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Aug. 8, 2012

2012 Phil Steele College Football Preview Preseason All-Patriot League Team

Practice Photo Gallery (Aug. 7)

Bronx, N.Y. -

Six members Fordham University football squad were recognized by Phil Steele's College Football Preview as being the best among the preseason Patriot League rankings for their position, including senior punter Patrick Murray, who was also named to the publication's preseason All-America team.

Along with Murray, other Rams honored include seniors Robert Kubacki and Justin Yancey, who were named to the First Team, and seniors Michael Martin and Lloyd Morrison along with junior Ian Williams, who were placed on the Second Team.

The award is one of many accolades garnered by Murray this summer as he was also named Preseason All-America by The Sports Network, the College Sporting News and College Sports Madness as well as being named Preseason All-Patriot League by the league's coaches and by College Sports Madness.

Murray, who the 2012 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Punt Performer of the Year, punted 49 times for 2,160 yards last fall, an average of 44.1 yards/punt, tops in the Patriot League and third best in the NCAA FCS. He landed 21 of his kicks inside the opponent's 20 this fall and had 16 of his 49 punts travel more than 50 yards, including a season-long 73-yarder. The 73 yard punt, which came at Rhode Island, tied his career-high and was the second longest punt in school history (the Fordham record is 85 yards by Len Eshmont in 1939). Murray also booted a 73-yard punt at Colgate in 2009.

Murray's 44.1 punting average last year was the fourth best single season average in Fordham history while his 41.4 career punting average is second on the school's all-time list and his 5,585 career punting yards in sixth.

Robert Kubacki

Kubacki, who started seven games at right tackle in 2011, is a two-year starter on the Fordham offensive line. Last fall, he helped the passing offense rank 41st in the NCAA FCS.

As a sophomore in 2001, Kubacki helped the offense average 176.0 rushing yards per game, second in the Patriot League. The Fordham offense was also ranked second in overall offense in the Patriot League (383.5 yards/game) while the offensive line allowed just 16 sacks in eleven games, third best in the Patriot League.

Justin Yancey

Yancey, who missed all but the season opener in 2011 with an injury, enjoyed a solid freshman campaign in 2010, appearing in all eleven games, starting eight at nose guard. He led all freshmen and all defensive linemen with 41 total tackles, 28 solo, including a team-high 10.5 for loss. Yancey tied for third in the Patriot League in tackles for loss/game (0.95) and tied for 13th in sacks/game (0.27) and had one interception and one blocked kick.

Yancey was also named preseason All-Patriot League by College Football Preview last fall.

Michael Martin

Martin, a two-year starter at linebacker who was also named First Team Preseason All-Patriot League by the league's coaches and by College Sports Madness this summer, is coming off a 2011 season in which he led the Rams with 94 total tackles, 51 solo, including three for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also had two pass breakups and one forced fumble. Martin finished sixth in the Patriot League in tackles/game (8.5) and recorded double figures in total tackles in a game three times. He made a career-high 15 tackles, 12 solo, against Lehigh.

Over his career, Martin has compiled 207 total tackles, 118 solo, including eleven for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Lloyd Morrison

Morrison, who sat out the 2011 season, was the starter for all eleven games at right tackle for the Rams as a junior in 2010. He helped the offense average 176.0 rushing yards per game, second in the Patriot League and 31st in the NCAA FBS and ranked second in overall offense in the Patriot League (383.5 yards/game). The 2010 offensive line also allowed just 16 sacks in eleven games, third best in the Patriot League.

Morrison, who is slated to start at left guard, was also a starter on the offensive line in 2009 at right guard, helping the Rams set the school record for total offense in a season, amassing 5,377 yards, eclipsing the former record of 4,995 yards set by the 2002 team. Fordham also led the NCAA FCS in total offense (488.82 yards/game) that year and were second in passing offense (337.09 yards/game).

Ian Williams

Williams appeared in all eleven games as a sophomore last fall, starting ten at cornerback. He led the team with eight pass deflections and tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Williams was also was fourth on the squad with 54 total tackles, 41 solo, and he recovered one fumble. He had his top game against Lafayette when he recorded a career-high 17 total tackles, eleven solo, and broke up a pass at Lafayette. Williams also intercepted two passes and made three solo tackles against Lehigh with the first of the picks leading to a Fordham touchdown.

The Rams open the 2012 season on Thursday, August 30th, when they host the Lock Haven Bald Eagles on Jack Coffey Field at 7:00 p.m. Fordham season and individual game tickets are now on sale. For information or to order click here or call the Ticket Office at 855-RAM-TIXS (855-716-8497) or (718) 817-4759.

Camp Notes

Ram in Full Pads: On Wednesday, the Rams practiced in full pads for the first time in the fall camp. It was the fifth of the five mandatory NCAA required acclimation days. The players wore only helmets for the first three days of acclimation before donning shoulder pads for the fourth day and full pads for day five.

First Double Session: The Rams followed up their first day in full pads with their first double session of 2012, hitting the field from 8:10-10:10 AM and then returning for a late afternoon session from 4:15-6:15 PM. In the first session, the Rams were in full pads while the team wore uppers only for the second.

First Scrimmage: The Rams will have their first scrimmage of the 2012 camp on Thursday night at 7:0 PM on Coffey Field.

Field Goal Unit Goes Long: At practice on Wednesday, both Michael Marando and Patrick Murray connected on 49-yard field goals., The career long for Murray is 48-yards while for Marando it's 41 yards.

Marando then ended practice on Wednesday night in style, booting a 46-yard field goal on the final play with the ball landing in a garbage bucket just behind the end zone.

Role Reversal: The offense and the defense had a bit of role reversal during Wednesday night's practice with the offense working with the defensive coaches and vice versa. The offense got some pointers on tackling while the defense learned to block and carry the ball.