BRONX, N.Y. – 16 members of the Fordham University football squad were named to the 2023 Phil Steele All-Patriot League team it was announced today. Leading the way was senior placekicker Brandon Peskin, who was named the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Year by the publication.
 
Joining Peskin in being named to the first team were sophomore linebacker James Conway, junior punter Will Haslett, junior defensive lineman Matt Jaworski, senior defensive back Nahil Perkins, and grad student offensive lineman Lucas Portes.
 
Placed on the second team were grad student wide receiver Garrett Cody, junior running back Julius Loughridge, sophomore quarterback CJ Montes, grad student defensive back Stephen Williams II, and grad student wide receiver MJ Wright while sophomore defensive lineman Sam Buerkle, junior offensive lineman David Evbomenya, senior wide receiver Mekai Felton, sophomore linebacker Marc Pretto, and sophomore defensive lineman Claudy Robinson were named to the third team.
 
FIRST TEAM

James Conway (Jr., LB, Omaha, Neb./Millard West)
• Named First Team All-Patriot League
• Recorded a team-high 129 tackles, 55 solo.
• Had 6.0 tackles for loss of 18 yards.
• Also had five quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick.
• Second in the Patriot League and fifth in the NCAA FCS in tackles/game (11.7).
• Third in the Patriot League and 14th in the NCAA FCS in solo tackles/game (5.4).
• Notched his third straight 100+-tackles season.
• Has 386 career tackles, third on the Fordham career list.
• 2022 First Team All-Patriot League and 2021 Second Team All-PL.
 
Will Haslett (Jr., P, Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCourt)
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League
• Punted 40 times for 1,708 yards, an average of 42.7 yards/punt.
• Led Patriot League in punting average.
• Landed 17 of his 40 punts inside the opponents 20.
• Had seven punts of more than 50 yards.
• Long punt of the year was 57 yards.
• Fordham led the Patriot League in net punting (37.7).
• The 42.7 punting average is the seventh best season average in school history.

Matt Jaworski (Jr., DL, Buffalo, N.Y./St. Francis)
• Named First Team All-Patriot League
• Recorded 44 total tackles this year, 27 solo.
• Led team with 13.5 tackles for loss of 86 yards.
• Also had a team-high nine sacks.
• Registered eight quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one blocked kick.
• Second in the Patriot League and 12th in the NCAA FCS in sacks/game (0.82).
• Third in the Patriot League and 35th in the NCAA FCS in tackles for loss/game (1.1)
 
Nahil Perkins (Sr., DB, Douglasville, Ga./Lanier)
• Named First Team All-Patriot League
• Recorded 62 total tackles, 37 solo.
• Third on team in total tackles.
• Registered 16 pass breakups and three interceptions, both team-highs.
• The 16 passes defended ties for the fifth most in a season for a Ram.
• Led Patriot League and fourth in the NCAA FCS in passes defended (1.5/game).
• Led Patriot League and 14th in the nation in interceptions.

Brandon Peskin (Sr., PK, Melville, N.Y./Hal Hollow Hills East)
• Named First Team All-Patriot League
• Made good on 14-of-17 field goal attempts.
• The 14 field goals is the sixth most in a season for a Ram.
• Led Patriot League and is 13th in the NCAA FCS in field goals/game (1.27).
• Led Patriot League and 14th in the nation in field goal percentage (.824).
• Was 33-for-40 on PATs.
• Booted the game-winning 45-yard field goal on the last play of the game against Lehigh.
• The 45-yarder was a career-long.
• Connected on 109 career PATs, third all-time at Fordham.

Lucas Portes (Gr., OL, Gaithersburg, Md,/Good Council)
• Named First Team All-Patriot League
• Started all eleven games at left guard in 2023.
• Helped the Fordham offense lead the Patriot League and rank 13th in the NCAA FCS in passing yards/game (275.6).
• Helped the Fordham offense ranked second in the Patriot League and 16th in the nation in total offense (428.0 yards/game).
• Helped the Fordham offense rank second in the Patriot League and rank 26th in the NCAA FCS in scoring (30.5 points/game).
• Helped the Fordham offense lead the Patriot League and rank fifth in the nation in first downs (261).
• A four-year starter.
• 2022 Second Team All-Patriot League.

 
SECOND TEAM
 
Garrett Cody (Gr., WR, Closter, N.J./Bergen Catholic)
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League
• Caught 54 passes for 856 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Fourth in the Patriot League and 20th in the NCA AFCS in receiving yards.
• Fourth in the Patriot League and 25^th in the nation in receiving yards/game (77.8).
• Fourth in the Patriot League in yards/receptions (15.85).
• Sixth in the Patriot League in receptions/game (4.9).

Julius Loughridge (Jr., RB, Houston, Texas/Mayde Creek)
• Named First Team All-Patriot League
• Rushed 207 times for 1,146 yards and ten touchdowns.
• Also caught 25 passes for 210 yards and two scores.
• Became eleventh player in Fordham history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
• Fourth in the Patriot League and eleventh in the NCAA FCS in rushing yards/game (104.2).
•Third in the Patriot League and 23rd in the NCAA FCS in rushing touchdowns.
• Fourth in the Patriot League in rushing yards/carry (5.54).
• Tenth in the Patriot League in total offense/game (104.2).
    
CJ Montes (So., QB, Pasadena, Calif./Paraclete)
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League
• A Walter Payton Award finalist.
• Completed 241 of 376 passes for 3,000 yards with 26 touchdowns and just one interception.
• Also ran for 158 net yards and three scores.
• Leads the Patriot League and is seventh in the NCAA FCS in passing touchdowns.
• Leads the League in passing yards and passing yards/game, ranking sixth in the nation in passing yards and tenth in passing yards/game (272.7).
• Leads the Patriot League and is tenth in the NCAA FCS in completions/game (21.91).
• Completion percentage of .641 ranks second in the conference.
• Passing efficiency rating of 153.4 is second in the Patriot League and 15th in the NCAA FCS.
• His 241 completions is the seventh best single season in Fordham history while his 3,000 passing yards is ninth best and the 26 touchdown passes is tied for seventh best.

Stephen Williams II (Gr., DB, Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy)
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League
• Recorded 47 total tackles, 26 solo, including one for loss.
• Intercepted a pass and broke up five others.
• Helped Fordham defense rank second in the Patriot League in scoring defense (24.7).
• Fordham defense also ranked third in interceptions (8).

MJ Wright (Gr., WR, Freehold, N.J./Red Bank Catholic)
• Named First Team All-Patriot League
• Caught 65 passes for 970 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Led team in receptions and receiving yards and second in receiving scores.
• Second in the Patriot League and tenth in the NCAA FCS in receiving yards.
• Second in the Patriot League and eleventh in the nation in receiving yards/game (88.2).
• Third in the Patriot League and 18th in the NCAA FCS in receptions/game (5.9).
• Compiled 2,887 career receiving yards, sixth on the Fordham all-time list.
• Has 185 career receptions, sixth all-time at Fordham.
• 2021 and 2022 Second Team All-Patriot League.
  
THIRD TEAM
    
Sam Buerkle (So., DL, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Xavier )
• Started all eleven games at defensive tackles in 2023.
• Recorded 35 total tackles, 12 solo.
• Had 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
• Also recovered a team-high four fumbles.
• Had two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.
 
David Evbomenya (Jr., OL, Marietta, Ga. Sprayberry)
• Started all eleven games at left tackle in 2023.
• Helped the Fordham offense lead the Patriot League and rank 13th in the NCAA FCS in passing yards/game (275.6).
• Helped the Fordham offense ranked second in the Patriot League and 16th in the nation in total offense (428.0 yards/game).
• Helped the Fordham offense rank second in the Patriot League and rank 26th in the NCAA FCS in scoring (30.5 points/game).
• Helped the Fordham offense lead the Patriot League and rank fifth in the nation in first downs (261).
• A two-year starter.

Mekai Felton (Sr., WR, Baltimore, Md. Franklin)
• Started all eleven games at wide receiver in 2023.
• Caught 48 passes for 513 yards and eight touchdowns.
• Led team with eight touchdown catches.
• Second in the Patriot League and 14th in the NCAA FCS in touchdown receptions.
• Third on team in receptions and receiving yards.

Marc Pretto (So., LB, Montclair, N.J. Saint Peter's Prep)
• Started all eleven games at linebacker in 2023.
• Recorded 75 total tackles, 29 solo.
• Second on the team in total tackles.
• Included in the 75 tackles were 7.5 for loss and one sack.
• Second on team in tackles for loss.
• Also had two pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.

Claudy Robinson (So., DL, Clifton, N.J./Don Bosco Prep)
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League
• Recorded 24 total tackles, five solo.
• Registered 3.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
• Also had one quarterback hurry.
• Helped Fordham rank second in the Patriot League in rushing defense (135.7 yards/game).
• Fordham defense also ranked second in the Patriot League in scoring defense (24.7).