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03/21/2012 First spring football practicephotos from the first spring football practice on March 21, 2012 Phone: 718-817-4288
All-Patriot League Performers under Rodriguez: OL Lloyd Morrison (2012, first-team), OL Chris Watkins (2012, second-team), RB Carlton Koonce (2012, first-team) Joel Rodriguez, a former lineman at the University of Miami, begins his second year as a member of the Fordham coaching staff in 2013 where he will be in charge of the offensive line. Last fall, Rodriguez coached an offensive line that helped the Fordham offense average 435.7 yards/game, second best in the Patriot League and 18th best in the NCAA FCS while the Rams scored 31.2 ppg, second in the league and 32nd in the NCAA FCS. The Rams also had the second ranked passing offense in the Patriot League in 2012, averaging 279.6 yards/game, 18th best in the NCAA FCS. Individually, Lloyd Morrison was named First Team All-Patriot League. Rodriguez arrived at Fordham after serving as the offensive line coach at Bryant University for four years, helping the Bulldogs make the transition from NCAA Div. II to NCAA FCS. Last year, Rodriguez guided an offensive line that helped running back Jordan Brown lead the NCAA FCS in rushing, averaging 165.0 yards/game. In 2010, the Bulldogs allowed just 14 sacks in eight conference games, ranking in the top half of the league in that category. In 2009, with only two seniors on the offensive line, the Bulldogs averaged 302.2 yards of total offense per game and scored 23 touchdowns including 14 passing touchdowns. Senior running back Jerell Smith rushed for 1,198 yards including a 239-yard performance in a win over Saint Francis. In his first year at Bryant, the Bulldogs enjoyed a tremendously successful inaugural season competing at the Division I level, posting a 7-4 record overall, thanks in part to a strong running game. The Bulldogs finished the year ranked 28th nationally with 178.3 yards rushing per game and averaged 337 yards of total offense. Prior to his four years at Bryant, Rodriguez was a graduate assistant coach at Mississippi in the spring of 2007. A 2006 graduate of the University of Miami, Rodriguez was a standout offensive lineman with the Hurricanes from 2001-04, garnering Verizon Academic All-District honors during his career and being named to three BIG EAST All-Academic teams and one ACC All-Academic squad. After serving as a backup during his first two years, Rodriguez was the starting center and anchor on the offensive line as a junior and senior. Rodriguez played in eleven games as a junior with ten starts before suffering a season-ending injury against Rutgers. He was named offensive MVP by the Miami coaching staff after an outstanding game in the team's win over in-state rival Florida in 2003. Rodriguez signed a free-agent contract with the NFL's Tennessee Titans following graduation and was a member of the practice squad in 2005 before being allocated to the NFL Europe Berlin Thunder in 2006. Rodriguez is a graduate of Monsignor Pace High School where he was named the top-ranked center and fifth-best offensive lineman by Florida Prep Football. |
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