FEATURE CLIPS FEATURE 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL •• PBPB •• 10 1010110 TEMPLE WIDE RECEIVER FEELS ‘AT HOME AGAIN’ Dante Collinelli, TEMPLE NEWS JADAN BLUE Feature September 8, 2020 Page 1 of 1 Redshirt-junior wide receiver Jadan Blue the team last summer, said graduate student feels he’s treated like “a son” by Temple wide receiver Branden Mack. University football’s coaching staff. “He just came back with a strong mindset Before head coach Rod Carey was hired in like, ‘I’m gonna take over this year,’” Mack 2019, Blue was “off the team” and there was added. “What helped him is he came back a chance he wouldn’t play for Temple again, positive. He came back more motivated. You he said. could see him in practice. He just seemed way more motivated.” “When it comes to this staff, they welcomed me back,” Blue added. “They made me feel The receivers weren’t the only ones to no- at home again.” tice Blue when he rejoined the team last summer. Last season, Blue set a school record with 95 receptions and became the first Temple “From the first day I showed up [Blue], stood player to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving, fin- out,” Ward added. “He stood out as a human ishing with 1,067 total receiving yards. being. He stood out as a player. He’s just an awesome individual, super smart and super This season, Blue thinks he can break the talented.” records he set despite Temple playing fewer games than last season, he said. The Owls’ first game is scheduled for Sept. 26 against Navy in Annapolis, Maryland. The Owls played 12 regular-season games last season, but their schedule for this year Blue is happy he’s earned the trust of this only includes eight games due to COVID-19 coaching staff and is looking forward to protocol. starting the season, he said. Because the Owls are limited to only 10 to “Coach Ward puts a lot on me,” Blue added. 12 scrimmage plays each practice, Blue’s “That’s because he trusts me. You wouldn’t worked on learning the playbook and im- rather be in any situation where your coach proving his football intelligence, he said. trusts you to put you in so many different positions for you to ultimately get the ball.” “The areas I’ve gotten better is my overall awareness and my ability to read the de- fense,” Blue added. “I feel like athletically I’ve gotten better. Things have gotten better for me on that end.” This summer, Blue trained to play multiple wide receiver spots because the team will be using a formation with five receivers on the field at the same time this season. This includes playing flexed outside and playing in the slot, he said. The coaching staff believe Blue’s versatility is one of his biggest strengths, said wide re- ceivers coach and passing game coordina- • PB • tor Thad Ward. • PB • “[Blue] has a lot of different strengths and gifts,” Ward added. “One of his gifts is we feel like we can pitch him the ball out of the backfield. We feel like we can motion him out of the backfield. We feel like we can flex him out wide and inside.” Although Blue is now a fixture of the Owls lineup every week, he’s come far from not being on the team before last season. Blue’s fellow wide receivers noticed a change in his mindset when he returned to 10 2 101010 CHRISTIAN BRASWELL AWARDED SINGLE DIGIT JERSEY FOLLOWING BREAKOUT SEASON Cayden Steele, WHIP RADIO CHRISTIAN BRASWELL Feature September 3, 2020 Page 1 of 1 Being awarded a single-digit number is con- has developed lots of confidence. Temple. sidered one of the greatest honors for the Temple program. The tradition started in “There’s no substitution for game reps and 2009 with former head coach Al Golden, the he got a lot of them last year,” coach Rod toughest players on the team are chosen for Carey said. “ He is a very confident person this award. Many all-time great Temple play- right now and when you’re a corner, there is ers have worn a single-digit, including Tyler no substitution for being confident.” Matakevich and P.J. Walker. Braswell might not be the most vocal lead- Redshirt junior cornerback Christian Bras- er on the field, but he leads in his own way well was awarded the No. 2 jersey this that’s noticeable. Don’t be fooled, the 5-10 summer and, obviously, being awarded that cornerback brings a certain energy to the number was a huge honor to him. field that’s hard to match. “It was crazy, that whole day was just amaz- “Braswell he’s the guy that’s a silent assas- ing,” Braswell said. “Being in that category sin or the silent leader, he’ll get on you when with those people that got single-digits is he needs to,” cornerbacks coach Melvin crazy because that’s something that lives Rice said. forever. That’s something I can tell my kids one day.” Braswell earned the single-digit for many reasons, the redshirt junior from Washington Braswell is entering his second-year as the D.C. finds himself studying his playbook all full-time starter at cornerback, last season the time. He wants to coach up the younger his first start came against Maryland. Bras- players on the team and be an expert on ev- well stepped up in big moments through- ery assignment. out the season, he recorded a single-game career-high of three pass breakups against “I want to know from a coaches standpoint, I Southern Methodist and forced a fumble want to know everything in the books,” Bras- against South Florida. well said. “I’m out there trying to teach the guys while I’m on the sideline.” Braswell’s performances received the notice of the national media, he earned preseason Braswell is not shying away from his role All-American Athletic Conference honors as one of the main leaders in the second- for the upcoming 2020 season. Braswell’s ary. He feels the responsibility to help out impact has not only been noticed by media his teammates and put them in a position to members, his intangibles and leadership succeed. made him an easy choice for coaches to award him a single-digit number. “I just carry myself with a lot of confidence and I stay humble,” Braswell said. “If some- “ The biggest progression that I’ve seen body needs help, I’m definitely going to from him from last year to this year is just point them in the right direction to do that, his leadership ability,” cornerbacks coach that’s what leaders do and I put my guys in Melvin Rice said. “ He’s a single-digit for a the right path to make sure they’re doing reason and he knows the responsibility that right.” 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL comes with being a single- digit.” Braswell is currently recovering from a ham- The best cornerbacks don’t lack confidence, string injury and hopes to be ready for the an inner-swagger is something they all pos- season opener. He has no scheduled date • PB • sess. Being on the outside covering the best to return, but he doesn’t want to rush his re- • PB • wide receivers in college football is a diffi- hab process. cult task for most starting cornerbacks at the FBS level, but Braswell has the experience “I don’t have a specific date, but I’m just and confidence to match up with anyone. working into it continuing to do my rehab,” Braswell said. “ I’m not really in a rush right “When he steps on the field, the receivers now, I don’t want to aggravate it or anything. know where number two is,” coach Rice I’m taking my time and getting it together.” said. “ He just brings that confidence about himself, he’s going to come in and play hard, When Braswell returns he will continue to you can guard him against any wide receiv- elevelate the Temple defense. The Owls er and he’s going to go hard.” have had great cornerbacks in recent past, including Harrison Hand, Rock Ya-Sin and The amount of game experience he ac- Tavon Young, don’t be surprised if Braswell quired last season is the reason Braswell is the next big-time corner to come out of 10 1010310 “THIS AIN’T NORMAL”; CAREY AND KNOWLES EXPLAIN PRESEASON “FOOTBALL RELATED ACTIVITIES” Ari Glazier, TEMPLE UPDATE COVID-19 Feature August 19, 2020 Page 1 of 1 While the prospects of a college football to the Owls when they finally do put on the that’s all they’re trying to do is do today and season this year remain in flux, Temple Foot- pads. get to tomorrow and I love that about them.” ball head coach Rod Carey hasn’t gotten the sense of normalcy that comes with the an- “Because we’ve been moving forward slow- nual ramp up to kickoff, even as the Owls ly, we’ve been able to do a lot of teaching,” train in a limited capacity. Knowles said. “It’s been good for our guys to keep learning the install and getting Still, football is football, and Carey is glad it’s coached the finer points.” back in some form. Of course, looming over everything is the “Normalcy, no,” the second year coach said. uncertainty as to whether a season is even possible or appropriate.