brendan Donlon), Most Outstanding Athlete in the Weight Room (Jonah Isaac), the Macken Award (Andrew Mevis), the Bill Tierney Award (Joe Ferraro and James Biggs-Frazier), the Danowski Award (Dominic Lombard and Lawrence Menyah), the Lansing Trophy (Nick Zakelj), the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Award (Ryan Greenhagen), the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year Award (Zach Davis) and the Rich Marrin, FCRH '65, LAW '68, Most Valuable Player Award (Tim DeMorat).
 
Stolte and Feria received the defensive and offensive scout team player of the year honor, respectively, for the hard work and dedication they put in during the week to get the Rams ready for their next opponent. This work often goes unnoticed by the fans on Saturday but is highly valued by the coaching staff.
 
The Academic Award honors the football student-athlete with the highest GPA. This year the academic advisors recognized Donlon, a junior Finance major with a GPA over 3.60. In addition, 41 members of the 2019 squad were honored for having a 3.00 GPA or better.
 
The Macken Award was established in memory of Rams' special assistant coach Bob Macken, who passed away suddenly in June of 1992. Coach Macken was a key part of the Fordham staff for seven seasons, always handling the "little things" that are so vital to keeping a program going.  He took special pride in working with the special teams, and his "Macken Pizza Party" for the top special teams plays of the year were a source of great pride for the team.
 

Mevis, a junior kicker, handled all of the placekicking chores for the Rams in 2019 to receive his second straight Macken Award. A First Team All-Patriot League pick in 2019, he connected on 15 of 20 field goals with a long of 46 and 31 of his 33 PATs. Mevis was second in the Patriot League, and was 19th in the NCAA FCS, in field goals/game, and third in the PL in field goal percentage. His 15 made field goal in 2019 is tied for fifth most in a season in school history while his 27 career field goals is tied for fifth most in school history. Mevis also kicked off 63 times with 50 touchbacks.
 
Ferraro, a senior wide receiver, and Biggs-Frazier, a senior defensive back, were named recipients of the Bill Tierney Spirit Award, presented annually to the Fordham varsity player who in the estimate of his teammates represents the spirit that Bill so unselfishly exemplified.  A special Ram award was commissioned by Ernest H. Hammer, FCO '55, and created by David Hacker (a New York artist and a former formidable football player at California). The award is presented annually to the winner of the Bill Tierney Award.  Tierney suffered a cardiac arrest brought on by viral myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, on October 12, 1996 while warming up for the Homecoming football game.
 
In 2019 Ferraro, a team tri-captain, caught 32 passes for 403 yards for the Rams, ranking fourth on the team in both categories. Biggs-Frazier, also a team tri-captain, received from an injury-limited 2018 season to record 65 total tackles in 2019, ranking third on the team, including two for loss. He also had two interceptions, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
 
Zakelj, a First Team All-Patriot League picked last fall, was named recipient of the Lansing Trophy, named for Jim Lansing, a former player and coach who was a consensus All-American, in 1941, for the second straight year. That was the same season that Fordham downed Missouri 2-0 to capture the 1942 Sugar Bowl. As a coach, Lansing won national club championships in 1965 and 1968, and became the school's first varsity coach since 1954 when the program was elevated to Division III in 1970. In five club seasons and two varsity campaigns, Lansing posted a 29-20-3 record.
 
Zakelj started all 12 games at left tackle for the Rams in 2019, blocking for the top-ranked offense in the Patriot League (357.2 yards/game). The Fordham offense also led the League in scoring (25.0) and red zone offense. A three-year starter on the offensive line, Zakelj was also named 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District and Academic All-Patriot League.
 
Greenhagen, a 2019 HERO Sports First Team Sophomore All-American and First Team All-Patriot League pick last fall, was named the team's Defensive MVP after he led the 2019 Rams with 123 tackles, 83 solo, including a team-best 18.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also had eight QBH, one forced fumble and one pass break up. Greenhagen led the Patriot League in TFLs/Game (1.54) and was second in tackles/game (10.2) while in NCAA FCS rankings he was third in solo tackles/game (6.8), 12th in total tackles/game and 14th in TFLs/game. He was also named Academic All-Patriot League in 2019.
 
Greenhagen's 18.5 TFLs was the third best single season in school history while his 82 solo tackles was the second best single season in school history. He has 33.5 career TFLs, seventh-best in school history.
 

Davis, who earned the Fordham Offensive Player of the Year award, garnered his first All-Patriot League honor this fall (First Team) after gaining 1,013 yards on 200 carries with seven touchdowns. He became the ninth Ram to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Davis led the Patriot League in rushing touchdowns, was third in rushing yards/game (84.4) and ranked 31st in the NCAA FCS in total rushing yards and 46th in rushing yards/game.

DeMorat, a First Team All-Patriot League selection last fall, received the 2019 Rich Marrin FCRH '65, LAW '68, Most Valuable Player Award. A two-year starter, he was named First Team All-Patriot League last fall after completing 232 of 393 passes for 2,674 yards and 10 touchdowns. He led the Patriot League in passing yards, passing yards/game (222.8) and passing touchdowns. DeMorat was ranked 36th in the NCAA FCS in passing yards and 35th in passing touchdowns while his 232 completions was seventh best single season in Fordham history and his 2,674 passing yards was eleventh best.

Over his two-year career, DeMorat has 31 career passing touchdowns, tied for sixth-best in school history and 380 career completion, seventh best all-time at Fordham.
 
Senior running back Tyriek Hopkins spoke on behalf of the players, mentioning how fortunate he was to transfer to Fordham and how his fellow seniors should not fear the future.
 
"We shouldn't fear the future," said Hopkins said to his fellow seniors. "It's not our last days as friends or competitors. We will always have opponents to compete against to help us grow. This goes for the returning players too. Use that fear to get better in the weight room and in practice and learn to change fear into confidence."
 
Head coach Joe Conlin then took to the dais and called up each senior member, with each receiving a framed jersey and then offered a final recap to the 2019 season.
 
"We saw many positives in 2019," said Conlin. "We went from one of the lowest ranked rushing offenses to the top rushing Patriot League team and we beat a very good CAA team on Jack Coffey Field. Our defense found its stride over the last two games, shutting out the opponent in six of the last eight quarters."
 
As for the 2020 season, Conlin is looking for the Rams to earn everything they get and to trust in each other. "We also have to make Jack Coffey Field one of the most intimidating places to play in the NCAA FCS."
 
Conlin announced the 2020 team captains: defensive back Jesse Bramble, linebacker Glenn Cunningham, running back Trey Sneed, and offensive lineman Nick Zakelj.
 
The Rams are scheduled to open their 120th season of varsity football on Saturday, August 29, as they host the Stony Brook University Seawolves on Jack Coffey Field. Fordham is entering its 31st season as a member of the NCAA FCS Patriot League.