Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University head football coach
Joe Conlin announced the signing of ten football student-athletes to letters of intent with Fordham for the 2024 season.
The new class features five defensive players, four offensive players and one kicker. By position, defensive line leads the way with three, followed by two on the offensive line, and one each at defensive back, kicker, linebacker, quarterback, and wide receiver.
The ten newcomers hail from six different states. Three newcomers come from New Jersey while Arizona and Texas are represented by two newcomers each with one coming from Maryland, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Here is a complete list of the 2024 newcomers:
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/High School (Last School) |
| Christian Black |
LB |
6-2 |
215 |
West Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep |
| Jack Freeburg |
WR |
6-1 |
175 |
Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain |
| Bennett Henderson |
K |
6-0 |
180 |
Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair |
| Carter Hess |
DL |
6-2 |
285 |
Cumberland, Md./Fort Hill |
| Tripp Holley |
QB |
6-3 |
200 |
Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands |
| Terrence Jones |
DB |
6-1 |
190 |
Prosper, Texas/Prosper |
| Cole Nelson |
DL |
6-3 |
235 |
Clinton, Mass./Lawrence Academy |
| Cooper LaFond |
OL |
6-7 |
315 |
Englewood, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep |
| Mardale Rowe |
DL |
6-2 |
235 |
Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Prep |
| Adam Yevchak |
OL |
6-4 |
295 |
Toms River, N.J./Donovan Catholic |
Christian Black (LB, 6-2, 215, West Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep)
• 2023 First Team All-Essex County
• 2023 NJ.com All Non-Public Team (Second Team)
• 2023 First Team All-Division (United Red Division)
Jack Freeburg (WR, 6-1, 175, Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain)
• Three-time All-Region receiver
• Two-time All-State receiver
• Three-time All-District athlete
• Two-time AIA Scholar-Athlete
• Two-time All-Region returner
• 2022 Team Offensive MVP
• Third most receptions in Arizona high school history
• Holds most single game records in school history
• Caught 87 passes for 1,278 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior for the Wolves.
• Played for head coach Conrad Hamilton at Desert Mountain High School
Bennett Henderson (K, 6-0, 180, Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair)
• Named to the 2023 Class 5A Football All-Section Team
• A three-time First Team All-Conference selection
• Career stats: 27/34 field goals, six from 40+ yards
• Career stats: 111/114 PATs
• Averaged around 64 yards/kickoff senior year
• Kicked a WPIAL-best 10 field goals as a junior in 2022
• Connected on eleven field goals as a sophomore in 2021
• Played for head coach Mike Junko at Upper St. Clair High School
Carter Hess (DL, 6-2, 285, Cumberland, Md./Fort Hill)
• Led Fort Hill to three straight Class 1A state championships
• Senior stats: 132 Total Tackles, 12 Sacks, 20 Tackle for Loss
• Named Lineman of the Year as a sophomore
• Won the area's Defensive Player of the Year as a junior
• Led the area with 152 tackles including 22 for loss with five sacks as a junior
• Was key part of a Sentinels' team that went 13-1 and won a second straight Class 1A state title in 2022
• Played for head coach Zack Alkire at Fort Hill High School
Tripp Holley (QB, 6-3, 200, Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands)
• Led Lake Highlands to 2023 District title
• Recorded 1,927 passing yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior in 2023
• Also rushed for 522 yards and eleven scores as a senior
• Passed for over 1,900 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior in 2022
• Played for head coach Cory Campbell at Lake Highlands High School
Terrence Jones (DB, 6-1, 190, Prosper, Texas/Prosper)
• Named Defensive Utility Player of the District as a senior
• Senior stats: 55 total tackles, 42 Solo, two interceptions, nine pass breakups
• Returned one interception for a touchdown
• Served as a team captain in 2023
• Played for head coach Tyler Moore at Prosper High School
Cole Nelson (DL, 6-3, 235, Clinton, Mass./Lawrence Academy)
• Named to the 2023 All-ISL Team
• Named 2023 All-NEPSAC
• Named 2023 Boston Herald Preseason All-ISL
• Also played tight end in high school
• Led Lawrence Academy to back-to-back New England championships
• Played for head coach Jason Swepson at Lawrence Academy
Cooper LaFond (OL, 6-7, 315, Englewood, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep)
• Named Super Football Conference (SFC) United Red First Team All-Division
• Named to the New Jersey Academic All-America team
• Played with current Ram
Marc Pretto at Saint Peter's Prep
• Played for head coach Rich Hansen III at Saint Peter's Prep
Mardale Rowe (DL, 6-2, 235, Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Prep)
• Named 2023 AIA First Team All-State
• Named 2023 Arizona Republic honorable mention All-Arizona
• 2023 All-Region selection
• Set school career records for sacks (18) and tackles for loss (52.5)
• Led Brophy Prep to the 2023 regional title
• Played for head coach Jason Jewell at Brophy Prep
Adam Yevchak (OL, 6-4, 295, Toms River, N.J./Donovan Catholic)
• Named First Team All Shore
• Named Second Team All-Non Public
• Named First Team American Division
• Helped Donovan Catholic to a 9-3 record as a senior advance to the NJSIAA Non-Public A semifinals
• 2022 Second Team All-Shore selection
• Played for head coach Dan Curcione at Donovan Catholic
