Forde named D3football.com All-American

On Friday night, Hobart College junior linebacker Emmett Forde was named to his third All-America team, when D3footballl.com announced he was a first team selection. The consensus All-American also earned first team honors from the American Football Coaches Association and was a second team pick by the Associated Press. Forde is just the second Statesman to garner All-America recognition from all three entities. Current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Ali Marpet '15 was the first, receiving first team praise from the AFCA and second team honors from the AP and D3football.com. The 2019 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year, Forde led Hobart with 81 tackles. He led the Liberty League in tackles for loss with 21 and ranked 16th in the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.9). Forde was also tied for the league lead in fumbles forced (3) and fumbles recovered (2). He paced the team with seven sacks and also produced a pair of interceptions. Forde was named the Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week three times this season. He collected his first weekly award after logging eight tackles, 2.5 for loss, a sack and two interceptions in a 33-7 win over nationally-ranked Brockport. Forde picked up his second just a week later following an eight-tackle, 3.0 for loss, one-sack performance in a 38-24 win at Morrisville State. His third accolade came after he rang up a season-high 12 tackles, 3.5 for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in a 41-27 win over Rensselaer. Forde scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 19-yard scoop-and-score in a 51-20 win at Rochester to close out the regular season. A two-year starter, Forde has appeared in 30 games for Hobart, producing 139 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, five pass breakups, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and a blocked punt. Hobart finished the season with a 9-2 overall record, a four-win improvement over 2018. The Statesmen went 4-2 in the Liberty League, finishing tied for second in the standings. Hobart represented the conference in the annual New York State Bowl, capping the season with a 30-10 win at SUNY Cortland.