Purchase Tickets | Join the Rams in Pregame Reception at Coastal Carolina
 
Bronx, N.Y. – With the 2026 Fordham Football camp in full swing we continue the position-by-position breakdown of the 2026 roster with a look at the defensive backfield.
 
The Rams lost three starters but return junior Drew Minich, who started all 12 games at strong safety as a sophomore, recording 72 total tackles, 48 solo, including 7.5 for loss and two sacks. He was third on the team in tackles and broke up two passes and had an interception.
 
Joining Minich with starting experience is junior Boogie Owens, who started all 12 games at nickelback as a sophomore, making 49 total tackles, 26 solo, including two for loss.
 
Other experienced returners in the defensive backfield are senior Justin Johnson, who appeared in eleven games as a junior, starting two at cornerback, making 31 total tackles, 23 solo, including two for loss, senior Mathani Paul-Swinson, who saw action in eight games in 2025, sophomore Krystian Pothel, who appeared in ten games as a freshman, sophomore Alonzo Riddick, who played in eight games as a freshman, recording 17 total tackles, 12 solo, including two for loss and one sack, sophomore Deron Hall, who saw action in three games as a freshman, junior Danny Smiechowski, who played in three games as a sophomore, and sophomore Brayden DeVaul, who appeared in one game in his rookie season.
 
Newcomers to the defensive secondary include junior Johnny Schmitt, a transfer from Northern Illinois where he played in all 12 games last year, junior Joshua Kabaka, a transfer from Erie College where he appeared in eleven games last year, recording 23 total tackles, 14 solo, including one for loss. They are joined by freshmen Kemaury Tye, an All-District selection at Anderson High School in Cincinnati, Camaul King, a 3-star rated safety at True North Classical Academy in Miami last year, Josiah Crawford, who led Caravel Academy in Delaware to back-to-back undefeated seasons and state championships, Ardon West, a Dallas native who prepped at Loomis Chaffee last year, junior Riccardo Zanotti Cavazzoni, a transfer from Pace University, and sophomore Michael Vespi, a transfer from Bucknell who recorded 122 tackles at Montvale High School in 2024.
 
The Rams open the 2026 season on Friday night, August 28, as they open Patriot League play by hosting the Colgate University Raiders at Moglia Stadium at 6:00 p.m. Season and individual game tickets are now on sale on the Fordham Ticket website.