Football is back at Rose Hill, and expectations are high for the Rams.
They’re coming off a 6-5 2023 season highlighted by a thrilling last-second victory against league-rival Lehigh at the annual Homecoming game. And although they dropped the Aug. 29 season opener against Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Bowling Green State University, they’re returning eight out of 11 starters on both offense and defense—and preseason polls indicate that the rising Rams are set to challenge defending-champion Lafayette for the Patriot League title.
The Rams’ first home game will be the Homecoming matchup against Stony Brook University on Saturday, September 14.
Here are three things to watch this season.
An Explosive, Dynamic Offense
Junior quarterback CJ Montes—a finalist for the 2023 Walter Payton Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding offensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)—had an outstanding first season with the Rams last year after transferring from the University of New Mexico. He led the Patriot League in passing yards and passing touchdowns.
And he has racked up many preseason honors, including being named to the 2024 Walter Payton Award watch list.
Montes will be joined once again by senior running back Julius Loughridge, who was third in the Patriot League in touchdowns and fourth in rushing yards per game last year.
Veteran Presence on Defense
Last year’s team MVP, lineman Matt Jaworski, kicks off this season with multiple preseason recognitions, including being named the 2024 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Jaworski said he and fellow returning starters, including senior linebacker James Conway and grad student defensive back Nahil Perkins, will help the Rams have a balanced attack.
“That’s been a big emphasis for us all summer—putting all pieces together with offense and defense grooving more together, rather than just having a good defensive game or a good offensive game,” Jaworski said.
The defense also added a familiar face to its coaching staff: Ryan Greenhagen, GABELLI ’22, ’23, is now an assistant coach, working with the outside linebackers. Greenhagen, who played linebacker for the Rams, graduated as the team’s all-time leading tackler and was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Award, nicknamed the “Academic Heisman.”
An Autumn Matchup Against the Defending Champs on Family Weekend
Last year’s Patriot League champion Lafayette is set to visit Rose Hill on Saturday, October 5, during Fordham’s annual Family Weekend celebration. The Leopards are heading into the season strong, ranked 17th and 18th in national polls for the FCS conference. Get your tickets now to see the Rams in action against one of the best teams in the league.
