Bronx, N.Y. – HERO Sports has released its position-by-position ranking of the top returning players by position group recently with seven Fordham football Rams being placed on the list.
 
Leading the way is junior quarterback CJ Montes, who was rated as the fourth best returning NCAA FCS signal caller, while senior linebacker James Conway was rated as the tenth best returner at his position. Other Rams recognized include graduate student cornerback Nahil Perkins (11th), graduate student wide receiver Garrett Cody (12^th), senior running back Julius Loughridge (13^th), senior defensive end Matt Jaworski (13^th), and junior defensive lineman Sam Buerkle (20^th).
 
CJ Montes – 2023 Season (HERO Sports Top Returning FCS Quarterbacks)
• 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.
 
James Conway – 2023 Season (HERO Sports Top Returning FCS Linebackers)
• 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 (HERO Sports Top Returning FCS Cornerbacks)
• 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).
 
Garrett Cody - 2023 Season (HERO Sports Top Returning FCS Wide Receivers)
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League.
• Started all eleven games at wide receiver.
• Caught 54 passes for 856 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Second in the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
• Had four 100-yard receiving games.
• Fourth in the Patriot League and 26th in the NCAA FCS in receiving yards.
• Fourth in the Patriot League and 23rd 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 - 2023 Season (HERO Sports Top Returning FCS Running Backs)
• Named First Team All-Patriot League.
• Named to the 2023 Phil Steele All-Patriot League team (Second Team).
• Rushed 207 times for 1,146 yards and ten touchdowns.
• Also caught 25 passes for 210 yards and two scores.
•  Had six 100-yard and one 200-yard rushing games.
• 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).
 
Matt Jaworski – 2023 Season (HERO Sports Top Returning FCS Defensive Linemen)
• 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).
 
Sam Buerkle – 2023 Season (HERO Sports Top Returning FCS Defensive Linemen)
• Started all eleven games as a sophomore at defensive tackle.
• Recorded 35 total tackles, 12 solo.
• Included in the 35 tackles were 4.5 for loss and one sack.
• Led team with four fumble recoveries.
• Also had two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.