Bronx, N.Y. – As the 2024 Fordham football Rams prepare for the first scrimmage of camp we continue our position-by-position breakdown of the Rams with a look at the defensive line.
 
The 2024 Fordham defensive line can best be summed up by the word experience as the Rams return seven of the eight players listed on the defensive line from last year's two-deep, including all four starters. The 2023 defensive line helped Fordham rank second in the Patriot League in rushing defense (135.7 yards/game) and scoring defense (24.7).
 
The returners are led by senior Matt Jaworski, the 2024 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and a 2024 Preseason All-American. Last year Jaworski earned First Team All-Patriot League honors after recording 44 total tackles, 27 solo, last year including a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss of 86 yards and a team-best nine sacks. He was second in the Patriot League in sacks and third in tackles for loss.
 
Also back on the defensive line this year are senior Jack Low, who compiled 18 total tackles, four solo, last year including two for loss and one sack, junior Sam Buerkle, who started all eleven games as a sophomore at defensive tackle, making 35 total tackles, 12 solo, including 4.5 for loss and one sack, and junior Claudy Robinson, a Second Team All-Patriot League selection in 2023 where he finished with 24 total tackles, five solo, including 3.5 for loss and 0.5 sacks.
 
Other returners with experience on the defensive line include grad student Richard Hofus, who played in seven games in 2023, starting one, and made five total tackles; senior Tristan Wright, who appeared in one game last year; juniors Michael Thorn, who saw action in ten games last fall and made ten total tackles; Peter Chalhoub, who appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore, making 15 total tackles, and Colby Spencer, who saw action in all eleven games as sophomore and recorded 15 total tackles, eight solo; and sophomores John Scott III, who appeared in all eleven games as a freshman, recording four tackles, Aiden Jeter, who played in two games as a rookie in 2023, and Kevin Nizolek, who saw action in one game as a freshman.
 
Newcomers to the defensive line include freshmen Cole Nelson, a 2023 All-ISL selection at Lawrence Academy last year, Carter Hess, who Led Fort Hill High School in Maryland to three straight Class 1A state championships, Mardale Rowe, a 2023 AIA First Team All-State pick at Brophy Prep in Arizona, Owen Theoharides, an All-State performer at Wilton High School in Connecticut last fall, and Phillip Kunkel, who played at Fordham Prep last year.
 
Season and individual game tickets for the 2024 home season are now on sale through the Fordham Athletic Ticket Office.