Marist alum Terrence Fede makes mark in first NFL game
Five minutes and forty seconds into the second quarter of Friday night's preseason game between the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons, Terrence Fede made Marist College history.
Bringing down running back Devonta Freeman after a nine-yard run, Fede became the first Red Fox football product to record a tackle in an NFL game, though his Dolphins lost a 16-10 decision to the host Falcons to begin the preseason.
Before Friday, no Marist football player had ever played in an NFL game. Fede was made the first NFL draft pick in school history when the Dolphins selected him in the seventh round this year.
The 22-year-old defensive end picked up another tackle late in the fourth quarter to help get the Dolphins back the ball, trailing by six with 1:59 to play, but the team turned the ball over on downs to effectively end the game.
Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill was 6 for 6 for 62 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson, to open the game.
Marist College alumni Terrence Fede, right, pressures Atlanta Falcons quarterback Sean Renfree during his Miami Dolphins' first preseason game in Atlanta on Friday.(Photo: newsandtalking.blogspot.com)
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was just as strong, completing each of his seven attempts for 53 yards on Atlanta's opening drive. Jacquizz Rodgers capped the drive with a 2-yard scoring run. Rodgers started as Steven Jackson continued to recover from a left hamstring injury.
Ryan completed passes of 17 yards to Harry Douglas and 5 and 12 yards to Roddy White on the drive.
Ryan called the opening possession - 15 plays for 77 yards - 'exactly what you want for your first drive of the year.'
'We were able to run the ball pretty effectively, and when we did have the opportunity to throw, we were able to move the chains,' Ryan said. 'We were able to overcome a couple of penalties, we were able to keep going, and punch the ball into the end zone.'
Falcons coach Mike Smith said it was important for Ryan to have a strong answer to Miami's touchdown drive.
'I like the way our first-team offense came back and answered the opening drive the Dolphins were able to put together,' Smith said.
'We had three other opportunities in the red zone where we did not finish the drive. Those are things we definitely need to be addressing and talking about.'
The Dolphins will play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second week of preseason, while the Falcons visit the Houston Texans, both on August 16.
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