FEATURE CLIPS 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL

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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. As it stands, the “This ain’t normal. I certainly enjoy, now AAC is holding to its September 19th start more than ever after having it taken away, date, even as other major conferences have being on the field with the guys. That has cancelled the season outright. One added been great.” wrinkle, Temple’s entire non conference schedule has been cancelled. Carey said On a Tuesday afternoon press availability he’s been in constant communication with via Zoom, Carey revealed that five unnamed Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief players have opted out of the coming sea- of Staff Vinnie James about possibly sched- son with the team and University’s full sup- uling new non conference matchups. Inter- port, due to COVID-19 health concerns. im Athletic Director Fran Dunphy indicated that hypothetical non conference games The second year coach broke down the would likely be against FBS opponents rath- safety measures that his team has imple- er than FCS. mented since the start of training camp in late June. The first and second teams prac- “Whether we can make it all happen, tim- tice in separate sessions from the third and ing, logistics, with the short window, I don’t fourth teams. Both of those groups are split know yet,” Carey said. “I certainly would like into sections of no more than fifty, in com- to give the kids more opportunities to play pliance with city government. The team has than just eight with all the work that goes yet to start contact play, nor have the of- into the games. If we only have eight, there fense and defense played together. are some conferences that aren’t playing any, so we feel pretty good about where Throughout the call, Carey hesitated to call we’re at now. “ what the team has done so far “practice”, as both safety measures and the need to slow- Both Carey and Knowles were highly com- ly integrate athletes who have been quar- plimentary of the players’ response to the antined back into football conditioning have daunting circumstances. Knowles singled prevented the Owls from a more traditional out the work that guys did in the weight camp. room over quarantine.

“I wouldn’t say that we are practicing yet,” “Most of our guys were sending in pictures Carey said. “We are doing football relat- of what they were doing, ‘hey coach check ed activities. The length of the practices this out’,” Knowles said. “But at the end of have been about 50% of normal practice, the day, not everybody’s got 500 pounds we’re trying to bring them back slowly with to squat sitting in their garage gym, so the strength and conditioning. We already have guys came back in pretty good shape.” • PB • COVID, we don’t need to add any other • PB • avoidable injuries to this.” It’s difficult to get bogged down in the minu- tia of positional battles, personnel changes, Carey emphasized the value of slowly ramp- and tactical alterations that typically make ing up the intensity of training, promising up training camp when the prospects of that contact drills are around the corner. The college football are optimistically a question build-up, Carey said, helps keep players en- mark. But Carey is glad to be back in his ele- gaged in what might otherwise be frustrat- ment all the same, and according to him, the ing and stunted camp. The staff manages to players are of a similar mind. keep things new and interesting by regularly introducing new drills and activities. “There has been no b******* and complain- ing about it,” Carey said. “It has been ‘yeah, Defensive Coordinator Jeff Knowles, who let’s do it’, because I think they get it from spoke after Carey, feels that the increased the national narrative, how tenuous things walkthrough and film time will be a boon are right now, so all we’ve got is today, and

10 4 101010 TEMPLE FOOTBALL PLAYERS IMPROVISED BY WORKING AROUND THE PANDEMIC

Marc Narducci, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER COVID-19 Feature September 19, 2020 Page 1 of 1

Temple linebacker Isaiah Graham-Mobley Iowa State. He made the decision in Janu- ran to the top of the steps of the Art Mu- “We make sure we are holding our position ary to enter the transfer portal. Just as the seum. But unlike Philly’s favorite fictional groups accountable,” said Graham-Mobley, pandemic hit, he was supposed to make a character, Rocky Balboa, there was no cel- a member of the council. visit to Temple, on the second weekend in ebration, no lifting of the arms. Just satisfac- March. tion that another part of the redshirt senior’s In other words, they would make sure that makeshift workout was completed. the players were still working out, focused “I would have loved to have visited Temple,” on improving as football players even when he said. Like his teammates, Graham-Mobley had to it was easy for their concentration to drift. improvise during the coronavirus pandemic. Mitchell still sent film of himself to Temple But the players did what they had to do to One of the things that Graham-Mobley did and other schools. keep in shape, stay in touch, and make sure was send video clips of his working out to that the team stayed together while physi- his teammates as a way of motivating them. Although his visit was canceled, he made cally distanced. But when the pandemic first hit, he also had the decision to transfer in late May. to motivate himself. For graduate school offensive lineman Vin- Still, he never actually got to Temple until cent Picozzi and his brother Nick, a redshirt “In the beginning, keeping each other mo- July. Until then he stayed around the cam- sophomore tight end, weightlifting sessions tivated was the hardest part,” Graham-Mo- pus at Iowa State. never stopped, even if they were conducted bley said. “There were a couple of times in a barn. when the pandemic started that I would “A lot of people went home with the whole wake up at noon, not work out until about 6 coronavirus thing,” he said. “So some guys The brothers, both graduates of Lansdale o’clock at night.” were still around, and there were some old Catholic High School, were back at their teammates to catch [footballs].” family home in Collegeville, Pa., where they That didn’t last long. He realized that before have three acres to run sprints before enter- he could hold his teammates accountable, That is how he prepared for Temple, throw- ing the barn to do some serious lifting. he had to do so for himself. ing to former teammates until he was able to travel to Philadelphia. “We have a mini gym in the barn, a squat Graham-Mobley was rehabbing from a sea- machine, and our bench, literally in a barn,” son-ending ankle injury that forced him to “I was doing what I could, when I could, and said Vincent Picozzi, who has made 28 ca- have surgery Oct. 31. When the pandemic just trying to stay healthy,” he said. reer starts for the Owls. began, he was still able to go to rehabilita- tion. But after a few weeks, he was working While the players are now going through It wasn’t quite Temple’s expansive weightlift- out on his own. training camp, they do so with the under- ing setup. standing that they were able to make the Thus the Art Museum. most of an offseason that nobody could “We might not have had the tools that we have foreseen. It also gave them a greater were used to utilizing, but we figured a way At first it was difficult to find a field that was appreciation of being involved in the Temple and made it work,” Vincent Picozzi said. open on which to work out. A field near the football program. Art Museum suited his needs. He went there Adjusting to the pandemic with a few teammates. “The last couple of months not seeing each Temple and probably most, if not all, col- other, we really grew to appreciate being lege football teams stuck together during “A lot of people were using it as a dog park, around each other, and it’s something we the pandemic. Like virtually all segments of so we tried to get up early to try to use the don’t take for granted,” Vincent Picozzi

society, the Owls used Zoom to keep in con- area before the dogs came,” he said. said. “When we got back and realized how 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL tact with their coaches and teammates, but much impact our teammates had on our there was more than that. With the Art Museum so close to the field, he daily lives, you just really appreciate being decided to do the steps. Three days a week around them.” While it hasn’t been easy to deal with the he ran up the steps, a grueling workout for • PB • pandemic, it helped that the players were most mortals. • PB • there for each other when frustration set in. “It really wasn’t too bad,” he said. “If anybody was feeling down there was always somebody to contact,” said Gra- So when he would reach the top of the ham-Mobley, who figures to be among the steps, there was no Rocky-like celebration. better linebackers in the American Ath- “No, I didn’t show off,” he said. “It was just letic Conference. “It was a big help going part of my workout.” through it with so many teammates. At first it feels you’re in it by yourself, but then you The pandemic made it much more difficult gain perspective and realize you are not in for Re-al Mitchell to get to his next destina- this alone.” tion.

The team’s leadership council, made up of A redshirt sophomore quarterback, Mitch- veteran players, also helped. ell was in the process of transferring from

10 1010510 AFTER BEING INJURED AS A SENIOR, CRUMP BACK FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Bill Evans, OWLS 24/7 LINWOOD CRUMP Feature August 3, 2020 Page 1 of 1

When Temple senior cornerback Linwood dude on special teams. On defense and Crump returned from a hand injury suffered special teams, he gives maximum effort. He after the opener and missed four games surprised me from a leadership standpoint. last year, his intent was to finish the season. Crump gets everybody ready to go. He’s But after coming back against Memphis in correcting guys and bringing the energy we the middle of the 2019 campaign and strug- need.” gling with the game speed over the next few weeks, Crump opted to end his season after Crump said he didn’t feel he could be as four games and take a redshirt. much of a leader last year after being hurt so early in the season. He’s trying to take Now, Crump is back for a second senior the younger corners under his wing. season – with a third available to him if he chooses to take it since the NCAA declared “(The leadership) kind of started last year, players wouldn’t be assessed a year of eli- but I couldn’t really vocalize as much on the gibility this year. sideline and couldn’t tell everybody what to do,” Crump said. “On the field I’m talking to “When I first came back, for me going at younger guys about footwork, hand place- game tempo again, catching up and being ment, tedious things, talk to them about go- in condition, getting back into the flow was ing 100 percent in drills, watching the quar- my biggest struggle,” Crump said in a video terback’s eyes, route combinations, things interview earlier this week. “My intentions that guys without my experience might not were to finish the season out, but me and see. Coach (Rod) Carey talked and I talked to my parents, and the best opportunity was to sit “The freshmen have been handling it well. out and just see how many games I could They’re staying on top of their schoolwork, help the team last year and be a big factor. just moved into their dorms, but I’m there to ask if they have questions about protocols, “I’m happy to be back honestly. It helped me what to do in certain situations.” physically and mentally. I’m running better. The game is becoming easier and slower. I hope this year goes well. The extra year of eligibility is a great thing, knowing I have an- other year in my back pocket, but I’m play- ing this season as if it’s my last.”

Crump joined the starting lineup midway through his sophomore season and was expected to be a veteran presence for a relatively young group last year. But now the defensive backfield has fifth-year senior Freddie Johnson with added experience after moving from wide receiver, fifth-year senior Kimere Brown back after a knee inju- ry that cost him all of last season and junior Christian Braswell with another year under his belt.

“For me, I’ve got some competition, the • PB • room is competitive,” Crump said. “We’ve • PB • got four guys competing for spots. Last year I was the only senior with game experience. To come back with three or four guys with game experience is a great feeling.”

Even though there are several veterans, cor- nerbacks coach Melvin Rice said he counts on Crump to get the team going and his leadership skills have really stuck out.

“He’s one of the older guys that they just know it’s go time,” Rice said. “I was talking to our special teams coordinator (Brett Di- ersen) and he said Crump’s just a different

10 6 101010 DAVIS TALKS HEISMAN TROPHY AND IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST SEASON’S PERFORMANCE

Marc Narducci, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER RE’MAHN DAVIS Feature September 18, 2020 Page 1 of 1

For a sophomore, Temple running back his own expectations of himself,” Infante Re’Mahn Davis has quite a bit of experience said. “And I think just dealing with success, that is only exceeded by his confidence. he had a lot of success early and trying to become consistent through that.” Just look at his twitter handle – @MrHeis- man7 – to see how much belief he has in his Infante says that Davis has a better under- own ability. standing of what to expect this season, and he equates it with his situation as a sec- Then again, as a true freshman, he had the ond-year coach after a highly successful second-best season ever for a first-year stint as head coach at St. Joseph’s Prep. Temple running back, exceeded only by Bernard Pierce, who rushed for 1,361 yards “It’s kind of like me, just trying to know what in 2009. the schedule is, what the cycle is, under- standing what the year will look like and Last season, Davis rushed for 936 yards (4.8 how to prepare for each phase of the year,” avg. per carry) and eight touchdowns. Infante said.

He was fifth among Football Bowl Subdi- One area Davis could be even more of a vision freshman in rushing yards and was threat is in the passing game. Last season, named a freshman all-American by Pro he had 15 receptions for 181 yards and two Football Focus. touchdowns, but with his elusive moves, he is a nightmare to defend if isolated in the Now, Davis is the most experienced player flat. in an extremely young running backs room, and he isn’t backing down from his own high Davis says he was pleased with his work as expectations that are evident in his Twitter a runner his first season, but his goal is to be handle. more of an overall back this year.

“That is my goal in life, to win a Heisman,” “There is stuff I definitely need to work on, Davis said during Friday’s Zoom media call pass blocking and catching the ball,” he with reporters. “It it happens, it happens. If it said. “I need to be able to be a complete doesn’t, it doesn’t.” back like Coach [Rod] Carey said.

This has been a long-time goal Carey told him that he had the running part down, but to be a three-down back you also “As a little kid you always dreamed to be have to be able to pass block and catch. able to compete and get to that spot and try to be the best in college football, so I’m This year, Davis says he is looking to be in going to continue to have that dream, and even better shape, ready to carry a bigger have that goal, and one day I’ll accomplish load. He mentioned wanting to be able to it. And maybe one day I won’t. But it’s always be a 20-carry-a-game back if needed. Last good to have that goal, and to reach for the season, he averaged 16.1 carries per game. stars. Reach for the moon,” Davis said.

Most of all, he is anxious to get started when 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL Want another example of confidence? See Temple opens its season Oct. 10 at Navy more on his Twitter page. and improve on last year.

At 5-foot-9 and 215-pounds, he is a combi- “I could have contributed a lot more to the • PB • nation of power and speed. On a Temple team [last season] in little parts of the game,” • PB • team that is expected to have a formidable he said. passing game, Davis is expected to be one of the keys for the offense, providing some needed balance.

Running backs coach Gabe Infante, who, like Davis, is in his second year at Temple, says the biggest change from last year is the experience that Davis gained.

“I think Ray was running to catch up last year, being a true freshman, and, just trying to get his feet on the ground, trying to deal with what expectations we had of him and

10 1010710 OWLSDAILY RUNNING BACK TO WATCH: KYLE DOBBINS

Shawn Pastor, OWLS 24/7 KYLE DOBBINS Feature September 21, 2020 Page 1 of 1

If Temple’s running backs were measured be ready to be that guy to do that job 100 Infante cautioned anyone from thinking oth- by the modern world of baseball analytics, percent. It doesn’t matter if you’re third, erwise: “We can’t forget him, absolutely not.” Re’Mahn Davis would have the highest OPS fourth, fifth. You’ve still got to learn what – a consistent threat who produces plenty you’re doing. If four or five guys go down, of extra-base hits. four or five guys go down. You’ve got to step up. It’s a lot of pressure on us, but we’ve got Top backups Tayvon Ruley and Edward to take it as if you’re that guy, as that starting Saydee have proven this preseason that guy.” they can hit for a high batting average. Ona- sis Neely might be this year’s short-yardage Last year, Dobbins admits he didn’t quite specialist. Tie game, bottom of the ninth, meet that standard. In a wide-open race runner on third, Neely is the guy to execute for playing time, Dobbins made the sea- the suicide squeeze. son-opening depth chart and logged two carries in Temple’s 56-12 win over Bucknell. Then there’s Kyle Dobbins, who running Soon after, though, he slipped back. backs coach Gabe Infante described this past week using the all-time-classic baseball “I definitely felt like I lost a little focus in analogy. camp,” he said looking back. “But then I real- ized you can’t lack focus. You’ve always got “Kyle, for me, when you think about home to be 100 percent and you’ve always got to run hitters, Kyle has got to be in that conver- be dialed in to what you’re doing. Every day sation,” Infante told reporters. is like a game.

Dobbins, a redshirt sophomore, spent the “Every day I treat like a game now. I’m al- first few weeks of preseason camp practic- ways locked in on what the coaches are do- ing with the team’s younger players. With ing, locked in on the signals now. I’m locked the roster split in half due to participation in on everything. So that will make me a big limits, only three running backs worked with part of this offense if I’m more consistent.” the first- and second-team offense. Those three were Davis, Ruley, and Saydee. If he finds a role this season, Dobbins won’t just add a speed element to the offense. His When those limits were loosened last week, skill set fits well with the overall scheme. it didn’t take long for Dobbins to hit a long ball. “Kyle probably, he and Re are probably the smoothest in transition,” Infante said. “He’s “When you watch Kyle, like he had a great probably our best zone runner. And I know play in practice yesterday where he caught that’s saying a lot with Re, because Re is a ball and outran everybody and he showed such a slasher. Re has such tremendous vi- out like, ‘Hey, don’t forget about me, I can sion. He’s so quick in tight spaces. But Kyle take this one,’” Infante said. will challenge him and then have the ability to accelerate. Dobbins wasn’t about to disagree with his position coach. “So I think what Kyle brings to the table is that, which is different. It’s like Saydee has “I feel like I definitely have potential to hit a little bit of Onasis in him, and a little bit home runs and definitely be a big part of the of Re. Re has a little bit of Tayvon and Kyle. backfield,” he said. “With sharing the rock, it Kyle has a little bit of Re. So they all kind of will come, it will come. I’ve just got to keep overlap each other, which is nice.” • PB • working and be consistent. Consistency is • PB • the main emphasis here.” Dobbins was a star running back and safety in high school in South Jersey. But the fact Infante said he’s emphasized to his run- that he is now surrounded by a fellow soph- ners this year that they need to be ready omore and two redshirt freshmen, and just to play at any time. The first few weeks of one senior, in the Temple running back room the season has already produced several hasn’t led him to give any thought to switch- examples of college football rosters deplet- ing positions. ed by COVID-19 test outcomes and contact tracing. “Straight running back,” Dobbins responded when asked about the possibility. “Coach Dobbins said he recognizes the situation. knows my potential is at running back. He knows, home run hitter. Once I find a seam, “Our mentality is always next up if someone I’m gone.” goes down,” he said. “We’ve always got to

10 8 101010 THREE YEARS LATER, IGM, KWENKEU PART OF ANOTHER LB REBOOT

Bill Evans, OWLS 24/7 LINEBACKER Feature August 19, 2020 Page 1 of 1

Isaiah Graham-Mobley has been through rare talent,” said Temple defensive coordi- this before. nator Jeff Knowles. “We will probably use more nickel packages, but one good thing As a redshirt freshman in 2017, Graham-Mo- about the linebacker group is they have the bley started at linebacker along with soph- mentality you are looking for. Those guys omores Shaun Bradley and Sam Franklin in are self-motivated, Rigby went from 225 the season opener at Notre Dame as part (pounds) to 235 and he’s not fat. of a group replacing three seniors. Another sophomore, Chapelle Russell, came off the “Will and IGM came in as good as you could bench. come in. They’re fifth-year seniors, and I don’t worry about those guys. They are Three years later, Graham-Mobley will be chomping at the bit.” part of a unit replacing Bradley, Russell and Franklin – who were all senior starters a year Kwenkeu planned to redshirt last season be- ago with Graham-Mobley playing significant cause he knew playing time would be more snaps. They took over for Jarred Alwan, Av- plentiful this year, but ended up breaking his ery Williams and Stephaun Marshall in 2017. thumb in the preseason. He returned in time But Graham-Mobley believes this transition to play four games at the end of the year – will be smoother. With Graham-Mobley and just enough to protect his redshirt. another senior Will Kwenkeu leading the charge, this group should be better pre- With Kwenkeu and Graham-Mobley both pared than the unit in 2017, especially since coming off injury-shortened seasons and no they are in their second season with coach spring – Temple’s camp was canceled after Rod Carey while three years ago it was the two practices and Graham-Mobley wasn’t first season under Geoff Collins. cleared until June anyway – it could affect their ability to get the reps needed to be “This is way more different,” said Gra- sharp and get back to peak performance. ham-Mobley. “We’re more comfortable per- fecting our craft instead of being young and “We’re going slowly and surely and having having to replace seniors like Alwan and an opportunity to work out, make sure we’re Avery. Those were big shoes to fill. It was a doing it efficiently,” said Kwenkeu. “Five bigger task in my opinion. months of staying at home and some guys not having access to equipment for work- “Kudos to (last year’s seniors). They set the ing out. We’re picking back up as necessary standard for being Temple Tuff. Not saying avoiding injuries and right now we’re on a it’s going to be the same, because they’re good track.” different players, but we’re ready to fill in the role. We’re ready to eat this season.” Of course, they might have time to work back into shape. Currently Temple has only Graham-Mobley played in eight games last one game on the schedule until Oct. 17. year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He collected 36 tackles.

Graham-Mobley said his rehab changed 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL with everything shutting down for corona- virus, but that he’s now at 100 percent and doesn’t anticipate any issue with the ankle. •• PBPB •• “I wasn’t able to go into my training facility, I was working with a couple specialists at NovaCare and worked out there,” said Gra- ham-Mobley. “As far as accessibility it was different, but I was working with great peo- ple. The ankle is wonderful. I’m moving won- derfully, and no setbacks from here on out.”

There will be youth at one starting spot where redshirt freshmen Yvandy Rigby and Thomas Joe-Kamara are expected to com- pete for time at Franklin’s bubo position.

“Sam Franklin is a hard guy to replace, be- cause he could do it all, he was just a rare,

10 1010910 OWLSDAILY RUNNING BACK TO WATCH: ONASIS NEELY

Bill Evans, OWLS 24/7 ONASIS NEELY Feature September 20, 2020 Page 1 of 1

The Temple football team has a deep run- back practicing with the team in advance ning back room of mostly younger players. of the Military Bowl but after spring practice The battle to get onto the field will be fierce was canceled is still playing catch up. – especially with sophomore Re’Mahn Davis entrenched as the starter after a tremen- “When I went down I just concentrated on dous first campaign. getting my mental reps and I attacked re- hab,” said Neely, who said he had a partial That’s why bringing something a little differ- ligament tear in high school that wasn’t dis- ent to the fore could be a key factor in play- covered until he arrived at Temple. “I just put ing time for a unit that often leans on three it in God’s hands and was patient, took time backs on game days. adapting to college, knowing the offense more. And that’s also where Onasis Neely comes in. “It’s really been a journey so far, and I’m wishing for it to pay off. I was really looking Neely, a redshirt freshman, is 6-foot and 225 forward to spring, but my life ... it’s just been pounds out of East Pennsboro (Pa.) High about being patient. My whole life has just School. While he was a long jumper and been about being patient, and I’m taking it sprinter in high school, his size gives him an game-by-game and week-by-week.” added dimension that could lead to a role for the Owls.

“Onasis is physical, a very physical back, and he’s a big back, he’s 220-plus,” said Temple running backs coach Gabe Infante. “So he kind of gives us something a little bit different than the other guys. Onasis is a bigger body, and I think he’s going to give us something in the short-yardage game. I think he’s going to help us between the tackles. I’m hoping to see him really devel- op into a good pass protection back for us, a third down back that can give us some tough yards and give us another dimension. His skill sets are a little different.”

Neely said he hopes his versatility is what helps him find his way onto the field and he strives to check all the boxes.

“All my life, I’ve tried to be as balanced as I can,” said Neely. “I put size on because I know the guys in the league, like Saquon Barkley and Todd Gurley, are 225-230 pounds. I want to have an NFL-ready body and the speed to go with it.

“I view myself as a balanced back. I can help • PB • in the pass game and run game, and I just • PB • find trust in the coach to play me and find my role the best I can. I think all of us can get touches.”

Infante said three is a good number of backs based on the team’s substitution patterns and keeping all of them ready in case they need to carry the load in the fourth quarter. He said a fourth could be made useful in certain packages. Neely would qualify for either scenario.

Neely is coming off a knee injury he suffered last spring that required surgery. He was

10 10 101010 DURING PANDEMIC, MOORE OPTED TO TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Bill Evans, OWLS 24/7 ISAAC MOORE Feature August 25, 2020 Page 1 of 1

Isaac Moore didn’t want to take the chance. (Rod) Carey and myself spoke a lot with A junior offensive tackle, Moore is a native Isaac in a mode of support,” said Tripodi. of Orebro, Sweden, and when Temple’s “Isaac is very calculated and he wanted to campus shut down in March because of weigh things out and the decision ultimate- COVID-19 restrictions and the months went ly comes down to the young man. But by by, he briefly considered heading home as staying around, it was a smooth transition he often does on breaks. back into workouts and for him to get going again.” But Moore was hesitant and ultimately de- cided to remain in the United States. After Regardless of Moore’s residence during the he went to visit his mother in California, he pandemic, Tripodi said Moore has come a returned to Philadelphia instead of Sweden. long way.

“Back in March, it was a question if I could “His football development in general has even come back into the country,” Moore been very good,” said Tripodi. “He hasn’t said in a video conference interview with re- played a lot of football in his life. Last year porters this week. “I didn’t want to take that having a football conversation with Isaac risk. I worked too hard to not be able to en- versus this year having a football conversa- ter the country if there was a season.” tion with Isaac, you can tell that his football IQ has improved, just his knowledge of the Moore was further cautious because unlike game. He gets his second year in our sys- most countries Sweden decided to take a tem now, so he’s very in-tune with the calls herd immunity approach to the virus, not that we have and the terminology that we shutting down the country and simply pro- use.” tecting vulnerable people. The 6-foot-7, 305-pounder is entering his “I have a lot of friends in Sweden and they second full season as the starting left tack- were posting pictures of 200 people in le after playing in every game last year and a park, nobody wearing a mask, it was starting twice as a true freshman, and is jaw-dropping,” said Moore. “So that was an- ready to become one of the veteran leaders other reason to stay here.” on the line.

Temple’s two other European-born players, “It feels really good, it’s my third year here at Swedish redshirt freshman Victor Stoffel Temple and I soaked in so much information and German true freshman Miles Zietek – from (departed linemen Matt Hennessy and also both offensive linemen – opted to re- Jovahn Fair),” said Moore. “It’s a new group, turn home. They recently returned to the new year and I’m excited.” United States after a lengthy delay and had to serve a 14-day quarantine.

“Since my mom lived in California, I could stay in America and still be around family,” said Moore, whose father and brother live

in Sweden. “For those other guys, all their 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL family was in Sweden and Germany.”

Once he returned to Philadelphia, Moore was one of the only people on campus, • PB • which he admitted wasn’t ideal. • PB •

“It was a little lonely, I’m not going to lie,” said Moore. “It was good, though. I decided I could either bitch about it or be about it, ex- cuse my French, and I decided to be about it. For me the decision really came in May at the end of the semester and I chose football over seeing friends and family.”

Offensive line coach Joe Tripodi said the decision on whether to go home or not re- mained with the players.

“I think with Isaac the first thing is Coach

10 10101110 PICOZZI BROS. FIND THE PERFECT FIT IN CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE

Shaun Pastor, OWLS 24/7 PICOZZI BROTHERS Feature September 3, 2020 Page 1 of 2

In the City of Brotherly Love, not every er, also Anthony, played as a young kid but ‘I don’t know if I want to keep doing this,’” brotherly tale has a storybook ending. eventually focused on swimming and com- said Nick, who delivered the same mes- peted at Washington & Jefferson College. sage to his high school coach. “I told him I Just look at the Temple basketball team, wasn’t really interested in getting recruited. where brothers Nate and Josh Pierre-Louis “I saw how great of a shape he got in from We had some coaches that came in, some teamed up last year, only to see the Owls doing swimming, so I did football and swim- D-III coaches came in and talked to us about slip from an NCAA Tournament team to a ming in high school,” said Nick, who looked playing for their team. But that was about it.” losing season. And when Nate left the team like a swimmer when he arrived at Temple as It wasn’t until May of his senior year, shortly and graduated early, his brother followed a 6-5, 215-pound freshman in 2018. Vince, before graduation, that Nick started thinking him out the door and transferred to UC-San- who now checks in at 6-4, 305 pounds, not about playing more football. He was already ta Barbara. so much. Older brother Anthony is “much sold on Temple and had decided to major in more built like me than Vince,” Nick laughed. engineering. Similarly, Karamo and Mahmud Dioubate Despite the family history, the odds were were together in Temple football jerseys in always against Vince and Nick playing foot- “One day, I was just a little late on the curve, 2019. Except that Mahmud injured his knee ball together. They competed in different and I was like, ‘Maybe I don’t want to stop,’” on the first day of preseason camp, and af- age groups as youngsters. When Nick got Nick said. “Vince kind of brought me on the ter Karamo completed his senior year, Mah- to middle school, Vince was moving on to idea of, ‘Hey, would you want to play foot- mud left the team, too. high school. Their first chance to wear the ball? I kind of looked at Temple and I saw same uniform finally came when Nick was a how Vince earned a scholarship coming in That scenario is not likely to repeat itself sophomore and Vince was a senior. as a walk-on, and I thought, ‘You know what, with Temple football brothers Vince and maybe I could do the same thing.’ Nick Picozzi. That’s because younger broth- “In high school we practiced together,” Nick er Nick, now a redshirt sophomore tight explained. “We never played games to- “But I didn’t know if I was good enough to end, was sold on Temple even before older gether. When he was a senior and I was a play D-I football. So we talked to Coach (Ed) brother Vince, now a fifth-year senior offen- sophomore, he played on varsity and I was Foley, and Coach Foley was like, ‘Send me sive lineman. on JV. A lot of times the varsity would prac- your highlight.’ At the time I didn’t have a tice, and then the JV would be running the highlight. So that day I went home and made “When Vince was getting recruited, my par- scout team. So we would always be going a highlight from my senior year and I kind of ents would send me and Vince together on up against the varsity. So we were kind of quickly put it together and sent it in to him. all these recruiting visits and visits to other going against each other sometimes.” And he was like, ‘Hey, we’d love to have you schools,” Nick explained. “Because there’s as a walk-on.’” nine of us, so there wasn’t much time that Even that didn’t last very long. our parents could take us out to schools. Since then, Nick has been injury-free, and So they basically told me, get a look at the “At the end of my JV career, I ended up the Picozzi brothers have been living it up, schools as he goes, and see what some of breaking my collarbone,” Nick said. “So I though not living together, on North Broad the schools offer. was out for the rest of the season my soph- Street. omore year.” “And when Vince was coming to Temple “We hang out quite a bit,” Nick said. “But my and looking around making a visit, I loved While Vince headed to Temple and devel- mom always said she didn’t want us living the school almost instantly. I loved the oped rather quickly into a starting offensive together because we already live together whole city feel. They did a nice job of how it lineman, Nick’s football future faced one at home. So there’s no sense in having us was presented. I almost fell in love with the hurdle after another. live together even more and cause more school instantly.” trouble.” “My junior year, the first game of the season Then a sophomore at Lansdale Catholic I broke my other collarbone,” he recount- On the football field, for the first time as High School in the Philadelphia suburbs, ed. “And then after coming back from that, members of an organized team, he and Nick wasn’t thinking as seriously as his old- I called my coach halfway through the sea- Vince have been able to practice alongside er brother about playing college football. son, I got cleared, and I called my coach and one another in offensive drills. • PB • Vince graduated high school in 2016 and said, ‘Hey coach, I’m back at practice.’ He • PB • joined the Owls as a walk-on. said, ‘Alright, that’s great, can’t wait to have “To have the opportunity to play here to- you.’ Before practice started, we were catch- gether is awesome,” Vince said. “He’s a “Coach (Matt) Rhule and his staff loved him,” ing passes and I caught a pass and it hit my tight end, and I think the best is just in prac- Nick remembered. “They thought he was hand the wrong way and I broke my pinkie tice whenever I get a chance to work tackle a great player. They really wanted him. He and had to get surgery on it. And I was out reps, we’ll be out there together and we get thought about going to be a fifth-year se- for the whole season.” a block and do our zone blocks together. It’s nior, going to play for another high school at just a lot of fun, because it’s not something some point. But Coach Rhule kind of wanted He was able to get through his senior year that you’d expect to be able to do at the col- to grab him as soon as they could.” without any serious injuries. But recruiters lege level. I love it.” didn’t come knocking at his door and he Football is a big deal in the Picozzi house- didn’t really go looking for them. hold – “We joke that it’s in our blood,” Nick said. Vince and Nick’s father, Anthony Pi- “I had so many injuries my sophomore and cozzi, played at Lycoming. Their older broth- my junior year, it was tough and I was like,

10 12 101010 PICOZZI BROS. FIND THE PERFECT FIT IN CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE

Shaun Pastor, OWLS 24/7 PICOZZI BROTHERS Feature September 3, 2020 Page 2 of 2

With the NCAA having granted an additional year of eligibility to all current college foot- ball players, it’s possible that they could play together this season and next season. But that will depend largely on Vince’s NFL out- look after this year.

“I’ve been talking with my dad and talking with some of the coaches, and if everything goes well and we have a great season this year, and I have the opportunity to enter the draft, that would be a possibility,” Vince said. “But as of right now, I’m keeping my options open just to see what the future holds.”

Nick hopes the future holds a scholarship opportunity after playing in seven games, mostly on special teams, as a redshirt fresh- man last year. He maintains those hopes even though his walk-on path to Temple was much different than his older brother.

“I think I have a good shot at earning one,” Nick said. “It’s hard I would say. It’s a lot different with a coaching change that hap- pened. It kind of switches up perspectives. But every day you’ve got to go in there and work hard and do what you have to do. So I have full hopes that I can earn a scholar- ship.”

Whether or not that happens, Nick can’t see a scenario where Vince’s eventual depar- ture leads to his own departure.

“I would hope not,” Nick said. “I would hope I can stay and keep working and graduate and hopefully play five years here. I have no aspirations of leaving Temple. I’m staying here, and like I said I kind of fell in love with the school and don’t want to leave.” 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL

•• PBPB ••

10 10101310 PICOZZI IS BACK AFTER ENDURING “EVERY O-LINEMAN’S WORST FEAR”

Shawn Pastor, OWLS 24/7 VINCENT PICOZZI Feature August 25, 2020 Page 1 of 1

Vince Picozzi wasn’t in a lot of pain when he He worked through his rehab at home: “Do- the drills we do, we do a lot of outside zone injured his left knee during Temple’s 17-7 win ing things via Zoom call,” Picozzi said. steps, our inside zone steps, against our at USF last November, but he knew some- one-man sled,” Picozzi explained. “And on thing was wrong. And what’s worse than “I think my rehab process would have gone our one-man sled we put two 100-pound fear of the unknown? a little bit faster if we were all still here and plates, sometimes we add another 45, and it was a normal situation,” he said. “But I’m we’ll really hit that, and that’s how I can re- Fortunately for the veteran offensive guard, just happy that finally when we got back this ally test it and get my steps in to show that the unknown lasted less than 24 hours. His summer I was able to get back into it, finally I can still have the trust in my knee. That recovery from knee surgery produced few able to get my sets in, my steps, and start strength is there. Also just in the weight questions as well, and he’s ready to go working on that muscle memory again. Now room, being able to test it. I’m getting ready as the 2020 season approaches. In fact, I’m back playing with the boys and we’re all to do the squat bar again, power-cleaning, he could have been back on the field this out there. So it feels really good now and and Olympic cleaning is where I’m really go- spring. I can’t wait to get back to playing football.” ing to test it.”

That’s not a bad outcome considering those Picozzi has played a lot of football for the If history holds true, Picozzi has nothing to first few moments of worry. Owls. He played in 32 straight games, log- worry about. ging 22 straight starts prior to the injury. “Probably every O-lineman’s worst fear is having a knee injury, and not really know- Having earned his degree in Risk Manage- ing what’s going on,” Picozzi said on a video ment and Insurance this past spring, Pi- conference call with reporters on Tuesday. cozzi is now the leader of the offensive line, though the Owls have three other graduate Those fears raced through Picozzi’s mind as students and one other senior among this he was surrounded by trainers and the team year’s group. In fact, Picozzi said he had a doctor on the field at Raymond James Stadi- leadership role last year alongside fellow um in Tampa. veterans Matt Hennessy and Jovahn Fair.

“Like most stadiums they don’t have MRI “The three of us really liked to lead the of- machines, they only have X-ray machines,” fensive line,” he said. “Jovahn, being the Picozzi recalled. “So I was able to get the senior on the field, he really took the lead X-rays, nothing was broken. There wasn’t a in the room last year in breaking us out of lot of pain. I was kind of just nervous about meetings, getting us on time. But then Hen- what was exactly happening with my knee. ny did the same thing, we were right there Because the doctors knew, and I knew that with him. something definitely did happen.” “So it’s kind of taking that little step up, it’s The Owls flew home after the Thursday kind of taking over being the older guy in night game and Picozzi didn’t have much the room and having to lead by example. So time to sleep. to an extent it is a little bit of a step up, but nothing I wasn’t expecting.” “The next morning I went and got some MRIs,” he said. “They saw that the MCL and Offensive line coach Joe Tripodi expressed PCL got a little banged up. And from there, no doubt that Picozzi would return to this had surgery later that week, and then six position after his 2019 season was cut short weeks after that was able to start the rehab by injury. process.” “One thing about Vince, knowing him now While the coronavirus shutdown slowed his for almost two years, is his work ethic,” Tri- • PB • rehab, it didn’t knock him off schedule any podi said. “Vince has worked extremely • PB • more than the team’s healthiest players. Ev- hard to get back to a spot where he can play eryone missed spring drills, which Picozzi football at a high level, which he’s done for a had hoped to be able to participate in. few years here at Temple. And we certainly expect him to continue on at that level.” “With the time of the rehab, when surgery happened until spring ball, right in the For Picozzi, the last step to reaching that middle of spring ball is when I was getting level is Olympic-style weight training and cleared,” he explained. “So if we were here hitting against live competition in presea- for spring ball, I would have been able to son camp. The Owls have significantly lim- start my progression back into football mid- ited their contact work thus far. But he’s put to late-spring ball. I probably wouldn’t have enough stress on his left knee in individual been able to do full-go the entire time, but drills to have complete confidence in it. I definitely would have been able to start working back.” “I’ve been able to test it a lot because in

10 14 101010 OWLSDAILY RUNNING BACK TO WATCH: TAYVON RULEY

Shaun Pastor, OWLS 24/7 TAYVON RULEY Feature September 20, 2020 Page 1 of 2

Tayvon Ruley always believed he could do emy, where he earned league MVP honors I was messing up here and there, messing big things on North Broad Street. Every Tem- playing for Temple product Dante Coles. up my plays, having busts,” he admitted. “I ple football coach starting with Matt Rhule didn’t know plays. So I was messing up. had the same belief. While Ruley transitioned from high school to junior college, the Owls transitioned from “But I knew it was all my mindset because For Ruley, a six-foot, 215-pound running Rhule to head coach Geoff Collins. It was as- I was thinking too much. So I knew once I back, it’s been a five-year journey turning sistant coach Chris Wiesehan, who stayed put it together, my mindset, and then just those beliefs into reality. This year, those big at Temple when Rhule went to Baylor, that do what I do, execute everything, I knew I things just might happen. stayed in touch with Ruley. That eventually could show everybody what I could do. And led to a late-night message from Collins. I showed them that I belong here.” In 2015, while the Owls were making a na- tional statement with their victory over Penn “Coach Collins reached out to me, it was like The Owls had little experience at running State and an AAC East Division champion- 10 o’clock at night, I was on the basketball back last season. Jager Gardner was a se- ship, Ruley was making his own statement court at my house, and I got a Twitter DM nior and walk-on Jonny Forrest had logged putting up big numbers as a senior at Penn from Coach Collins,” Ruley remembered. a few carries the year before. The other five Wood High School in the Philadelphia sub- “And he was like, ‘Hey dude, I want to reach running backs on the roster, including Ruley, urbs. His performance drew the attention out to you and talk to you.’ And he was like, had never played a down of Division I foot- of Rhule and his coaching staff. Ruley and ‘You’re a baller.’ And then I sent him my film ball. So the opportunity was there to climb Rhule? It seemed like a perfect match. and we were talking from there.” the depth chart – quickly.

“Since I was younger, I don’t know what it Like every other step along the way, the last Ruley said he knew he belonged when the was, but I always had love for Temple,” Ru- step to bring Ruley to North Broad Street top players on Temple’s defense told him so. ley said in an interview this past week. “My was anything but simple. Not long after their favorite college team growing up I would late-night chat, Collins left for Georgia Tech. “When I was running against guys like Cha- say was Ohio State. But my second team And this time, Wiesehan followed Temple’s pelle (Russell), Shaun Bradley, Sam Frank- was always Temple. I don’t know what it was head coach out the door. lin, they were always telling me how good I about. I just always loved Temple.” was,” Ruley recalled. “They were telling me, “When Coach Collins was recruiting me, ‘I’ve played against a lot of running backs, The problem with making that match hap- the coaching staff left (and) Coach Wiese- and you’re not the best one, but you’re one pen was Ruley’s academic record. han had been the one talking to me and of the top running backs I’ve played against reaching out to me every day,” Ruley said. throughout all the years I played at Tem- “I was like a jokester in high school, so my “So when he left, I didn’t know he left until ple.’ Them telling me that, it gave me a little grades weren’t as good, so I wasn’t quali- I looked at Twitter and saw that he left. But boost. And I already felt it, too, when I was fied to go right to Temple,” he explained. “So when he left, he let me know, and he was running, I felt it. I adapted to this level so I they told me to go to a two-year school to like, ‘Coach Feeley will still be here, so reach knew I belonged here.” get my grades to be eligible to come here.” out to him.’” Ruley got his first carry in the second quar- Ruley said he understood what he needed Strength and conditioning coach David Fee- ter of Temple’s 63-21 loss to UCF on Octo- to do, but it was a different path than he en- ley didn’t follow Collins to Georgia Tech. He ber 26. The game got away from the Owls visioned when he was younger, and some- was the first Collins staff member to be -of in the second half, but it was hanging in the times he doubted his future. ficially retained by Coach Manny Diaz. And balance when Ruley took his first handoff then two weeks later, Diaz left for Miami and and picked up a yard. One play later, Antho- “There were times when I got discouraged Feeley left with him – but not before putting ny Russo hit Branden Mack with a 75-yard and down on myself, because it was to a in a good word for Ruley with Coach Rod touchdown pass and Temple was behind, 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL point where I thought recruiters were going Carey. 21-14. to see me after I gave them my highlight tape,” he said. “I thought there would be a “Coach Feeley was still here while Coach “I can’t even put my finger on the words point in time where colleges started coming Carey’s coaching staff came, so he put a for it, it felt unbelievable,” Ruley said. “I just • PB • in. word in for me,” Ruley said. “He was like, looked up and I saw the big crowd and I just • PB • ‘Yeah, you’re going to come to me, I’m going didn’t know how to feel when I got my first “But once I started seeing that no colleges to talk to you from here on out.’ So Coach carry. I was ready.” were reaching out to me anymore – my ju- Feeley was talking to me the whole time, nior year and my senior year, colleges were and after that, that’s when I got in touch with Ruley got additional work the next few reaching out to me, but my grades were Coach Carey’s staff coming in, I got in here weeks, and after Gardner broke his leg messed up, so that fell back for me. And for spring ball.” against Cincinnati, Ruley totaled nine carries then I thought once I got it back up, they for 74 yards and a touchdown in the regular would come back to me, because of the big The long journey finally landed Ruley on season finale against UConn. A couple days season I had. But when they weren’t coming Temple’s campus in January 2019 – as a later, Ruley was again at a loss for words to me, I got a little discouraged.” walk-on. How hard does Ruley work? It took when Carey called him into his office. him less than a year to earn a scholarship. Ruley took Temple’s advice and spent time But the first few months were bumpy. at Delaware County Community College and then went to Valley Forge Military Acad- “Last year when I first came in springtime,

10 10101510 OWLSDAILY RUNNING BACK TO WATCH: TAYVON RULEY

Shaun Pastor, OWLS 24/7 TAYVON RULEY Feature September 20, 2020 Page 2 of 2

“The next week I came to practice, I think it was on a Monday, and I was in the training room, and I was sitting there getting treat- ment, and Coach Carey, he always jokes with us, so he came in the training room, be- cause I actually broke my finger that game and had the surgery, and Coach Carey came into the training room and was like, “Hey Ru- ley, you still faking?’ And I was laughing and I was like, ‘Nah, I’m just here taking care of my finger.’” Ruley remembered. “And he was like, ‘Come and see me in the office.’

“And that’s when I went to the office, and he was explaining to me, ‘You’re working very hard, you earn it, you put in the time, you de- serve everything you’re coming for, and he said, by me saying that, I’m going to honor you with a scholarship right now.’

“I got a feeling, it was not shocking, but I was excited, because I knew it was coming, be- cause I knew he saw something in me, but I didn’t know the time. I knew it was going to be a matter of time. But when he told me that day, it was just crazy.”

Now a senior, Ruley is Temple’s top backup behind Re’Mahn Davis, though he’s having to fend off a challenge from Edward Saydee and the team’s other young ballcarriers this preseason. Ruley said his ability to do every- thing is what distinguishes him as a runner.

“I actually can do it all,” he said. “I’m down- hill. I can do it all, honestly. But I’d say I’m more of a one-step go kind of guy, one-cut go. I don’t juke as much. My first move is not to run somebody over, but I can. So I think I have an ability to do everything.”

Having finally reached the destination of his five-year journey, Ruley said he plans to take advantage of the recently-enacted NCAA el- igibility extension and stick around for one more year.

“I’m definitely going to come back, I’m go- • PB • ing to do that,” he stated. “I’m going to come • PB • back, because I had to prove myself first. This year right here is going to be the state- ment year, and show everybody what I can do. So I know I have to come back.

“So I can’t just take this one year. I need this year that they gave us. God knew that I needed that. He gave it to me at the right time because he knew this year is supposed to be my statement year, and next year I can just take off. So I’m definitely going to come back, 100 percent.”

10 16 101010 RETURNING TO FOOTBALL WAS A BREEZE COMPARED TO THE OFFSEASON JOB FOR RUSSO

Marc Narducci, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER ANTHONY RUSSO Feature September 23, 2020 Page 1 of 1

The days were long, hot and exhausting but Temple’s Anthony Russo wouldn’t take The two would often head to a field and the “I have talked to a few people [about the no for an answer. So after an entire day of footballs would be flying. NFL] and right now it is in my best interest physical labor in the form of landscaping to come back [to Temple],” Russo said. “I — mulching, mowing lawns, cutting down Even when Carroll wouldn’t want to catch plan to come back next year, because I can trees, often in the blazing heat — Russo passes, he didn’t tell that to his employee/ only get better and I love playing with these would cap things off by performing his fa- quarterback. guys,” vorite task: throwing a football. “Some days toward the end of the week, He understands that things could change, The passes, full of zip from the redshirt se- I’d be tired, but he always wanted to throw,” so Russo isn’t looking too far in the future. nior quarterback, were caught by his boss Carroll said. “He is a hard thrower and al- What is of immediate importance is Temple’s Pat Carroll. ways had the strength no matter how much abbreviated eight-game American Athletic he worked all day or all week.” Conference season that begins Oct. 10 at And while Russo has seen his game dissect- Navy. ed by coaches, teammates and opponents, Russo, 22, has always had a rifle arm, his few know it better than his boss. strongest trait. This will be his third season “Personally, I can’t wait,” Russo said. “I wish I as Temple’s starting quarterback. Last sea- was playing tomorrow.” Then again, Carroll and Russo have a rela- son he completed 58% of his passes for tionship that goes well beyond him becom- 2,861 yards with 21 touchdowns and 12 in- His boss can’t wait, either. Carroll is a die- ing a boss and Russo becoming the starting terceptions for the 8-5 Owls. hard Temple fan and has even seen the quarterback in 2018 at Temple. team play on the road over the last few Russo did more than just throw the football years, including last year’s Military Bowl, Carroll, 22, was Russo’s teammate at Arch- during his time away from the team once where the Owls lost to North Carolina at the bishop Wood, a starting defensive end and COVID-19 hit. same Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium backup tight end. These days he is the own- where they will open their season’s sched- er of Carroll Landscaping in Doylestown, “I had a lot of free time and watched every ule. where both Carroll and Russo live. one of LSU’s games last year, made cutups of their offense and watched [former quar- Carroll is glad that Temple is back practicing, Over the previous few summers, Russo terback] Joe Burrow and the way the re- but … would get about three weeks off from Tem- ceivers ran certain routes and the way they ple football activities and would help his called plays,” Russo said. “This benefited “It’s great that he is back preparing for the friend do landscaping. Carroll has been in me a lot.” season, but it was great when he was work- business for three years. ing for me,” Carroll said. “Besides being a He even sent clips to his Temple teammates great friend, he is a really great worker.” This year because of the pandemic, Russo and coaches and says some of it has been worked in April, May, and half of June and it implemented into the offense. was real work. This is a big year for Russo, who took over “Working long days in the sun really helped as starter during the third game of the 2018 me cut my weight,” Russo said. “I am down season when Frank Nutile was injured. Rus- about 23 pounds.” so never relinquished the position even when Nutile returned to health. Even though At 6-foot-4, he says he now weighs 230 he is a redshirt senior, this may not be the

pounds. end for Russo. 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL

When he returned for team workouts in the That’s because the NCAA has ruled that this summer, Russo says he could see the bene- is an eligibility-free year for players. So if a fits of his long days working outside. “I came player is a redshirt senior as Russo is, he can • PB • back in good shape from the physical labor return next season and again be a redshirt • PB • of landscaping,” he said. senior.

Before getting a scouting report on Russo He has earned his degree in advertising, but as a quarterback, what about as a landscap- instead of graduate school, Russo is looking er? toward earning his education certificate.

“I’d give him a 9.8 [on a scale of 10] as a “Teaching and coaching has been a dream worker,” Carroll said. “He would be lugging of mine,” he said. barrels of mulch, weeding, edging, all of that.” And so has playing.

In other words, work that isn’t exactly fun. Like any player, Russo, who turns 23 in De- But after work would be the fun part, at least cember, would love to give the NFL a shot for Russo. but feels that he can use more seasoning.

10 10101710 RUSSO WELCOMES QB COMPETITION BREWING IN PRACTICE AND AN EXTRA YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY

Marc Narducci, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER ANTHONY RUSSO Feature August 21, 2020 Page 1 of 1

Temple football coach Rod Carey says there him as well. and that is red-zone efficiency,” is real competition for the quarterback job. Uremovich said. Considering that graduate student Anthony Russo was the starter for most of the last two The statistics bear this out. Temple was 116th seasons, that was an interesting statement. out of 130 schools in red-zone efficiency, -ac cording to NCAA statistics. The Owls had 50 Carey said last week that he told Russo that chances and ended with 37 red-zone scores he is the quarterback and that somebody – (15 rushing touchdowns, 14 passing TDs, will have to beat him out. But the coach and eight field goals). also said there is good competition at the position, which includes redshirt sophomore “Part of [struggling] was play-calling. It al- Re-al Martin, a transfer from Iowa State, and ways starts with that [and] that’s me,” Ure- redshirt sophomore Trad Beatty. movich said. “Part of it is execution, that’s the players, and then Anthony had some in- Russo, for his part, is up for the competition. terceptions down there that we can’t have. He knows that it’s things we talked about.” “We’re competing day in and day out, but you know, I’m very comfortable with where Russo said he studied the red-zone difficul- I’m at right now ... being a second-year ties with coaches and teammates, and it is a [quarterback] in this offense,” Russo said Fri- priority for him. He said he feels all the off- day in a Zoom interview. season work has paid off. And few love play- ing at Temple more than Russo, a product of Russo understands competition. He was the Archbishop Wood High School. backup his redshirt sophomore year, when starter Frank Nutile was injured before the In fact, Russo said that if the NCAA passes third game. Russo played so well that Nutile a rule that allows fall sports athletes an ex- never got his job back. tra year of eligibility regardless of how many games they play, he is all in. The NCAA Di- Last season, Russo improved statistical- vision I Council made that recommendation ly, but he had some hiccups. He complet- last week. ed 58.7% of his passes for 2,861 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for the Russo spoke before the NCAA Division I 8-5 Owls. It took time to get comfortable in a board of directors approved the recommen- new offense under Carey and offensive co- dation, determining that all fall sport stu- ordinator Mike Uremovich. dent-athletes would receive an additional year of eligibility and an additional year in In his second year in this system, Russo which to complete. thinks he will be able to do more, but with less. He said that he came to camp 14 “Being able to get that year of eligibility back pounds lighter. The 6-foot-4 Russo said he is big-time, and I completely plan to be back now weighs 234 pounds. Uremovich said he in 2021 and play another year,” he said. “I am wants Russo to be more of a running threat. just super comfortable with this offense, and I think we are really starting to click.” “Last year, I kind of wasn’t in the best shape of my life, I wasn’t able to be a threat with my legs,” Russo said. “Sophomore year, I was a little bit more mobile, was able to extend plays a little bit better.” • PB • • PB • He is looking to returning to that level.

“I think last year I kind of got away from that because I kind of had my body weight where it shouldn’t have been, but now that I’m back in shape, back where I need to be,” Russo said. “I am confident running the ball.”

Temple often moved the ball down the field last season, but the Owls had great difficulty in the red zone.

“The biggest issues as an offense that we have to improve on, and it has to do with

10 18 101010 OWLSDAILY RUNNING BACK TO WATCH: EDWARD SAYDEE

Shawn Pastor, OWLS 24/7 EDWARD SAYDEE Feature September 21, 2020 Page 1 of 1

In the last minute of Temple’s 55-13 loss to North ulated under Rod Carey. He was one of the first in the winter and the spring. Listed at 5-11, 210 Carolina in the Military Bowl, Edward Saydee got prospects to verbally commit to Collins in the pounds, he runs with power and speed. the first two carries of his college career. He was summer of 2018. In fact, he announced his com- stopped for no gain, and then he picked up two mitment on Twitter the same day as Davis, who “Saydee is a pretty rocked-up guy,” Infante ob- yards before the clock ran out on a forgettable grabbed a lead role from day one of his college served. “He’s pretty thick and he’s pretty physi- afternoon for the Owls. career. cal.”

The circumstances were not exactly memorable One year later, Saydee is pushing his classmate But it’s not the physical side of the game that for Temple fans. And it wasn’t Saydee’s first time for a piece of the action. Saydee focuses on. He said he strives mostly to on the field. He played in three previous games execute his assignments – every single time. on special teams. But the redshirt freshman run- “Saydee is extremely bright,” Infante said. “I would “I’ve just got to do my best when I get a chance to ning back remembers what he was thinking when say that he and Re are probably the two smartest get in or when I get a chance to show out, I have he got his number called for the first time. guys in the room. He’s just got an ability to really to,” he said. “Every single snap, every single down absorb a lot of what we’re doing. And we do a lot has to be great. That’s how I think. So I’ve just got “For me, I was just trying to stay poised and do of stuff with the backs. So he’s really reliable. And to stay consistent from Monday through Friday. what I had to do,” Saydee said in a video confer- he’s really able to do a lot of different things for That’s how I go, day-by-day, play-by-play.” ence interview with reporters on Friday. “At the us. A physical back as well.” end of the day, I still have to make a play, regard- Saydee was born in Liberia. His family moved to less of the score, regardless of the scoreboard, Saydee noted that competition for playing time the United States when he was a toddler, escap- regardless of us winning or losing. I still have to doesn’t equate to competition between team- ing what was then a war-torn nation. do what I have to do when I get in. So I was just mates. There’s a distinction between the two that making sure I get my play right and then move on rules the day in the running back room. “My mother and father came here because of the to the next play.” war,” Saydee said. “They felt like it was a better “We don’t compete with each other,” Saydee in- opportunity here, and I just try to take advantage It’s that kind of focus that running backs coach sisted. “We compete with ourselves. As for me, I of it every single day.” Gabe Infante says has positioned Saydee to play compete with myself each and every day. I just try a significant role with the Owls in his redshirt to get better my way. I want every single running His parents both have family members in Liberia, freshman season. back to be great on every single play. If they do which has stabilized in recent years. Saydee said wrong, I’m mad. If they do great, I’m happy. It’s he hasn’t been back, and he has no memories of Before the City of Philadelphia loosened its par- never a competition between each of us. It’s just his birthplace. ticipation limits on Temple’s preseason camp, competition about ourselves. Each and every day the Owls had to split their position groups and I work on how I can get better and how my run- “People told me stories, but me myself, not really,” the coaches ran two practice periods – one with ning backs can get better.” he said. “I just know certain stories that my moth- the first- and second-teamers and the other with er and my brothers told me. But when I get older, younger guys. At running back, the first group While the running backs aren’t working against I’m thinking about going back and getting more included top returning rusher Re’Mahn Davis, each other, there are differences between them, understanding of where I came from, my birth- senior Tayvon Ruley, and Saydee. The second particularly their running style. Even if you were place, and everything like that.” group included sophomore Kyle Dobbins, redshirt paying close attention, Saydee’s style wasn’t nec- freshman Onasis Neely, and junior Mike Mitchell. essarily apparent in those two carries in the Mili- This season, Temple fans are likely to get a good tary Bowl. understanding of what Saydee can do on the Now, as the season gets closer, and the Owls have football field, perhaps as soon as the opening shifted to “normal” practices, Saydee is pushing “I’m a one-cut guy,” he said. “But at the same time play of the season opener at Navy on October 10. Ruley for the top backup job behind Davis. it depends who’s in front of me or what type of

team I’m playing, what type of player is in front “You’ve got to remember, Saydee didn’t have as 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL “Ed is becoming a very solid contributor for us,” of me. It all depends on who’s in front of me and much game experience last year as Tayvon did,” Infante stated. “I would say that probably in the what I have to do. I adjust to the defense. I’m not a Infante said. “So for him to be able to do that right past week he’s probably been the most produc- one-play guy. I don’t do one thing. I feel like I can now, and push Tayvon really helps us a lot, gives tive back that we have. I’d say him and Ruley have do it all if the opportunity presents itself.” us a lot of depth. • PB • really been battling it out, the two of them, to be in • PB • that supportive role of Re. Infante agreed that Saydee checks a lot of boxes “And then the other thing Saydee is doing is that on the grade sheet. he’s dominating on special teams right now. He “So he has done a phenomenal job of that. I think is dominating on special teams. I’m pretty sure what he brings to the table is he’s just very, very “He’s a kid that as a coach really evokes a lot of he’s starting on like three of the four units, which smart, just a very instinctual and smart player that confidence,” Infante said. “I have a lot of confi- again, you think about what he’s got to learn for does a lot of little things that he picks up on that dence in putting him in the game that he’s going us offensively and then all the different things he’s at times really covers some blind spots for us. to pass protect, he’ll pick up tough yards, he’s go- got to learn on punt and PBR (punt block/return) He’s challenging Tayvon big-time. Those two are ing to be where he needs to be, and then he’s and KOR, he’s doing a lot of great things for us. in a very, very competitive battle right now. And shown in practice the last couple days the ability So he’s a guy that I expect he’s going to have a they’re both making each other better.” to rip a couple runs.” great year for us.”

Saydee was the “other” running back in Temple’s Saydee played high school ball at Philadelphia’s 2019 recruiting class, which was recruited by Penn Charter, where he put up big rushing num- Geoff Collins, signed by Manny Diaz, and matric- bers and also starred on defense and ran track

10 10101910 ENDLESS SUMMER HAD EUROPEAN OWLS WORRIED ABOUT RETURN TO U.S.

Shawn Pastor, OWLS 24/7 VICTOR STOFFEL Feature September 24, 2020 Page 1 of 2

Victor Stoffel knew he was risking his im- offered a job soon after graduating from had to do. Looking back, he said it wasn’t mediate football future and maybe his Stockholm International School the previous all that bad. chance to earn a U.S. college degree when summer. He accepted the offer and started he returned home to Sweden in May. But working, and soon after received a different “It wasn’t that I was completely alone, but he didn’t have many other options, and he offer – a scholarship offer to join the Owls. it was not a lot of people,” he said. “I just wasn’t too keen on spending another few wanted to finish up all my schoolwork. Plus months alone. “My getting to college was different from it was kind of nice having the dorm all by most American kids,” he said. “Before I myself. There were like four people in there. Fortunately for Stoffel, a redshirt freshman came here, I was starting my own life in So it was also a little nice to almost get a offensive tackle, the doorway to Temple Sweden, where I liked where I was going, I little calmness.” opened back up late this summer. And all had a good job. But I wanted to get my edu- he had to endure was a few more weeks of cation as well.” It wasn’t so calm when Stoffel returned to involuntary peace and quiet. Sweden, which didn’t impose the same lock- All those plans were thrown in limbo as this down measures that he had been living with Such is the life of international students, in- summer in Sweden dragged on. And all St- in Philadelphia. cluding Stoffel and Temple teammate Miles offel could do was wait and worry, or try not Zietek, who went home to Germany when to worry. “That was surreal because they didn’t do the coronavirus shutdown went into effect, quarantine at all,” he observed. “They prac- and had similar issues returning to the Unit- “Absolutely, that was all I had going through ticed social distancing, but it wasn’t like you ed States. my head when I couldn’t sleep, especial- had to wear a mask. It was very much like ly as time went on and on, and not much everyday life in Sweden. It was just school Both of them got a late start in terms of prac- changed,” he recalled. “I just kind of start- was online and some things were closed ticing and preparing for this season. But giv- ed thinking like, ‘What happens if I don’t down. But for the most part it was very much en the five-week delay in the start of Tem- come back? What should I do then? Can I how it usually was.” ple’s 2020 schedule, they may be able to still study? Do I still have a scholarship? Do round into shape just in time. I have to get a job here in Sweden?’ All that Stoffel said he quickly recognized the stuff.” plusses and minuses of his country’s alter- No harm done ... though it was quite a jour- nate approach to COVID-19. ney to get here. Stoffel stayed in contact with Zietek, and with Temple’s coaches, who answered his “It was nice coming back because it felt like “I was stuck in Sweden for three months be- biggest concern. a very normal summer compared to how it cause there were no flights,” Stoffel said in would be here,” he said. “But Sweden’s ap- a phone interview last week from his dorm, “Coach Carey said I’m not going to lose my proach also made it a bit scarier for knowing where he was quarantining for the second scholarship or anything like that,” he said. if I could come back or not, because with time since returning to campus (more on “He understood it was out of my hands. So that approach, a lot of people got COVID. So that later). “You couldn’t fly out of there. So they were very open to whatever happens, we didn’t know if the United States would let really I was just waiting, waiting to see what happens, we’ll try to get through it, but al- people from Sweden travel back. happens, because I didn’t know.” ways thinking like we were planning just to get back here, basically. And then whatever “I think most people in Sweden think they Throughout June and July, there was a lot happens, we’ll work from there.” handled it well, especially because in the Stoffel didn’t know. He didn’t know when summer Swedish people like going out. So travel restrictions between Europe and the Stoffel said he never regretted going back that’s what they’re going to want to do. And U.S. would be loosened. He didn’t know home. Temple teammate and fellow Swed- now it seems to be going better. Sweden is which airlines or even which airports would ish native Isaac Moore never went home, not having any spikes and it’s kind of dip- be accepting international flights. And if he instead staying with his mother in California ping. So things are slowly going back to was able to go back to Temple, he didn’t before returning to campus. Stoffel didn’t normal. know if he would be able to stay if fall se- have that kind of family option, but he did mester classes shifted entirely online. stay at Temple when the vast majority of stu- “So I think a lot of people are pretty happy • PB • dents left campus in March. with how they did it. And even I felt it too • PB • He did know where he wanted to live when when I was there. I didn’t feel unsafe. I don’t he returned to campus. But he couldn’t do “I decided to stay for the semester, finish the know, I just felt, you get into everyday nor- anything about it. semester and then go back,” he explained. mal situations and you’ve just got to remem- “And the team helped me out there and it ber to keep your distance a little bit.” “I was going to sign a lease, but I couldn’t wasn’t a problem. I was in the freshman ... well I could, but I didn’t feel safe doing it dorms, Morgan (Hall), I was set up there, and Though he knew his scholarship was intact, because at a certain point we didn’t even it was kind of surreal because there wasn’t Stoffel said he grew more anxious to return know if I was going to make it back in time,” much happening day-in and day-out. All my once the Owls started voluntary workouts in he said. roommates left, too, so I didn’t really have late June. By mid-July, most of the team was anyone that was there.” back on campus – except Stoffel and Zietek. It never got to the point that Stoffel start- ed investigating other options. Before he For eight weeks, Stoffel spent his time eat- enrolled at Temple in January 2019, Stoffel ing, watching TV, trying to stay in shape, and worked in sales in his home country. He was “procrastinating” with the schoolwork he

10 20 101010 ENDLESS SUMMER HAD EUROPEAN OWLS WORRIED ABOUT RETURN TO U.S.

Shawn Pastor, OWLS 24/7 VICTOR STOFFEL Feature September 24, 2020 Page 2 of 2

“I kind of suspected that by the end of the arrival this summer, or his 14-day quarantine, summer I was going to leave sooner rath- and then his 14-day conditioning period, and er than later with how things were going,” then ... another quarantine. Stoffel said. “But it was really just one day, I was talking to [Hellgren Villegas], and he Due to contact tracing, a number of offen- said, ‘Oh yeah, I left yesterday for the United sive linemen were quarantined after sever- States and I got in.’ So it was literally as I saw al players went home and then returned to that text I was like, ‘Oh, so I think I can go campus over Labor Day weekend. Stoffel back now.’” was one of the unlucky ones, which means another round of playing catch-up. Stoffel texted Zietek and they booked flights to travel back on the same day a week later. “I don’t think I’m exactly where I want to be, That was the start of quarantine number but I like where I’m at compared to last year,” one, which for Stoffel was fairly similar to his he said. “So I’m anxious just to get back out experience in Morgan Hall at the end of the there and keep working.” spring semester. After a long wait, and then another long “It was me and Miles, we got put into quar- wait, and then another, Stoffel is finally get- antine at Beech International (upon return- ting that chance. ing to campus),” Stoffel said. “So we would sit there and get food brought to us, or we also could go out and buy food, but it was just sitting there eating and just taking it day-to-day. And then after a week he moved into Morgan, so it was a week alone there.”

When he finally rejoined the team, Stoffel completed a 14-day weight training and conditioning program before he was able to jump fully into practice. Physically, he didn’t have any issues because he was able to stay in shape when he was home in Sweden.

“That was one of the big reasons that I felt like I wanted to go back to Sweden (in the first place),” he said. “Even though I knew it would be risky with coming back, it was just because I knew there I could work out and I could go to the gym and do some football work.”

Stoffel should fit somewhere on the Tem- ple depth chart this season. He was listed

as Moore’s top backup at left tackle all of 2020 TEMPLE FOOTBALL last season and played in four games. And he accomplished that as a true freshman playing at a position he had not played be- fore. Stoffel played tight end and defensive • PB • end in high school, including time he spent • PB • at Norfolk Catholic High School in Norfolk, Neb.

“I think it was just working hard in practice,” the 6-8, 290-pounder said of his rookie playing time. “A lot of what we were talking about last season was just development, because I was going into a new position I never played before. So it was just looking at it week-to-week to see how I developed and how I became better and better.”

Stoffel’s development wasn’t helped by spring practice being canceled, or his late

10 10102110 AMIR TYLER IS ARGUABLY TEMPLE’S MOST IMPORTANT DEFENDER

Shawn Pastor, OWLS 24/7 AMIR TYLER Feature September 10, 2020 Page 1 of 1

For Amir Tyler, the journey from supporting with NFL expectations, starting with Rus- come this fall is that pre-snap he’s 100 per- cast member to Temple’s defensive captain sell, his former teammate at Lakewood (N.J.) cent,” safeties coach Tyler Yelk said. “And so and single-digit awardee started five years High School. Tyler was in the same recruit- we’ll see if we can get him there, and he can ago. Only it wasn’t a steady climb. The first ing class as Bradley and several other guys truly quarterback this thing for us. But he four years were more of a slow burn, before who played immediately as true freshmen in has done a really good job and we’re defi- a rapid rise over the past 12 months. 2016 and graduated this past year. Many of nitely excited to have him in the room.” them are now NFL rookies. Now, as the 2020 campaign approaches, Yelk said Tyler’s development over the past the senior safety is arguably the most im- “I’m a younger guy, but all of my friends 12 months warrants those high expectations. portant player on Coach Rod Carey’s de- were upperclassmen,” Tyler said. “So the fense. majority of them like Harrison Hand, Isaiah “Around here, understanding what a single Wright, Sam Franklin, those are some of the digit means, I think he embodies that to per- Nobody saw this coming a year ago, when people I came in with. I just had redshirted. fection,” Yelk said. “And I think to be around Tyler missed the season opener against So just seeing them accomplish their goals, him the last two years you could see a little Bucknell due to injury. He wasn’t even and seeing what they went through, the tri- bit of a difference this year of him under- listed on the depth chart until a month lat- als and tribulations, it kind of helped me a standing, ‘Hey, I’m in this role now. I under- er, squeezing in behind Benny Walls and lot. stand the gravity that comes with that.’ And Keyvone Bruton at the boundary safety po- how he’s prepared and carried himself has sition. “Because I’m coming into my last year and been very reflective of that.” I’ve come to realize, ‘How do I want to be Tyler eventually climbed past Bruton, but remembered? What do I want to be remem- Beyond his former roommates and friends, when Walls was injured at midseason, the bered as? Do I want to be remembered as Tyler credited his predecessors at safety – Owls initially shifted backup field safety somebody that was just here, or do I want the guys who kept him sitting on the bench DaeSean Winston into Walls’ starting job for to leave an impact and make history at Tem- for three-plus years – for setting the exam- a pivotal game against Memphis. Tyler got a ple?’” ple of what he needed to get done. chance to play, too, and impressed enough to earn the starting job one week later at Tyler grabbed his first bit of legacy when he “I know what type of leader we need in our SMU. was awarded the single-digit jersey No. 3, room for us to be an accountable group, which Russell wore previously, at the outset knowing that we’re the secondary, we’re the While the Owls got whipped by the Mus- of preseason camp. last line of defense,” Tyler said. “Having Del- tangs, Tyler had 12 tackles and was the von Randall, Sean Chandler, having Benny highest-graded defensive player, according “When I first got here, that was everybody’s Walls back there, I learned a lot from those to Carey. He started every game for the rest dream,” Tyler said. “As soon as you get here, guys.” of the season. Even when Walls returned when you get through the recruiting pro- to the lineup, the versatile Tyler shifted to cess, that’s everybody’s dream. But once Now, it’s Tyler’s turn. the field safety job, supplanting Penn State you get here, you kind of lose sight of that transfer Ayron Monroe, who had started the dream, just trying to chase your goal and first nine games. just fill any role possible on the team.”

For Tyler, the pathway from non-factor in When he wasn’t playing much, Tyler said he 2016 and 2017 to special teams contribu- was particularly motivated by the success of tor in 2018 to key defensive starter in 2019 his roommates. was built on trust. Most important from his perspective was the trust he earned from “Definitely Shaun and Chapelle getting their his roommates, Chapelle Russell and Shaun singles, when they got their singles, me be- Bradley, who sported single-digit jerseys ing their roommate, I’m obviously the only and were defensive captains last year. one in the room without a single,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to get a single digit, but • PB • “Not a lot of people trusted me without me I was definitely working toward just being a • PB • having a lot of experience on the field,” Tyler leader on the team. And my teammates saw said in a video interview with reporters ear- that, so I appreciate the value that they have lier this week. “Having them two trusting me in me.” meant a lot because they were the captains of our defense, they were single digits on This season, Tyler is being asked not only our team. So once people saw them trust- to make the defensive calls and lead a posi- ing me, they became more aware, like, ‘OK, tion group in which he’s the only player with I can trust this guy, too. I can understand significant Division I experience, but also to he’s going to be a captain on this team. I can be as close to perfect as possible. That’s understand he’s going to pick up a bigger why he’s arguably the team’s most import- role.’” ant defender.

Through his first four years at Temple, Tyler “The thing that I always push him on is that was often surrounded by veteran players my expectation for him on his grade sheets

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