Phil Steele Preseason all-America/All-Patriot League Release
 
Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham graduate student wide receiver MJ Wright and junior linebacker James Conway were named to the 2023 Phil Steele Preseason FCS All-America Team it was announced this week. Wright is placed on the third team while Conway is on the fourth team.
 
Wright and Conway were also named First Team Preseason All-Patriot League by the publication and were joined by 13 other Rams in receiving All-Patriot League accolades.
 
PHIL STEELE PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
 
MJ Wright (Gr., WR, Freehold, N.J./Red Bank Catholic)
2022 (Senior Season)
• Earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors.
• Started all 12 games at wide receiver.
• Caught 62 passes for 1,156 yards and eleven touchdowns.
• Seventh Fordham receiver, and one of three on 2022 team, to record more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
• Second on team in receptions and third in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
• Third in the Patriot League in receptions/game (5.2).
• Fourth in League in receiving yards and receiving yards/game (96.3).
• Third in the Patriot League in receiving touchdowns.
• Eleven receiving touchdowns is the fourth best single season at Fordham.
• Had a career-high 226 receiving yards on just four receptions with two touchdowns in win at Lehigh.
• Hauled in a season-high eleven passes for 155 yards in win over Lafayette.
• Caught seven passes for 120 yards in Georgetown win.
• Opened season with three catches for 79 yards and two scores at Wagner.
• Also had a pair of receiving touchdowns in win over Stony Brook.
• Grabbed five passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in NCAA Championship game at New Hampshire.
 
James Conway (Jr., LB, Omaha, Neb./Millard West)
2022 (Sophomore Season)
• Started all 12 games at linebacker as a sophomore.
• Named HERO Sports NCAA FCS Sophomore All-America.
• Named First Team All-Patriot League
• Led team with 127 total tackles, 59 solo.
• Team-high 11.0 TFLs along with 3.0 sacks.
• Also had three pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
• Led Patriot League and seventh in the NCAA FCS, in tackles/game (10.6).
• Named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week three times in 2022.
• Recorded double figures in tackles in eight of the 12 games.
• Made a season-high 15 tackles, seven solo, including one sack in win over Albany.
• Matched the season-high with 15 stops, including 2.5 for loss and one sack, in Stony Brook win.
• Had 13 tackles, five solo, including 1.5 for loss in NCAA Championship game at New Hampshire.
• Finished with 13 tackles, six solo, including one for loss, and recovered a fumble at Ohio.
• Recorded 13 stops, five solo, and forced a fumble in win over Colgate.
• Made eleven tackles, eight solo, at Holy Cross.


PHIL STEELE PRESEASON FIRST TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
 
Mekai Felton (Sr., WR. Baltimore, Md./Franklin)

2022 (Junior Season)
• Appeared in all 12 games at wide receiver.
• Recorded 37 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns.
• Fourth on the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving scores.
• Eighth in the Patriot League in receiving yards/game (47.7).
• Caught four passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns at Holy Cross.
• Hauled in three passes for 55 yards and two scores in win at Monmouth.
• Had eight receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown in win at Lehigh.
• Made four catches for 46 yards and one touchdown at Bucknell.
• Grabbed four passes for 85 yards in win over Lafayette.
 
Will Haslett (Jr., P, Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCourt (Akron))
2022 (Sophomore Season)
• Appeared in all 12 games, handling the punting duties.
• Punted 35 times for 1,589 yards, an average of 45.4 yards/punt.
• 45.4 average was third best single season average in school history.
• Had eleven punts downed inside the opponent's 20.
• Recorded ten 50+-yard punts.
• Fordham led the Patriot League and was fifth in the NCAA FCS in net punting average (40.2).
 
Matt Jaworski (Jr., DL, Buffalo, N.Y./St. John Paul II (Ala.))
2022 (Sophomore Season)
• Appeared in eight games as a sophomore, starting five on the defensive line.
• Recorded 22 total tackles, 13 solo, including 5.5 for loss and 50 sacks.
• Led the team in sacks.
• Also had six quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
• Made five tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in win over Albany.
• Had five solo stops at Holy Cross.
• Registered two sacks and forced a fumble in Lafayette win.
• Finished with three tackles, including 1.5 for loss and one sack, and forced a fumble at Ohio..
 
Julius Loughridge (Jr., RB, Houston, Texas/Mayde Creek))

2022 (Sophomore Season)
• Appeared in all 12 games at running back.
• Gained 940 yards on 131 carries with a team-high eight touchdowns.
• Averaged 7.2 yards/carry, tops in the Patriot League and fourth in the NCAA FCS.
• Fourth in the Patriot League in rushing scores and rushing yards.
• Also caught four passes for 16 yards.
• Rushed 15 times for a season-high 121 yards and a touchdown at Holy Cross.
• Gained 114 yards on 20 carries in season opening win at Wagner.
• Picked up 111 yards on just nine rushers with two touchdowns in Stony Brook win.
• Recorded 104 rushing yards on eleven carries with a touchdown in win over Georgetown.
• Also had 104 rushing yards on 12 attempts with one score in the win at Lehigh.
 
Brandon Peskin (Sr., PK, Melville, N.Y./Half Hallows East (Syracuse))
2022 (Junior Season)
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League.
• Appeared in all 12 games as the placekicker.
• Connected on 12 of his 17 field goal attempts.
• Was 76-for-77 in PATs.
• Set school single season record with 76 PATs.
• 12 field goals tied for sixth most in a season for the Rams.
• Led Patriot League and seventh in the NCAA in scoring (9.3 points/game).
• Second in Patriot League in field goals/game (1.00).
• 112 points scored is seventh most in a season at Fordham.
• Converted all eight PATs in wins over Georgetown and Bucknell.
• Booted a pair of field goals in wins over Albany and Lehigh.
• Named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week following the Bucknell game.
 
 
Stephen Williams II (Sr. DB, Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy)
2022 (Senior Season)
• Started all 12 games at SAM linebacker as a senior.
• Recorded 60 total tackles, 41 solo, including 3.0 for loss and one sack.
• Third on team in total tackles.
• Also intercepted a team-best three passes and led team with 14 pass breakups.
• Made a career-high 12 tackles, nine solo, including two for loss and had a pass breakup in NCAA Championship game at New Hampshire.
• Had ten tackles, five solo, including one for loss, broke up two passes and forced a fumble at Ohio.
• Registered five tackles, three solo, in wins over Stony Brook and Lafayette.
• Finished with four stops, three solo, and broke up three passes in win at Bucknell.
 
 
PHIL STEELE PRESEASON SECOND TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
 
Alfonzo Dixon IV (Gr., DL, Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades)

2022 (Senior Season)
• Started all 12 games on the defensive line.
• Recorded 29 total tackles, elevens solo, including 8.0 for loss and 2.5 sacks.
• Third on team in tackles for loss.
• Led team with ten quarterback hurries and had a fumble recovery.
• Made seven tackles, three solo, including 2.0 for loss and one sack at Holy Cross.
• Finished with five stops, one for loss, and had two quarterback hurries in season opener at Wagner.
• Recorded three tackles, two solo, including one for loss in win over Bucknell.
 
Cody Johnson (Sr., OL, The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands)
2022 (Junior Season)
• Started eight games at center.
• Helped Rams lead the NCAA FCS in passing offense (413.8 yards/game) and total offense (608.9 yards/game).
• Helped Rams lead the PL and rank second in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (49.5 points/game).
• Helped Fordham lead the PL and ranked third in the NCAA FCS in first downs (357).
• Helped Rams lead the PL in fewest sacks allowed (1.67/game).
• Helped Fordham rank second in the Patriot League in rushing (195.2 yards/game).
 
Ryan Joyce (Sr., OL, Stockton, N.J./Hunterdon Central)
2022 (Senior Season)
• Started all 12 games at right guard.
• Helped Rams lead the NCAA FCS in passing offense (413.8 yards/game) and total offense (608.9 yards/game).
• Helped Rams lead the PL and rank second in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (49.5 points/game).
• Helped Fordham lead the PL and ranked third in the NCAA FCS in first downs (357).
• Helped Rams lead the PL in fewest sacks allowed (1.67/game).
• Helped Fordham rank second in the Patriot League in rushing (195.2 yards/game).
 
Alex Kemper (So., DB, Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier)
2022 (Freshman Season)
• Appeared in nine games as a freshman, starting six at cornerback.
• Recorded 19 total tackles, 14 solo, including one for loss.
• Also had two interceptions and a ten pass breakups.
• Intercepted two passes in the win at Bucknell, returning one for a score.
• Named Patriot League Rookie of the Week following the Bucknell game.
• Made four solo tackles and broke up a pass in win over Georgetown.
• Also had four stops and a pass breakup in Colgate win.
• Had two solo tackles, including one for loss, and broke up two passes in win over Lafayette.
 
Lucas Portes (Sr., OL, Gaithersburg, Md./Good Counsel)

2022 (Senior Season)
• Started all 12 games at left tackle.
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League.
• Helped Rams lead the NCAA FCS in passing offense (413.8 yards/game) and total offense (608.9 yards/game).
• Helped Rams lead the PL and rank second in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (49.5 points/game).
• Helped Fordham lead the PL and ranked third in the NCAA FCS in first downs (357).
• Helped Rams lead the PL in fewest sacks allowed (1.67/game).
• Helped Fordham rank second in the Patriot League in rushing (195.2 yards/game).
 
Cole Thornton (Sr., PR, Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier)
2022 (Junior Season)
• Appeared in five games.
• Caught one pass for seven yards in win over Albany.
• Also returned four punts for 37 yards.
 

PHIL STEELE PRESEASON THIRD TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
 
Garrett Cody (Sr., WR, Closter, N.J./Bergen Catholic)
2022 (Senior Season)
• Appeared in ten games at wide receiver.
• Caught 14 passes for 303 yards and five touchdowns.
• Averaged 21.6 yards/reception.
• Sixth on the team in receptions and fifth in receiving yards.
• Hauled in four passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns in win over Albany.
• Made two catches, both for touchdowns, for 83 yards in season opener at Wagner.
• Caught two passes for 30 and one score in Stony Brook win.
• Had three catches for 33 yards at Ohio.