Bronx, N.Y. – As we continue to breakdown the 2022 Fordham Rams, we move to the Rams upfront, the offensive line.
The good news for the Rams is that they return four of the five starters from 2021, a line that helped Fordham lead the Patriot League and ranked eleventh in the NCAA FCS in passing offense (296.7 yards/game) and lead the League and rank 12th in the NCAA FCS in total offense (447.5 yards/game). The 2021 Rams were also second in the PL and 18th in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (33.6 points/game) and ranked second in the Patriot League, and 22nd 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).
The lone loss from the 2021 offensive line is
Nick Zakelj, an All-American and four-time All-Patriot League selection who was taken by San Francisco in the sixth round of the NFL draft.
Leading the returning starters is preseason All-Patriot League pick
Phil Saleh. The grad student, a four-year starter, played every game at right tackle last fall after serving as the starting center the previous two years.
Other returning starters for the Rams are seniors
Ryan Joyce,
Lucas Portes,
Giovanni Potente. Joyce started all eleven games last year at right guard for the Rams while Portes served as the starting left guard all season. Potente moved from guard to center last year where he started every contest.
Other returning players with experience include seniors
Nolan Aloia, who appeared in four games last year for the Rams, and
Wyatt Klawiter, who saw action in two games in 2021, along with juniors
Cody Johnson, who returns to the offensive line after seeing time on the defensive line last fall, and
Patrick Barr. Sophomores
David Evbomenya, who saw action in three games as a rookie last year, and
Hank Perry, who played in two games as a freshman, also return.
The offensive line welcomes a number of newcomers in 2022, including freshmen
John Michael Talanges, a product of Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois;
Duke Leonard, from Cypress Hills High School in Houston;
Kevin Loughlin, who hails from nearby St. Joseph's High School in Montvale, New Jersey;
Thomas Fischbach, a graduate of Winchester High School in Winchester, Massachusetts;
Mike Smallenberger, who hails from Concord, California, where he played at De La Salle High School; and
Kurt Plakans, who played high school football at St. John's Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts.
