BRONX – Fordham senior defensive lineman Matt Jaworski has been named the 2024 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year when the League office announced preseason honors on Wednesday.
 
Jaworski is joined by seven other Rams in earning preseason All-Patriot League honors: junior quarterback CJ Montes, grad student offensive lineman Ryan Joyce, junior defensive lineman Claudy Robinson, senior linebacker James Conway, grad student defensive back Nahil Perkins, sophomore defensive lineman John Scott III, and junior long snapper Walker Adkinson.
 
Lafayette was picked to defend its Patriot League title, receiving 72 points and 12 first-place votes, while Holy Cross was predicted to finish second in the preseason poll with 56 points and Fordham was placed right behind the Crusaders in the preseason poll, placing third with 53 points. Colgate ranked fourth with 46 points and received the remaining first-place vote. Georgetown (27), Lehigh (24) and Bucknell (16) round out the 2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll.
 
Voting for the Preseason All-Patriot League Football Team, the offensive and defensive player of the year, and preseason poll was completed by Patriot League football head coaches and sports information directors from the seven League schools. They cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.
 
Matt Jaworski – 2023 Season
• Named First Team All-Patriot League.
• 2023 Phil Steele All-Patriot League team (First Team).
• Team MVP
• Recorded 44 total tackles, 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 36th in the NCAA FCS in tackles for loss/game (1.1).
 
CJ Montes – 2023 Season
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League
• Named to the 2023 Phil Steele All-Patriot League team (Second Team).
• A Walter Payton Award finalist.
• Started all eleven games at quarterback.
• Completed 241 of 376 passes for 3,000 yards with 26 touchdowns and just one interception.
• Had five 300-yard passing games and one 400-yard game.
• Also ran for 158 net yards and three scores.
• Led the Patriot League and was eighth in the NCAA FCS in passing touchdowns.
• Led the League in passing yards and passing yards/game (272.7), ranking ninth in the nation in each category.
• Led the Patriot League and was tenth in the NCAA FCS in completions/game (21.91).
• Completion percentage of .641 ranked second in the conference and 27th in the NCAA FCS.
• Passing efficiency rating of 153.4 was second in the Patriot League and 15th in the NCAA FCS.
• 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.
 
Ryan Joyce – 2023 Season
• Started five games at right guard.
• Helped the Fordham offense lead the Patriot League and rank 12th in the NCAA FCS in passing yards/game (275.6).
• Helped the Fordham offense ranked second in the Patriot League and 13th in the nation in total offense (428.0 yards/game).
• Helped the Fordham offense rank second in the Patriot League and rank 27th in the NCAA FCS in scoring (30.5 points/game).
• Helped the Fordham offense lead the Patriot League and rank 15th in the nation in first downs (261).
 
Claudy Robinson – 2023 Season
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League.
• Named to the 2023 Phil Steele All-Patriot League team (Third Team).
• Appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore, starting ten at nose tackle.
• Recorded 24 total tackles, five solo.
• Included in the 24 tackles were 3.5 for loss and 0.5 sacks.
• 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).
 
James Conway – 2023 Season
• Named First Team All-Patriot League.
• Named First Team Phil Steele's All-Patriot League.
• Also named Academic All-Patriot League and CSC Academic All-District.
• Started all eleven games at linebacker as a junior.
• 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 fourth in the NCAA FCS in tackles/game (11.7).
• Third in the Patriot League and 13th in the NCAA FCS in solo tackles/game (5.4).
• Notched his third straight 100+-tackles season.
• Registered double figures in tackles in nine of the eleven games.
 
Nahil Perkins – 2023 Season
• A First Team All-Patriot League pick.
• Named to the 2023 Phil Steele All-Patriot League team (First Team).
• Started all eleven games at cornerback as a senior.
• Recorded 62 total tackles, 37 solo, including two for loss.
• 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).
• Third in the Patriot League in interceptions/game (0.3).
 
John Scott III – 2023 Season
• Appeared in all eleven games as a freshman, both on the defensive line and special teams.
• Recorded four tackles on the year, three solo.
• Had two solo stops at Georgetown.
 
Walker Adkinson – 2023 Season
• Saw action in all eleven games, both at wide receiver and on special teams.
• Handled all the long snapping duties.
• Made a special teams tackle in win over Stonehill.