2021 Phil Steele All-American and All-League teams
 
Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham University was well represented on the 2021 Phil Steele All-American and All-Patriot teams, highlighted by senior offensive lineman Nick Zakelj (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) receiving first team All-America honors, his third All-America accolade, and freshman linebacker James Conway (Omaha, Neb./Millard West) being named to the Freshman All-America team (second team).
 
In addition to the honors for Zakelj, who was also named the Patriot League Offensive Lineman of the Year, and Conway, who was also named Patriot League Freshman of the Year by the publication, senior quarterback Tim DeMorat was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Joining the trio were 13 other Rams who were named to the Phil Steele All-Patriot League teams. Along with DeMorat and Zakelj, senior defensive back Jesse Bramble, junior wide receiver Dequece Carter, senior linebacker Ryan Greenhagen, senior wide receiver Fotis Kokosioulis, senior offensive lineman Phil Saleh, junior running back Trey Wilson III, all earned first team All-Patriot League honors. Conway was placed on the second team while junior wide receiver MJ Wright and junior offensive lineman Lucas Portes were placed on the third team and senior defensive lineman Alfonzo Dixon IV, senior wide receiver Hamze El-Zayat, freshman linebacker Matt Jaworski, junior offensive lineman Ryan Joyce, and senior tight end Jack Lynch received fourth team honors.
 
PHIL STEELE FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Nick Zakelj (Sr., OL, Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights)
• Named First Team Athlon Sports FCS All-America
• Named First Team STATS Perform FCS All-America
• Started every game at left tackle for the Rams
• 2019, 2020-2021, and 2021 First Team All-Patriot League
• 2018 Second Team All-League pick
• One of just 24 players in League history to earn All-League honors all four years
• 2020-2021 and 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District® selection
• Helped Rams led the Patriot League and ranked eleventh in the NCAA FCS in passing offense (296.7 yards/game) and lead the League and rank 12^th in the NCAA FCS in total offense (447.5 yards/game)
• Helped Rams ranked second in the PL and 18^th in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (33.6 points/game)
• Helped Rams lead the Patriot League and rank 22^nd in the NCAA in fewest sacks allowed (1.36/game) and lead the League and rank ninth in the NCAA in TFLs allowed/game (3.91/game)
• Named Academic All-Patriot League for past four years
• Four-year starter
• A Finance major
 
 
PHIL STEELE SECOND TEAM FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
James Conway (Jr., LB, Omaha, Neb./Millard West)
• Second Team All-Patriot League
• Recorded 131 total tackles, 61 solo
• Registered 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks
• Led team in tackles
• 131 tackles is a Fordham freshman record and the third best single season in school history
• Led the Patriot League and second in the NCAA FCS in tackles/game (11.9)
• Second in the League and 14th in the FCS in solo tackles/game (5.5)
• Led the League in forced fumbles
• Named Patriot League Rookie of the Week four times and Defensive Player of the Week once
 
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tim DeMorat (Sr., QB, Merritt Island, Fla./Viera)
• Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year
• First Team All-Patriot League
• Completed 234 of 400 passes for 3,214 yards and 31 touchdowns
• Also rushed for 92 net yards and four scores
• The 31 passing touchdowns is the third most in a season for a Ram while the 3,214 passing yards is fourth best
• Led the Patriot League and seventh in the NCAA FCS in passing touchdowns
• Led the Patriot League and 12th in the NCAA FCS in passing yards
• Led the Patriot League and ninth in the NCAA FCS in passing yards/game (292.2)
• Led the Patriot League and 13th in the NCAA FCS in passing yards/completion (13.7)
• Led Patriot League and 17th in the NCAA FCS in completions/game (21.3)
• Led League and eleventh in the NCAA FCS in total offense (300.5 yards/game)
• Named Preseason Offensive player of the Year
• Seventh among active FCS quarterbacks in passing yards/game (238.1) and tenth in passing yards (8,570)
• 2019 and 2020-2021 First Team All-Patriot League
• Second on the Fordham career completions (707) and passing yards (8,570) lists
• Third on the Fordham career passing touchdown list (67)
 
PHIL STEELE FIRST TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
Jesse Bramble (Sr., DB, Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville)
• Second Team All-Patriot League
• Recorded 85 total tackles, 63 solo, including 5.5 for loss and 0.5 sacks
• Also had three pass breakups, an interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
• Led the Patriot League and ninth in the NCAA FCS in solo tackles/game (5.7)
• Sixth in League in tackles/game (7.7)
• Three-year starter
• 2021 team captain
 
Dequece Carter (Jr., WR, Louisa, Va./Woodbury Forest School)
• First Team All-Patriot League
• Caught 48 passes for 872 yards and eleven touchdowns
• Led Patriot League and 23rd in the NCAA FCS in receiving yards/game (79.3)
• Second in the Patriot League and eleventh in the NCAA FCS in touchdown receptions
• Second in the League and 26th in the NCAA FCS in receiving yards
• Fifth in the League in receptions/game (4.4)
• Eleven touchdown catches is tied for fourth most in a season at Fordham
• Has 18 career touchdown receptions, tied for sixth on the Fordham career list
• Has 1,869 career receiving yards, tenth most in school history
• 2020-2021 First Team All-Patriot League
 
Fotis Kokosioulis (Sr., WR, Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South)
• Named first team All-Patriot League
• Caught 57 passes for 783 yards and 13 touchdowns
• Led team in receptions and receiving scores
• 13 touchdown catches is tied for second most in a season at Fordham
• Led Patriot League and fourth in the NCAA FCS in receiving touchdowns  
• Second in the Patriot League in receiving yards and fourth in receiving yards/game (71.2)
• Second in the League in receptions/game (5.2)
• Led the Patriot League and 25th in the NCAA FCS in all-purpose yards/game (112.8)
• Has 21 career receiving touchdowns, tied for fourth all-time at Fordham
• Has 1,682 career receiving yards, 12th on the Fordham career list
• 2020-2021 First Team All-Patriot League
 
Ryan Greenhagen (Sr., LB, Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII)
• 2021 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
• Limited to just five games due to injury
• Had 102 total tackles in five games
• Was leading the NCAA in tackles/game when injured
• Broke NCAA record with 31 tackles at Nebraska
• Also had 5.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks, an interception and two pass break ups
• 2019 and 2020-2021 First Team All-Patriot League
• Has 35.5 career TFLs, fifth-best in school history
• 2020-2021 Academic All-American®
• A Business Administration major
 
Phil Saleh (Sr., OL, Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest)
• First Team All-Patriot League
• Started all eleven games at right tackle
• Helped Rams lead the Patriot League and ranked eleventh in the NCAA FCS in passing offense (296.7 yards/game) and lead the League and rank eleventh in the NCAA FCS in total offense (447.5 yards/game)
• Helped Rams ranked second in the PL and 15th in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (33.6 points/game)
• Helped Rams lead the PL and rank 22nd in the NCAA in fewest sacks allowed (1.36/game) and lead the League and rank eighth in the NCAA in TFLs allowed/game (3.91/game)
• 2020-2021 First Team All-Patriot League and 2019 Second Team All-League
• Four-year starter
 
Trey Wilson III (Jr., RB, Montclair, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy)
• Named first team All-Patriot League
• Rushed 103 times for 566 yards and three touchdowns
• Also caught eleven passes for 53 yards
• Fourth in the Patriot League in rushing yards and rushing yards/game (51.5)
• Stepped up when injuries forced Trey Sneed and Zach Davis to the sidelines
 
PHIL STEELE THIRD TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
Lucas Portes (Jr., OL, Gaithersburg, Md./Good Counsel)
• Started all eleven games at left guard
• Helped Rams lead the Patriot League and ranked eleventh in the NCAA FCS in passing offense (296.7 yards/game) and lead the League and rank eleventh in the NCAA FCS in total offense (447.5 yards/game)
• Helped Rams ranked second in the PL and 15th in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (33.6 points/game)
• Helped Rams lead the PL and rank 22nd in the NCAA in fewest sacks allowed (1.36/game) and lead the League and rank eighth in the NCAA in TFLs allowed/game (3.91/game)
 
MJ Wright (Jr., WR, Freehold, N.J./Red Bank Catholic)
• Caught 39 passes for 541 yards and one touchdown
• Third on team in receiving yards and fourth in receptions
• Sixth in the Patriot League in yards/reception (13.9)
• Eighth in League in receiving yards and receiving yards/game (49.2)
• Tenth in the Patriot League in receptions/game (3.5)
 
 
PHIL STEELE FOURTH TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
Alfonzo Dixon IV (Sr., DL, Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Gables)
• Started all eleven games on the defensive line
• Recorded 44 total tackles, 14 solo, including 8.0 for loss and 5.0 sacks
• Intercepted a pass against Wagner
• Also have five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick
 
Hamze El-Zayat (Sr., WR, Dearborn, Mich./Fordson)
• Appeared in nine games at wide out
• Caught 40 passes for 400 yards and one touchdown
• Fourth in the Patriot League in receptions per game (4.4)
• Eleventh in the League in receiving yards/game (44.4)
 
Matt Jaworski (Fr., LB, Buffalo, N.Y./St. Paul II (Ala.))
• Appeared in all eleven games as a freshman
• Made 39 total tackles, 12 solo, including 5.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks
• Also had seven quarterback hurries and one pass breakup
 
Ryan Joyce (Jr., OL, Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central)
• Started all eleven games at right guard
• Helped Rams lead the Patriot League and ranked eleventh in the NCAA FCS in passing offense (296.7 yards/game) and lead the League and rank eleventh in the NCAA FCS in total offense (447.5 yards/game)
• Helped Rams ranked second in the PL and 15th in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (33.6 points/game)
• Helped Rams lead the PL and rank 22nd in the NCAA in fewest sacks allowed (1.36/game) and lead the League and rank eighth in the NCAA in TFLs allowed/game (3.91/game)
 
Jack Lynch (Sr., TE, Berlin, Conn./Berlin)
• Appeared in all eleven games at tight end, starting ten
• Hauled in three passes for 26 yards and two touchdowns