2019 Richmond Spiders Football - Opponents Countdown - Fordham

[mojo-spider]

I guess you could call last season's 52-7 win over the Rams the highlight of our Brick House schedule...until preparing this Episode I'd forgotten this was our only home win!

Boy, we need to win some games at home this season!

watching last season's mostly offensive highlights it was striking how many of the players at the skilled positions are gone: K. Johnson, D. Thompson, S. Jacob, J. Palmer and the entire group of starting WRs...

obviously we have a lot of positions to fill on offense...this will be our fourth game and follows an open weekend...hopefully we'll have begun to mesh into a team that can defeat the Rams in the Bronx and win some games in the CAA...

I'd be remiss if I didn't publicly acknowledge Fordham University for helping prepare UR Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Dick Tarrant for his success at Richmond. Thank you Fordham.

Enjoy the Countdown.

Go Spiders!

 

[32counter]

• 
  
  Sam Herder@SamHerderFCS
  
  FORDHAM (2-9 IN 2018)
  
  PATRIOT LEAGUE (FORDHAM FINISHED 6TH IN 2018)
  COACH: Joe Conlin - At School: 2nd year (2-9) Overall: Same
  LAST FCS POSTSEASON: 2015 (First Round)
  2018 OFFENSE: 15.8 ppg. (116th in FCS)
  2018 DEFENSE: 28.2 ppg. (58th in FCS)
  KEY GAME: Nov. 9 @ Colgate: This a great measuring stick for the Rams. Colgate is coming off a quarterfinal appearance and while the Raiders suffer some significant losses to its starting line, they are still the preseason favorite in the Patriot League.
  
  SUM IT UP: After going 9-3 and making the playoffs in 2015 and then following that up with an 8-3 season in 2016, Fordham has hit a rough patch. The Rams went 4-7 two years ago and 2-9 last season in Joe Conlin's first year as head coach. Three of those losses came by eight points or less. There is a decent amount of experience coming back, though, suggesting improvements are quickly approaching.
  
  Seven starters return on an offense that led the Patriot League with 200.7 passing yards per game. Tim DeMorat returns coming off a solid debut season in which he broke school freshman records with 299 passing yards in a game and four touchdown passes in a game. His 11 TD passes on the season also broke the Fordham freshman record. He'll need to find some new top targets as the Rams lose two All-Patriot League First Team pass catchers in WR Austin Longi and TE Isaiah Searight along with the No. 3 pass catcher Corey Caddle. Keep an eye on Joe Ferraro to step up and be the go-to guy. Freshman Dequece Carter, the 2018 Virginia Prep School Player of the Year, could also be relied on.
  
  Top rusher Tyriek Hopkins is back after running for 476 yards and four scores last year. The Rams added Trey Sneed, a transfer from Rutgers, to its backfield as well. Fordham gets three starting offensive linemen back: Phil Saleh, Austin Glazier and Nick Zakelj.
  
  Defensively, six starters return. Glenn Cunningham is one of the top linebackers in the country and is a HERO Sports Preseason Third Team All-American. Ryan Greenhagen also has some star power at the LB spot after being named a HERO Sports Freshman All-American. The Rams are the most experienced up front. Defensive linemen Deondre Carter, Anthony Diodato, Michael Ware and Ellis Taylor all return with starting experience.
  
  OUR TAKE: As we stated above, improvements are coming for the Rams. The offense definitely needs to put up more points. Even with some key WRs gone, having your starting QB back is huge. The defense should be better as well, and that was already a pretty decent unit statistically. The nonconference is tough, though. Fordham faces FBS Ball State, four FCS teams who look to be in playoff contention and preseason ranked No. 17 Yale. In a 12-game schedule like this, a four-to-six win season is a big step forward for this program. Anything more than that, which obviously isn't out of the question, would be a massive turnaround.
  
  TOP RETURNEE: Jr./LB Glenn Cunningham (HERO Sports Preseason Third Team All-American, 92 tackles and 21.5 TFLs)
  THE FOUNDATION: Jr./OL Nick Zakelj (Second Team All-Conference); Jr./K Andrew Mevis (Second Team AC); So./LB Ryan Greenhagen (Second Team AC, HERO Sports Freshman All-American, 65 tackles/15 TFLs/8 sacks); Sr./RB Tyriek Hopkins (Top rusher in 2018, 476 yards and 4 TDs); So./QB Tim DeMorat (Returning starter, 1,633 yards passing with 11 TDs and 6 INT); Sr./WR Joe Ferraro (Top returning WR, 144 yards)
  TOP NEWCOMER: Fr./DB Prince-Elijah Degroat (19th ranked FCS recruit)
  THE QUOTE: "We are excited to welcome the 15 new student-athletes to our program. The potential of this group is great and they collectively bring a great deal of speed and size to our squad. We can't wait for them to arrive on campus this summer and start their collegiate careers as we eagerly anticipate the 2019 season." -- Head Coach Joe Conlinsaid

 

[32counter]

Phil Steele's 2019 Preseason All-Patriot League Team

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University junior linebacker Glenn Cunningham (Glastonbury, Conn./Xavier) was named a Third Team 2019 Phil Steele Preseason NCAA FCS All-American it was announced today. Additionally, Cunningham was joined by seven other Rams on Phil Steele's 2019 Preseason All-Patriot League Team.

Cunningham, a first team All-Patriot League pick last year, led the 2018 Rams with 92 total tackles, 53 solo, including 21.5 for loss and three sacks. He also had one pass break up and one interception. Cunningham led the Patriot League and is fourth in the NCAA FCS in tackles for loss/game (2.0) and his 21.5 tackles for loss this fall is a Fordham record, surpassing the former mark of 20.0 set by Carl Barbera in 1995.

Over his two-year Fordham career, Cunningham has 174 total tackles, 110 solo, including 31.0 for loss and 8.5 sacks. His 31.0 career tackles for loss is seventh best in Fordham history.

Joining Cunningham on the preseason All-Patriot League first team were sophomore linebacker Ryan Greenhagen and senior defensive back Jesse Bramble, while sophomore quarterback Tim DeMorat, junior offensive lineman Nick Zakelj, and junior punter/placekicker Andrew Mevis were named to the second team. Earning third team accolades were senior running back Tyriek Hopkins and junior long snapper Paul Williams.

 

[32counter]

FCS 2019: Patriot League Preview | STATS |


http://www.fcs.football/cfb/story.asp?i=20190819121515855960304&ref=hea&tm=&src=FCS

FORDHAM

LOCATION: Bronx, New York

STADIUM: Coffey Field

HEAD COACH: Joe Conlin (2-9, one season)

2018 RECORDS: 2-9 overall, 2-4 Patriot (Tie/4th)

PROJECTED RETURNING STARTERS: 13 (7 offense/6 defense)

KEY PLAYERS: Tim DeMorat, QB, So.; Zach Davis, RB, Jr.; Tyriek Hopkins, RB, Sr.; Trey Sneed, RB, Jr. (Rutgers transfer); Joe Ferraro, WR, Sr.; Nick Zakelj, OL, Jr.; Phil Saleh, OL, So.; Austin Glazier, OL, So.; Jonathan Coste, DL, Jr. (ASA College transfer); Anthony Diodato, DL, Jr.; Glenn Cunningham, LB, Jr.; Ryan Greenhagen, LB, So.; Jesse Bramble, DB, Sr.; Andrew Mevis, PK, Jr.

THREE KEY LOSSES: Austin Longi, WR; Isaiah Searight, TE; Dylan Mabin, DB

OUTLOOK: Chase Edmonds, where have you gone? Conlin's first season was set back by offensive injuries, which led to an un-Rams-like averages of 15.8 points and 251.5 offensive yards. While QB DeMorat was solid in his debut, he was often under duress because the Rams allowed 50 sacks, which tied for the FCS high. OL Zakelj will lead the effort to improve up front. On defense, LBs Cunningham and Greenhagen combined for 36½ tackles for loss and 11 sacks last season. A strong non-league schedule will prep the Rams, but seven of their first 10 games are on the road.

 

[32counter]

Fordham loses to CCSU on 31 yd FG with no time remaining.

https://fordhamsports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=8531&path=football