Liam Fornadel, OL, James Madison

  • Ht: 6’4”
  • Wt: 315 lbs.
  • Hometown: Wyckoff, NJ
  • Born: June 17, 1999

Scouting Report: Played in 54 games during his career with 41 starts (31 at RT, eight at LT, and two at RG)…finishes and doesn’t quit…competitor with a positive attitude and leadership traits that coaches admire…anchors well and plays with the low center of gravity and natural bend to seal the inside lanes…has violent hands with hustle to close off bubble screens and lead to flatten linebackers…nasty demeanor and highly coachable…sells trap block and can turn to seal…fluid getting to and adjust at the second level…has the feet to adjust when he anticipates what’s coming…effective trapping and bends at the knees with adequate core strength to absorb the bull rush…can clear a path at the second level if he hits the target.

Highlights

Career Summary

2021 as a Redshirt Senior: Started eight games at left tackle… HERO Sports FCS Second Team All-American… VaSID First Team All-State… Played in the 2022 Hula Bowl in Orlando… Part of an offensive line that helped JMU rank third nationally in both completion percentage (.676) and pass efficiency rating (171.0), fifth in scoring (38.3), eighth in fewest interceptions (5), 12th on third down (..444), 14th in the red zone (.885) and 17th in both passing average (276.3) and total offense (435.4)… Stats Perform FCS Preseason First Team All-American… HERO Sports FCS Preseason First Team All-American… Preseason All-CAA offensive lineman.

2020-21 as a Senior: Started first two games at right tackle before an injury sidelined him the rest of the season… Stats Perform FCS Preseason First Team All-American… HERO Sports Preseason All-American… Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-American.

2019 as a Junior: Started in all 16 games at right tackle… AFCA First Team All-American… STATS FCS First Team All-American… HERO Sports First Team All-American… Phil Steele First Team All-American… Associated Press Second Team All-American… First Team All-CAA offensive lineman… Touchdown Club of Richmond Division I Offensive Lineman of the Year… First Team All-ECAC… VaSID First Team All-State… Part of an offensive line that helped JMU lead the country in completion percentage (70.6%) and fourth-down percentage (88.9%), while also ranking second in third-down percentage (53.6%), third in scoring (40.0) and first downs (24.81), fourth in pass efficiency (169.44), sixth in red-zone percentage (91.7%), seventh in time of possession (33:14) and 10th in both total offense (465.8) and rushing offense (242.9)… JMU produced at least 50 points four times and had an average win margin of 24.3 points per game… STATS FCS Preseason Second Team All-American… HERO Sports Preseason Third Team All-American… Preseason All-CAA… JMU Offensive Lineman of the Year.

2018 as a Sophomore: Started all 13 games at right tackle… HERO Sports FCS First Team Sophomore All-American… Second Team All-CAA offensive lineman… VaSID First Team All-State… Part of an offensive line that helped JMU rank second nationally in completion percentage (67.4%) while also ranking 10th in the FCS in first downs (279), 13th on third-down conversions (45.6%) and 18th in scoring (33.9)… Dukes led CAA in third-down opportunities while also ranking second in scoring, total offense (406.9), first downs and red-zone percentage (85.5%)… JMU’s Offensive Lineman of the Year.

2017 as a Freshman: Played in all 15 games, making two starts at right guard… JMU Rookie of the Year… Part of an offensive line that helped JMU lead the CAA and rank 15th nationally in scoring (34.4)… Also ranked third in first downs (325), ninth in completion percentage (64.9), 22nd in pass efficiency (142.46 rating), 25th in rushing (194.3), and 30th in total offense (419.0)… JMU produced four games over 40 points, including a season-high 75… Ranked second nationally with a +23.3 win margin… Made first two career starts in FCS semifinal against South Dakota State (Dec. 16) and in NCAA Division I Championship game versus North Dakota State (Jan. 6).

High School: USA Today Second Team ALL-USA New Jersey as a senior… NJ.com First Team All-Non Public Football Team as a senior… Second Team All-NJSFC United Division as a senior… Part of Don Bosco’s NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 state championship in 2015… Helped Don Bosco to Group 4 semifinals in 2014 and 2016… Participated in the 2016 Nike Football N.J. Opening Regional.

Personal: Full name is Liam Paul Fornadel… Son of Paul Fornadel and Margy Coll…Father, uncles, and grandfather played college football…His grandfather, Edward Fornadel, played football at Pitt (’58)…His father, Paul, played football at JMU from 1986-89…His uncle, Mike, also played at JMU from 1980-83…His uncle, Ed, played at West Virginia (’83)…His uncle, Matt, played at Penn State (’97)…His mother, Margy, played netball for Scottish Universities and the Scottish Under 18s…his brother, Patrick, plays Defensive End for Stevenson University…graduated with degree in Economics.