Fordham Football Announces 2012 Recruiting Class
15 Student-Athletes Set to Join Rams in 2012
Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead announced his first recruiting class on February 1, 2012
Feb. 2, 2012
Bronx, N.Y. -
Fordham University Head Football Coach Joe Moorhead announced the signing of 15 football players to letters of intent with Fordham for the 2012 season.
Moorhead, who enters his first season on Rose Hill, brings his first recruiting class to Fordham. He comes to his alma mater after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut the past three years, helping guide the Huskies to two bowl games over that time, including the 2011 Fiesta Bowl.
As a collegiate performer at Fordham, Moorhead was a three-year starter at quarterback and was a team captain as a senior. He was a second team All-Patriot League selection as a senior and finished 13th nationally in total offense in the NCAA I-AA.
The 2012 class is the third recruiting class for the Rams that include members who will receive athletic scholarships. Fordham started awarding scholarship to the 2010 incoming class, marking the first time that Fordham awarded football scholarships since 1954.
The new class features eight offensive players and seven defensive players. By position, running backs and defensive linemen lead the way with three of each, followed by defensive backs (2), linebackers (2), offensive linemen (2) and tight ends (2) along with one wide receiver.
The 15 newcomers hail from eight different states, from Massachusetts to Louisiana. Five of the 2012 recruits are from New Jersey with two others coming from three other states: New York, Massachusetts and Ohio. The other states represented are Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.
The new recruiting class will join 14 starters who return from the 2011 season, seven each of the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
The Rams are tentatively scheduled to open their 113th season of varsity football on Thursday, August 30th, when they host the Lock Haven University Bald Eagles on Jack Coffey Field. Fordham is entering its 23rd season as a member of the NCAA FCS Patriot League.
Here is a complete list of the 2012 newcomers:
Name, Pos., Ht., Wt., Hometown/High School (Last School) David Barletta, LB, 6-4, 215, New Providence, N.J./New Providence
JQ Bowers, CB, 5-10, 175, Sylvania, Ohio/Sylvania Southview
David Conroy, LB, 6-2, 235, Walpole, Mass./Walpole (Bridgeton)
Jared Crayton, TB, 5-10, 190, Jersey City, N.J./St. Peters Prep
Tim Donahue, OL, 6-6, 320, Howell, N.J./Howell
Andrew Erenberg, TB, 5-10, 200, Venetia, Pa./Peters Township
TJ Hunter, DE, 6-3, 270, Natchez, Miss./Trinity Episcopal Day School
Ben Johnson, WR, 6-2, 195, Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park
Garrick Mayweather, OL, 6-4, 305, Baton Rouge, La./McKinley
Phazahn Odom, TE, 6-7, 230, Barnwell, S.C./Barnwell
Josh Padgett, DE, 6-2, 235, Powell, Ohio/St. Charles Prep
Joe Stefanik, TB, 5-11, 200, Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo (Vermont Aca.)
Damien Stevens, DT, 6-2, 290, Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway
John Warner, TE, 6-7, 250, Norwood, Mass./Xaverian
Levon Williams, S, 6-1, 205, Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton (Nassau CC)
2012 Fordham University Football Recruiting Class
David Barletta (LB, 6-4, 215, New Providence, N.J./New Providence) - A First Team All-Union County selection
- A First Team All-Group 1 pick
- Made 105 tackles on defense and rushed for 1,551 and 22 touchdowns on offense
- Son of Dan and Laurie Barletta
- Played at New Providence High School under Coach Art Cattano
JQ Bowers (DB, 5-10, 175, Sylvania, Ohio/Sylvania Southview) - A First Team All-League selection at WR, DB, and Utility
- Named Second Team All-District
- Placed seventh at the Ohio Nike SPARQ Combine
- Has a 38" vertical jump
- Accumulated 1,000 rushing yards, 1,200 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns
- Won the 400m at the conference track championship
- Son of Percy Bowers and Julita Varner
- Played at Sylvania Southview High School under Coach James Mayzes
- Played high school football with current Fordham Ram De'Nard Pinckney
David Conroy (LB, 6-2, 235, Walpole, Mass./Walpole (Bridgeton)) - Named First Team ESPN All-State
- Named First Team All-Bay State Conference
- Defensive MVP and Player of the Year
- Two-year captain
- Played in 2011 Annual Shriners All-Star game at Gillette Stadium
- Son of Jack and Judy Conroy
- Played under Coach Barry Greener
Jared Crayton (RB, 5-10, 190, Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) - HCIAL Red Division Offensive Player of the Year
- First Team All-Hudson County
- Hudson County Offensive Player of the Year
- Served as a team captain
- Had 124 carries for 1,008 yards and 14 touchdowns
- Also made 21 catches for 234 yards and three scores
- Member of the varsity wrestling team
- Son of Diana Crayton
- Played at St. Peter's Prep under Coach Rich Hanson
Tim Donahue (OL, 6-6, 320, Howell, N.J./Howell) - Named Third Team All-Asbury Park Press
- A Second Team All Shore selection
- Named a Rebel Scholar Athlete
- Son of Tom and Lynne Donahue
- Played at Howell High School under Coach Corey Davies
Andrew Erenberg (TB, 5-10, 200, Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) - A First Team All-State selection
- A First Team All-Conference pick
- Named to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Fab 22 team
- Served as a team captain
- Rushed for 1,350 yards and 20 touchdowns
- Also a First Team All-Conference selection in baseball
- Son of Rich and Lynn Erenberg
- Played at Peters Township High School under Coach Rich Piccinini
TJ Hunter (DE, 6-3, 270, Natchez, Miss./Trinity Episcopal Day School) - A three-time All District and three-time All-Metro selection
- 2011 All-M.A.I.S
- Named to the 2011 M.A.I.S Dandy Dozen
- Earned OL/DL MVP honors
- A two-year captain
- Son of Sharon and Calvin Woodfork
- Played at Trinity Episcopal Day School under Coach David King
Ben Johnson (WR, 6-2, 195, Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) - Member of the Class AA State Championship team
- Named MVP of the State Championship Game
- First Team All AA-South
- Second Team All-State
- Named Most Outstanding wide receiver in Western New York
- Offensive Playoffs MVP in Western NY
- Team MVP and team captain
- Recorded 925 receiving yards with 16 touchdowns in 2011
- Recorded 1,645 career receiving yards with 28 touchdowns
- Son of Tom and Terri Johnson
- Played at Orchard Park High School under Coach Gene Tundo
Garrick Mayweather (OL, 6-4, 305, Baton Rouge, La./McKinley) - A Two-time All-State selection
- A Two-time All-District pick
- A US Army All Star Senior Bowl selection
- Appeared in the Nike Louisiana vs. Texas Bayou Bowl
- A two-year team captain
- Also a member of the varsity basketball squad
- Son of Garrick and Suguna Mayweather
- Played at McKinley High School under Coach Robert Signater
Phazahn Odom (TE, 6-7, 230, Barnwell, S.C./Barnwell) - A First Team All-State pick in 2011
- Named First Team All-Area and First Team All-Region
- A South Carolina All-Star
- Served as a team captain
- Also a member of the basketball team, averaging 19.2 ppg and 14.4 rpg
- Son of Betty and Adrian Bell
- Played at Barnwell High School under Coach Eddie Moore
Josh Padgett (DE, 6-2, 235, Powell, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) - A Blue-Grey Classic National All-Star
- Named Ohio Division 1 Special Mention
- A Second Team All-Conference selection
- Named a 2011 CCL Player to Watch
- Recorded 82 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss
- Forced four fumbles as well as recording two fumble recoveries
- Son of Mike and Ann Padgett
- Played at St. Charles Prep under Coach Jeff Pharion
Joe Stefanik (TB, 5-11, 200, Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo (Vermont Aca.)) - A 2011 All-New England selection
- Named 2011 All-Evergreen League
- A member of the 2009 Group 3 NJ State Champion at Ramapo High School
- 2009-2010 All-Big North
- Gained 1,650 total yards, including 1,106 rushing yards, and scored 15 touchdowns as a senior
- Son of Joe and Susan Stefanik
- Played at Ramapo High School under Coach Drew Gibbs
- Played high school football with current Fordham Ram Jack Bandazian
Damien Stevens (DT, 6-2, 290, Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) - A Third Team All-State selection
- First Team All-Group 4
- First Team All-Middlesex County
- Served as a team captain
- Recorded 62 total tackles, 25 solo, including three sacks
- Also had three fumble recoveries
- Son of Al and Gloria Stevens
- Played at Piscataway High School under Coach Dan Higgins
John Warner (TE, 6-7, 250, Norwood, Mass./Xaverian) - An Honorable Mention All-Conference selection
- Was tight end MVP at the Fordham University Football Camp
- Made 27 catches for 377 yards and seven touchdowns last fall
- Son of John and Ann Warner
- Played at Xaverian High School under Coach Charlie Stevenson
Levon Williams (S, 6-1, 205, Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton (Nassau CC)) - Named First Team All-New York City in 2010
- Also an All-Borough (Brooklyn) selection as a senior in high school
- Played in the New Jersey vs. Northeast All-Star Classic
- Made 61 tackles and had two interceptions last fall
- Had 28 receptions for 287 yards and 10 touchdowns his senior year
- Led Fort Hamilton to the PSAL City Championship division title game
- Grandson of Ruby Williams and Claude Hartfield
- Played at Fort Hamilton High School under Coach Vince Laino
