Fordham Football Announces 2020 Recruiting Class

Nine Student-Athletes Set to Join Rams in 2019

Fordham University Head Football Coach Joe Conlin announced the signing of nine football student-athletes to letters of intent with Fordham for the 2020 season. The new class features five defensive players and four offensive players. By position, defensive backs lead the way with three, followed by two each at wide receiver and defensive line, and one each at running back and offensive line.

The nine newcomers hail from six different states, with three being high school teammates. Georgia was kind to the Rams this year with three of the nine signees hailing from the Peach State, all three products of Lanier High School. Maryland provided two incoming freshmen for the Rams while the other four newcomers hail from New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Texas. 

“We are excited to welcome these talented student-athletes to our program,” said Conlin. “Each member of this class has had tremendous success in high school and we’re looking forward to seeing them continue that success here at Fordham. We’re anxiously awaiting their arrival to Rose Hill so that they can get their collegiate careers started.”

The Rams are scheduled to open their 120th season of varsity football on Saturday, August 29, as they host the Stony Brook University Seawolves on Jack Coffey Field. Fordham is entering its 31st season as a member of the NCAA FCS Patriot League.

Here is a complete list of the 2020 newcomers: 

NamePos.Ht.Wt.Hometown/High School (Last School)
Taj BarnesRB5-9185Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier
Mekai FeltonWR5-10183Reisterstown, Md./Franklin
Rich HofusDL6-4265Canfield, Ohio/Canfield
Kyle JacobDB6-0210Paramus, N.J./Paramus
Cody JohnsonOL6-3270The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands
Nahil PerkinsDB5-11160Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier
Jordan RileyDB6-1191Forestville, Md./National Christian Academy
Cole ThorntonWR6-3170Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier
Jason WalkerDL6-2230Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute

 2020 Fordham University Football Recruiting ClassTaj Barnes, RB, 5-9, 185, Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier·         Named Region 8-AAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year·         Also named to the Region 8-AAAAAA All-Region team·         An All-County selection·         Rushed for 1,752 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior in 2019·         Also caught a pair of touchdown passes·         Helped the Longhorns to a 10-2 record in 2019·         One of three players from Lanier to sign with the Rams, joining Nahil Perkins, and Cole Thornton·         Played with LSU signee Phillip Webb at Lanier·         Played for head coach Korey Mobbs at Lanier High School in Buford, Georgia.·         Brother, Ashton, signed to play football at Air Force in 2015  

Mekai Felton, WR, 5-10, 183, Reisterstown, Md./Franklin·         2019 All-County selection·         2019 Crab Bowl selection·         Member of the 2018 Maryland State Championships team·         Played for head coach Anthony Burgos at Franklin High School in Reisterstown, Maryland

Rich Hofus, DL, 6-4, 265, Canfield, Ohio/Canfield·         Named Honorable Mention All- Division III OPSWA All-Ohio·         Named First Team All-Northeast Inland District by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association·         A First Team All-County and All-Conference selection·         Preseason contender for the 2019 WKBN Big 22 Award·         Led Cardinals to back-to-back regional finals·         Also competed with the wrestling, baseball and track and field teams·         Played for head coach Mike Pavlansky at Canfield high School in Canfield, Ohio

Kyle Jacob, DB, 6-0, 210, Paramus, N.J./Paramus·         Named 2019 First Team All-Group 3·         2019 All-Bergen County selection·         The Paramus all-time rushing leader with 2,934 career rushing yards·         Recorded 107 total tackles, nine forced fumbles and four interceptions as a senior in 2019·         Also competed with the wrestling squad at Paramus, advancing to the state finals as a junior in 2018·         Played for head coach Joe Sabella at Paramus High School in Paramus, N.J.  

Cody Johnson, OL, 6-3, 270, The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands·         2019 All-District selection·         Named a Top 100 recruit in Houston·         Led 2019 team to the 6A State Playoffs·         A multi-year starter·         Played for head coach Jim Rapp at The Woodlands High School in The Woodlands, Texas

Nahil Perkins, DB, 5-11, 160, Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier·         2019 All-County selection·         2019 All-Region pick·         Recorded 52 total tackles with 17 PBUs as a senior in 2019·         Helped the Longhorns to a 10-2 record in 2019·         One of three players from Lanier to sign with the Rams, joining Taj Barnes and Cole Thornton·         Played with LSU signee Phillip Webb at Lanier·         Played for head coach Korey Mobbs at Lanier High School in Buford, Georgia. 

 Jordan Riley, DB, 6-1, 191, Forestville, Md./National Christian Academy·         2019 team captain·         Led team to a 7-3 record in 2019·         Recorded 33 total tackles with two interceptions as a senior in 2019·         Played for head coach Andre Kates at National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Maryland

Cole Thornton, WR, 6-3, 170, Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier·         2019 All-Region selection·         2091 Honorable Mention All-County pick·         Caught 35 passes for 674 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior in 2019·         Helped the Longhorns to a 10-2 record in 2019·         Lanier’s 2019 Kevin Maloof Award recipient·         One of three players from Lanier to sign with the Rams, joining Taj Barnes and Nahil Perkins·         Played with LSU signee Phillip Webb at Lanier·         Played for head coach Korey Mobbs at Lanier High School in Buford, Georgia.

Jason Walker, DL, 6-2, 230, Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute·         2019 All-Western New York selection·         Monsignor Martin High School Athletic Association Co-Defensive Player of the Year·         Recorded 11.5 TFLs as a senior in 2019·         A Trench Trophy Hall of Fame inductee·         A three-year starter·         Played for head coach Derek Landri at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.

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