The 2013 Temple signing class

 The Temple video people did a great job with these highlights, as usual.


Al Shrier has his briefcase.
Al Golden had his binder.
No one can deny the importance of either to Temple University.
Whatever was in the Shrier briefcase must have had been a lot, because the man transformed Temple sports news from dirt road days to the information highway.

Sign in Times Square welcomes new Temple Owls.

Golden allowed certain people to know what was in his binder, without giving away the entire playbook.
When I once had the gonads to walk up to Golden after an early signing day and ask, he said it was a blueprint on how to build a program from the ground up, from hiring coaches to designing a practice facility and, most importantly, recruiting.
New Temple head coach Matt Rhule must have gone through the binder once or twice because Rhule's first recruiting class reflects a core values' chapter from the Golden binder: "Trust the film."
Programs like Temple have to have coaches who know how to dissect and accurately grade the film because, for the most part, the rich get richer in college football.
 For those just below the top 25, they have to scratch and claw to get into the exclusive club above them.
"Trust the film."
While any running back or quarterback can look like Jim Brown or Brett Favre on film, not any running back can run for 389 yards and six touchdowns in one high school game (as Zaire Williams did) or not every quarterback can lead a team to an unbeaten season, a state title and a player of the year award (as P.J. Walker did).
Not every kicker can set a state record for career field goals (as Jim Cooper Jr. did). So while Rhule and his staff trusted the film, those players (and others) have a few facts to verify the film, too.

The complete class follows:

Jarred Alwan

Linebacker • Freshman • 6-1 • 215
Cherry Hill, N.J. • Camden Catholic HS

High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … ranked the No. 23 player in the state of New Jersey … played for coach Gil Brooks at Camden Catholic HS … participated in the North-South Game … selected Temple over Boston College and West Virginia.

Personal: Jarred Alwan … born November 30, 1993 … parents are Narci and Gamal Alwan … plans to study risk management and actuarial science in the Fox School of Business.

Matt Barone
Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-3 • 280
McKees Rocks, Pa. • Montour HS

High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … ranked 13th nationally at center … played for coach Lou Cerro at Montour HS … team went 35-6 during his prep career with a WPIAL title and a runner-up finish … participated in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … as a junior, team went 12-3 and advanced to the PIAA Class AAA state semifinals in 2011.

Personal: Matt Barone … born March 2, 1995 … Montour teammate Tyler Haddock is a fellow Temple signee.

Buddy Brown

Linebacker • Freshman • 6-2 • 205
Williamstown, N.J. • Williamstown HS

High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … played for coach Frank Fucetola at Williamstown HS … participated in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … as a junior, had 87 tackles, six sacks, and four forced fumbles … participated in the North-South Game… selected Temple over more than 20 other BCS offers, including Rutgers, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Personal: Shawn Brown, Jr. … born July 13, 1994 … parents are Tiffany and Shawn Brown, Sr. … has two sisters— Destiny (21) and Brianna (16) … father is a retired police officer … loves history … Williamstown teammate Jullian Taylor is a fellow Temple signee … considering a double major in kinesiology and business.

Brian Carter

Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-4 • 280
Harrisburg, Pa. • Harrisburg HS

High School: Two-way lineman for coach Calvin Everett at Harrisburg HS … three-year starter … 2012 first-team All-Mid-Penn Conference honoree on offense … selected to participate in the Big 33 Game … selected Temple over Connecticut.

Personal: Brian Carter … born November 7, 1994 … parents are Melody Fleming and Melvin Washington … guardian is Tracey Smith.

Jim Cooper, Jr.

Placekicker/Punter • Freshman • 6-1 • 205
Linwood, N.J. • Mainland Regional HS

High School: U.S. Army All-American … three-star prospect by Rivals.com … played for coach Robert Coffey at Mainland Regional HS but kicking coach was his father, Jim Sr. … participated in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Personal: James Cooper, Jr. … born October 19, 1994 … parents are Marie and James Cooper, Sr. … father was also a kicker at Temple (1983-86) under head coach Bruce Arians.

Dion Dawkins
Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-5 • 330
Rahway, N.J. • Rahway HS • Hargrave Military Academy

Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013.

Postgraduate: Played offensive tackle for coach Troy Davis during the 2012 season … bolstered an o-line that helped the Tigers rush for more than 150 yards per game … selected Temple over Cincinnati.

High School: Played offensive and defensive tackle for coach Gary Mobley at Rahway HS … graduated in 2012 … participated in the North-South Game.

Personal: Dion Ray Dawkins … born April 26, 1994 … parents are Lisa Dawkins and Eric Dawkins.

Sharif Finch
Linebacker • Freshman • 6-4 • 210
Henrico, Va. • Henrico HS

High School: Played linebacker for coach Roger Brookes … as a senior, had 84 tackles and five sacks … as a junior, had 161 tackles and 10.5 sacks … selected Temple over Miami and East Carolina.

Personal: Sharif Finch … born October 1, 1995… parents are Wendy Finch and Greg Finch … originally from Queens, N.Y.

Artrel Foster

Defensive Back • Freshman • 6-0 • 170
Meadville, Pa. • Meadville HS

High School: Played cornerback and running back for coach Mike Feleppa at Meadville HS … four-year varsity starter … in prep career, had 4,248 all-purpose yards, including 3,249 rushing yards on 499 carries, 37 touchdowns, 130 tackles, and six interceptions … 2012 District 10 Region 5 first-team honoree on defense, second-team honoree on offense … rushed for 101 yards in 2012 season opener against Northwestern … named one of the Top 100 juniors in Pennsylvania … 2011 District 10 Region 5 first-team honoree on defense, second-team honoree on offense … rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior and sophomore … as a junior, had three interceptions … also a 2012 first-team All-Region honoree in basketball on defense and second-team All-Region on offense … attended the 2012 Temple Football Camp … participated in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … also played basketball … selected Temple over Cincinnati and Penn State.

Personal: Artrel Jonte Foster … born June 24, 1995, in Meadville, Pa. …. parents are Tammy Foster and Art Bell … has an older sister, Asia Foster (24), and a younger brother, Armoni Foster (13) … cousin is Wade Manning, former WR/CB (1979-82) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos … considering a career in graphic design or athletic training.

Tyler Haddock

Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-2 • 290
Pittsburgh, Pa. • Montour HS

High School: Three-year letterwinner at defensive tackle for coach Lou Cerro at Montour HS … unanimous All-Parkway Conference selection as a two-way player … team went 35-6 during his prep career with a WPIAL title and a runner-up finish … in prep career, had 120 tackles and 15 sacks … as a junior, team went 12-3 and advanced to the PIAA Class AAA state semifinals in 2011 … totaled 100career tackles, 26 TFL, 15 sacks, and three fumble recoveries at the end of his junior season … also a three-year letterwinner in wrestling … went 60-29 … attended the 2012 Temple Football Camp … started in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … Honor Roll student … active with Big Brothers/Big Sisters … selected Temple over Georgia Tech and Rutgers.

Personal: Tyler James Haddock … born December 16, 1994, in Pittsburgh, Pa. … parents are Sharon Jones and John Jones (stepfather) … Montour teammate Matt Barone is a fellow Temple signee … intends to study sports management.

Todd Jeter
Defensive Back • Freshman • 6-0 • 169
Monroeville, Pa. • Gateway HS

High School: Played wide receiver and defensive back for former coach Terry Smith, now at Temple, at Gateway HS … also returned punts … 2012 All-State selection … 2012 Quad East All-Star … 2012 second-team All-Foothills Conference honoree on defense … helped the Gators to a 9-2 record in 2012 en route to a Quad East championship with a perfect 8-0 record … team advanced to the WPIAL AAAA playoffs … as a senior in 2012, had 322 receiving yards and two touchdowns while making 27 tackles and two interceptions … averaged 20 yards per catch … played for the North squad in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … selected for the 2013 Big 33 Game.

Personal: Todd Jeter … mother is Renee Boswell.

Leon Johnson
Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-6 • 300
Plainfield, N.J. • Bound Brook HS

High School: Two-way lineman for coach Dom Longo at Bound Brook HS … as a senior, had 20 tackles, including 15 solo stops … also played center for the Crusaders’ basketball team … selected Temple over South Florida and Ohio State.

Personal: Hubert Leon Johnson … prefers middle name … born June 4, 1995 … mother is Valerie Graves.

Paul Layton
Punter • Senior • 6-1 • 215
Burnt Hills, N.Y. • Ballston Lake HS • Albany

Transfer student from the University at Albany … enrolled at Temple in January 2013 … graduated in December 2012 … has one season of eligibility.

Honors: 2012, 2011, and 2010 first-team All-Northeast Conference honoree … 2012 College Football Performance FCS Punter Watch List … 2012 All-Northeast Conference Preseason Team … named the 2011 Great Danes’ Most Valuable Special Teams Player (team award) … named a 2011 ECAC Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Special Team All-Star … Northeast Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (twice) … 2010 NEC Academic Honor Roll … 2009 Capital District Student Scholarship.

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College: Three-year letterwinner at punter for head coach Bob Ford at the University at Albany … averaged 41.0 yards in career. 2012: Played in all 11 games at punter … averaged a league-best 40.4 yards per punt, including a program record 82-yarder vs. Wagner (11/3) … punted 46 times with 11 sailing 50-yards or longer … dropped 15 within the 20-yard line. 2011: Averaged 42.6 yards per punt, ranking 9th among the national leaders … booted 17 kicks of 50 or more yards. 2010: Averaged 40.1 yard per punt as a redshirt freshman … ranked 31st among the national leaders and third in the Northeast Conference … placed 14 punts inside the 20-yard line, including seven for touchbacks … booted 50-plus yard punts 12 times … tied 13th-longest punt in school history with 69-yarder in season finale against Monmouth … kicked a 63-yard punt at Duquesne and a 61-yarder at Maine. 2009: Redshirted. Selected Temple over Penn State and Notre Dame.

High School: Four-year letterwinner for coach Matt Shell at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS … 2008 Class A first-team All-State selection by New York State Sportswriters Association as a kicker … made 68 of 69 PATs and three field goals … third on all-time Section II kicking list with 77 points … averaged 42 yards per punt … all-time leader in Section II history with 172 career kicking points … 2008 Large School Offensive Player of the Year by the Albany Times Union … first-team All-Area by Daily Gazette and Troy Record … led high school to state championship game as a quarterback … passed for 1,302 yards and 14 touchdowns … rushed for 1,186 yards and 20 TDs … BHBL won second sectional title in last three years … consensus All-Area punter as a junior, when he averaged 41 yards per attempt … earned third-team All-State honors as a quarterback … career stats: 2,861 passing yards, 34 passing TDs, 2,002 rushing yards, 28 rushing TDs … four varsity awards as basketball guard … two-time team captain … National Honor Society member … Math Honor Society member … Business Honor Society member … participated in Big Brothers.

Personal: Paul K. Layton … born November 5, 1990, in Burnt Hills, N.Y. … parents are Karen and Jim Layton … has two older sisters, Jessica (32) and Lauren (26), and an older brother, Steve (30) … all siblings were college athletes … brother played tight end at Union College … Jessica played soccer at Syracuse, and Lauren played field hockey at SUNY Oswego … graduated from Albany in December 2012 with a degree in business administration… pursuing a master’s degree in marketing.

Jihaad Pretlow
Defensive Back • Freshman • 5-11 • 185
Elizabeth, N.J. • Blair Academy

Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013.

High School: Played running back for coach Jim Stone at Blair Academy … as a junior, rushed for 838 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Bucs went 7-0 overall … also made four interceptions as a defensive back … played two seasons with nationally ranked basketball team … selected Temple over Connecticut, Penn State, and Rutgers.

Personal: Jihaad Pretlow … born March 15, 1994 … parents are Bayyinah Pretlow and Malik Jackson … father played football at Rutgers in the early 1990s … played Pop Warner football with fellow Temple signee P.J. Walker.

Shane Rafter

Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-4 • 282
Moorestown, N.J. • Moorestown HS

High School: Played offensive and defensive tackle for coach Russ Horton … three-year letterwinner … 2012 All-County honoree on defense … helped the Quaker to the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs … as a junior, had 61 tackles and three sacks … the first player to commit to Temple in the 2013 class … participated in the 2011 National Underclassmen Combine … also a two-year letterwinner in track and ice hockey … selected Temple over Connecticut, Rutgers, and Syracuse.

Personal: Shane Rafter … born July 7, 1994 … parents are John and Barb Rafter … has a sister, Jamie.

Semaj Reed

Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-7 • 270
Philadelphia, Pa. • Haverford School

High School: Played defensive end for coach Michael Murphy at the Haverford School … also played basketball … selected Temple over Buffalo and Maryland.

Personal: Semaj Reed … mother is Jacqueline Reed … originally from Newburgh, N.Y. … interested in political science, criminal justice, and business.

John Rizzo
Fullback • Freshman • 6-1 • 221
Johnstown, Pa. • Richland HS

Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013.

High School: Played running back for coach Brandon Bailey at Richland HS … 2012 Tribune-Democrat first-team All-Area … as a senior, rushed for 1,769 yards and 20 touchdowns … played in the East-East Game … three-time state heavyweight wrestling champion … selected Temple over Penn State, Pitt, and Georgia Tech.

Personal: John Rizzo … born February 13, 1993 … parents are Lynda and Tony Rizzo … has six siblings— Anthony (26), Marlena (24), Frank (23), Joe (21), Christina (15), and Mario (14).

Averee Robinson

Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-1 • 285
Harrisburg, Pa. • Susquehanna Township HS • Milford Academy

Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013 … originally signed National Letter of Intent with Temple in February 2012.

Postgraduate: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … played the 2012 season for coach Bill Chaplick at Milford Academy.

High School: Played defensive tackle for coach Joe Headen at Susquehanna Township HS … 2011 Harrisburg Patriot-News first-team Defensive All-Star … as a junior, had 46 tackles and eight sacks … also wrestled … won consecutive PIAA heavyweight wrestling championship in 2012 and 2011… attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp.

Personal: Averee Robinson … born October 17, 1993 … parents are Terry and Adrian Robinson, Sr. … older brother is former Temple Owl and three-time first-team All-MAC DE Adrian Robinson (2008-11) who just finished his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Adrian Sullivan
Offensive Line • Freshman • 6-5 • 270
Babylon, N.Y. • Babylon HS • Worchester Academy

Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013.

Postgraduate: Played one season for coach Tony Johnson at Worcester Academy (Mass.) … Honor Roll student.

High School: Played offensive tackle and defensive end for coach Rick Punzone at Babylon Junior-Senior HS … team went 15-6 his last two seasons … named to the 2012 Best Players on Long Island Honor Roll for basketball.

Personal: Adrian Sullivan, Jr. … parents are Sonja Stewart and the late Adrian Sullivan, Sr. … uncle is former Temple and current San Diego Chargers assistant coach Andrew Dees.

Jullian Taylor

Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-5 • 230
Glenside, Pa. • Williamstown (N.J.) HS

High School: Versatile athlete … played defensive end, tight end, and linebacker for coach Frank Fucetola at Williamstown HS … 2012 All-State, All-Mid Athletic, All-Group 5, and All-South Jersey honoree … team went a perfect 12-0 en route to the 2012 state Class 5 championship as a senior, had 60 tackles and 14 sacks … participated in the North-South Game … volunteered for Mastery Charter School’s beautification project … selected Temple over Iowa and Virginia Tech.

Personal: Jullian Patrick Taylor … born January 30, 1995, in Philadelphia, Pa. … parents are Rufus Taylor and Rolanda Brewer … has a younger brother, Jay (8), and a younger sister, Mia (8) … father is a Temple alum who was a walk-on the men’s basketball team in 1989 … Williamstown teammate Buddy Brown is a fellow Temple signee … intends to study business.

Kiser Terry
Defensive Line • Freshman • 6-3 • 260
Feasterville, Pa. • Neshaminy HS • Milford Academy

Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2013 … originally signed National Letter of Intent with Temple in February 2012.

Postgraduate: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … played the 2012 season for coach Bill Chaplick at Milford Academy … saw action at defensive end.

High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … selected to play in the 2012 Big 33 Game and the 2011 Chesapeake Bowl … team captain … played defensive end and tight end for coach Mark Schmidt at Neshaminy HS … 2011 PA Football News Honorable Mention All-State honoree … 2011 EasternPAFootball.com Honorable Mention All-State selection … 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer first-team All-Southeastern PA pick … 2011 Suburban One first-team All-Conference honoree … 2011 Neshaminy Mr. Lineman coaches’ award recipient … 2010 second-team All-Conference selection … Redskins went 12-2 in 2010, his junior season, and advanced to the District 1 AAAA championship game … as a junior, had 47 tackles, including 40 solo stops, a team-best six sacks, and three forced fumbles.

Personal: Kiser Terry … born August 11, 1993 … mother is Betty Terry … older brother Terrell Channell lettered in football at Temple in 2006.

Jahad Thomas
Running Back • Freshman • 5-10 • 170
Elizabeth, N.J. • Elizabeth HS

High School: Ranked the fourth-best running back in the state of New Jersey … all-purpose back for coach John Quinn at Elizabeth HS … helped team to the 2012 state title … participated in the North-South Game … captained two sports as a junior … starter on the nationally ranked basketball team.

Personal: Jahad Thomas … born November 6, 1995 … parents are Connie Thomas and Eddie Roberts … Elizabeth HS teammate P.J. Walker is a fellow Temple signee.

P.J. Walker

Quarterback • Freshman • 6-1 • 200
Elizabeth, N.J. • Elizabeth HS

High School: Dual-threat quarterback for coach John Quinn at Elizabeth HS … 2012 Newark-Star Ledger State Offensive Player of the Year … helped team to the 2012 state title … as a junior, one of the state’s most accurate passers … went 120-of-189 (63.5 percent) for 2,168 yards and 18 touchdowns … in the NJSIAA sectional final against Piscataway, threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 199 yards and a touchdown … four-year starter … participated in the North-South Game … also played basketball … team reached the 2012 Group 4 final … selected Temple over Connecticut and Rutgers.

Personal: Phillip Walker, Jr. … born February 26, 1995… parents are Tamicha Drake and Phillip Walker, Sr. … Elizabeth HS teammate Jahad Thomas is a fellow Temple signee … played Pop Warner football with fellow Temple signee Jihaad Pretlow.

Zaire Williams

Running Back • Freshman • 5-11 • 188
Sicklerville, N.J. • Timber Creek HS

High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals.com … ranked by Rivals as the No. 36 overall running back and New Jersey’s 16th-best player overall … played for coach Rob Hinson … participated in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … selected Temple over West Virginia. ... While playing for Cherokee as a junior, he had 42 carries for 389 yards and six touchdowns in a game against Cherry Hill East.

Personal: Zaire Williams … born October 25, 1994 … father is Bruce Williams.

New TU coaches saving lives and laptops

Adam DiMichele will probably go to his grave in 70 years or so as the only QB to play for Temple, the Eagles and the Soul.


About a year ago at this time, Adam DiMichele was starting training camp with the Soul.
On Wednesday night, he was saving one.
DiMichele has come a long way since being the best Temple quarterback of the post-Hardin/Arians Era (sorry, Henry Burris) and the journey has taken him full circle back as an Owl graduate assistant. From being the first Temple quarterback to ever throw a touchdown pass for the Philadelphia Eagles (to a guy named Gibson, no less), to the Canadian Football League, to the MVP of the Erie (Pa.) arena team, to the Soul and now back to Temple.
On the way to class on Wednesday night, DiMichele came across a Temple senior in distress.
"I think I just saved a life," DiMichele posted on his Facebook page.


Matt Rhule didn't save a life, but he did save a laptop this morning.

Pressed for details from his friends, he explained:
"I was walking to class tonight, and was on the phone with my brother Dom," he said. "So I come to the red light and was waiting for it to change so I could cross.
"I look to my left and there's a guy laying on his back on the steps. Everyone just walks by him ...  I looked a little closer and realized he was unconscious. I tried to wake him up by basically screaming at him.
"I got my phone out and called 911. (I) felt like I knew exactly what to say and where I was but I didnt have a clue. Another bystander came over to me and we both talked about what we needed to do. He realized the guy was having some sort of convulsions or something (mind you, I am no doctor at all)  but he said that the guy was basically throwing up while laying down and that we needed to sit him up before he choked on his own (volmit).

Maybe that should be the new slogan for 2013: "Temple Football. Recruiting fans, one at a time."

"My heart was racing, I never really saw anything like this in person, or helped anyone like this before  so we sat him up a bit, made sure to try and be as cautious and safe as possible. Well, he ended up immediately throwing up. He came back around a few minutes later and didn't remember too much at all.
"He remembered going to work out, and not feeling good on his walk home so he sat down and rested, and the next thing he remembers is us waking him up. I don't know if  I necessarily saved his life or what not but he was very thankful for me helping him."
DiMichele later said it was an experience he'll never forget.
"It was crazy," he said. "I was nervous, but I'm glad I made the decision to help him when I did."
Fortunately, the EMAs arrived and told DiMichele he did the right thing and they took the senior to the hospital and everything turned out to be just fine.
As an aside, DiMichele may have recruited another fanny for the Lincoln Financial Field seats this fall.
"He told me he would certainly come to some Temple football games this fall," DiMichele wrote.
This morning, head coach Matt Rhule chased down a guy at the airport and gave him back a laptop the man left at security. Hopefully, Rhule had time to give a season-ticket sales' pitch as well. Either way, both coach DiMichele and coach Rhule generated some good Karma the past couple of days and at least two more fans.
Maybe that should be the new slogan for 2013:
"Temple Football. Recruiting fans, one at a time."

Temple as the dream school

You can erase that "WVU commit" line from the tape above for Zaire Williams (video now works in internet explorer, but not Google Crome).

In the past three months, we've heard the quote "Temple is my dream school" from at least three incoming recruits.
I've heard it from one basketball recruit, Josh Brown, and at least two football recruits, first-team All-American kicker Jim Cooper, Jr. and Atlantic City wide receiver Dayshawn Reynolds.
I don't know if its the dream school of Timber Creek three-star running back Zaire Williams, but it certainly looks that way after he flipped his commitment from West Virginia to Temple this morning.

“I don’t know why I started liking Temple but that’s been my dream school forever. I can’t even explain it.”
_Dayshawn Reynolds 

  That might surprise some people, but not me.
Heck, Temple was MY dream school some 40 years ago and I told myself as an 8-year-old kid that  if I ever had a chance to make that happen, I would.
So I did.
When you think of Temple with its unique recruiting advantages, it should not be surprising.
Temple is in the nation's fourth-largest market and within easy five-hour driving distance from 46 percent of the nation's population, which as Mitt Romney can tell you, is nearly half of the nation's football talent.
You can go to school at Temple if you want to be away from home, but close enough that the family can get to more than half of your games.
Plus, surveys have shown over the past 10 years that the general student population wants an "urban" college experience over a "rural" one and Temple is one of the few big-city schools that plays big-time college football. Football players are also part of the general student population and generally want the same thing.

'It's a cool coincidence that my dad went to Temple, but he could have gone to Florida, USC or Alabama and I'd still be going to Temple. I know that's where I want to be.'
_ Jim Cooper Jr.

So urban, check.
Easy driving distance for family, check.
Away from home? Just far enough, check.
A place that regularly puts its players in the Super Bowl? Check.
That makes it a dream destination for a lot of players.
I can remember what made it my dream school because the Temple games were on TV every Saturday night on Channel 17 with Al Meltzer doing the play-by-play and the late Charley Swift doing the color.
I became a fan immediately and begged my dad for the tokens to take three buses to get up to Mt. Airy to see the games.
When Wayne Hardin took over as Temple coach, I made the trek down to his McGonigle Hall office to interview him for the Raiderscope, the Archbishop Ryan student newspaper. I watched as Hardin took Temple from a team that was beating the Bucknells of the world to beating the West Virginias and Syracuses on a regular basis.
The other parts of Temple, from founder Russell Conwell's "Acres of Diamonds" story, the top 10 journalism school, the nationally prominent basketball program, the five-day-a-week Temple News, only made me love it more.
Temple is a dream school because it offers opportunities for those dreams to be realized.
No one can tell you that more than Randy Grossman, a tight end who has three Super Bowl rings.

'I've always loved Temple.'
_ Averee Robinson

Dan Klecko, a WIP radio guy who played football at Temple, used his opportunity to get two Super Bowl rings as a player for different teams (Colts, Patriots).
Bernard Pierce, a running back from the Baltimore Ravens, has that same opportunity this Sunday to achieve a dream. Temple gave it to him.
All three, along with many others in different fields, have proven that if you put in the work at Temple, there are dreams to be realized down the line.
Dream school?
I think that's what Russell Conwell had in mind from the beginning.

Philly and Boston: Recruiting tale of two cities

Players like Arkum Wadley (N.J.) have helped Matt Rhule jump over Steve Addazio in recruiting.

Today's guilty pleasure is a story of two cities, Philadelphia and Boston.
In one, a school is holding on to a group of pretty solid recruits, despite losing its head coach during the first week of December.
In another, a new coach is scrambling for recruits and, as of Tuesday, did not land a single new commitment despite being on the job for over a month.
One of the schools had to wait for a guy coming off a long NFL season.
The other guy, named a "National Recruiter of the Year" (NROY) three times, jumped right in and hit the ground running.
So it figures the NROY is beating the NFL guy, right?
Think again.
Matt Rhule, the NFL guy, pretty much kept most of his commitments in Philadelphia for Temple University.
Heck, he even made a phone call to a recruit three hours before his New York Giants were scheduled to play in Atlanta.
Steve Addazio, the NROY guy, had yet to land his first commit for Boston College as of Tuesday.
It's OK not to suppress that guilty smile.
It appears to be a solid class of guys who can help right away. I'm penciling in Mainland (N.J.) kicker Jim Cooper already as a starter for next season. New Jersey player of the year P.J. Walker is the quarterback of the future, starting no later than 2014, and running back Jihaad Pretlow's junior highlights can be found here.
In the chart below, compiled by loyal TFF reader Steve Sipe (yes, the brother of Berlin attorney Brian Sipe),  Temple has only lost one commit so far, Clearwater tight end A.J. Sattinger.
As always, I hesitate to publish charts because this two-week period before signing day can be tricky but this gives Temple fans a general idea of how things are going and they are going pretty well.
I'd like to see a second quarterback in this class since all three Temple top quarterbacks are graduating at the end of the 2013 season. A pass rusher with about 80 sacks, preferably a ready-to-go JC one, would be a nice addition to bringing in DTs like Averee Robinson and Tyler Haddock-Jones (only Haddock fit on the google spreadsheet).
"Other than that" as sports talk caller Jose from Norristown might say, Temple fans should be all set for a nice signing night film session party. (Or a day after film session party in Philly, New York or Scranton.)

Haddonfield (N.J.) WR Zach Grant should also appear on this list., as should Arkum Wadley, whose video appears at the top.

In between finishing up his duties as an assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants, Rhule had to   keep a diverse group of Addazio recruits in the fold and, for the most part, it appears that he's done that.
On the other hand, Daz is having trouble bringing guys north to Boston.
I must give Addazio some credit, though, for not "stealing" Temple recruits. The thought crossed my mind maybe, oh, five minutes after I heard Daz was leaving Temple.
So he's got to be given points for restraint.
At least so far.
And, in the recruiting battle between the two, it looks like this kid Rhule has NROY potential.

Sipe has this list of guys either coming in or recent visits. Moody is off the table (Pitt commit)

Final month boosts Owls into ']['op spot

The 2012 Temple football recruiting class.

Kevin Newsome was No. 2 PSU QB in 2009.

Well, there were the 2010 baseball Giants and the 1993 Phillies and, now, you can put the 2012 Temple football Owls into that elite group.
All three teams went from worst to first in a very short time.
For the two baseball teams, we're talking about last-place to first-place finishes in pennant races within a 365-day period.
For our beloved football Owls, we're talking about being ranked dead last in MAC recruiting (by Scout.com) as late as November to being ranked No. 1 (by both Scout and Rivals.com).
From my money, give me Temple's performance in football as being the most impressive.
Steve Addazio carried the baton to the finish line to grab gold like Carl Lewis in the Olympic 400-meter relay race, getting the No. 7 all-purpose running back in the nation in Jamie Gilmore and Penn State transfer Kevin Newsome (once rated the No. 10 overall recruit in the nation) in the final days.
The last Penn State quarterback who transferred to Temple, Steve Joachim, merely won the Maxwell Trophy emblematic of college football's best player (1974). Here is a trip into the Newsome "way back" machine, if you consider Dec. of 2008 way back.

Robinson: I've always loved Temple.

Throw in Archbishop Wood defensive back Nate Smith, a West Virginia decommit that we talked about here on Saturday night, and the Owls moved to the top with bullet-like speed.
Now I don't put too much emphasis on stars because they are skewed in favor of the big-conference teams but this is the most impressive fact about the current Temple Owl group:
Nineteen (yes, 19) of the 28 turned down offers (not just interest) by BCS schools to attend Temple.
That, my friends, is how you win championships and I expect this group will join the current Owls in winning multiple titles, whether it is in the MAC or the Big East or somewhere else.
This sent me scouring over the recruiting guides I got from attending Al Golden signing days and the highest number of definite BCS turn downs (not including the vague notion of interest) was Al Golden's second recruiting class and that was a harvest of nine.
I'm not sure how Addazio was able to quantify this as "Temple's best recruiting class ever" which he did, but Daz can certainly make a strong argument that this is better than any Golden recruiting class. Best ever might be a little strong, since Temple recruiting classes brought in by Wayne Hardin and Bruce Arians were competing against a high BCS schedule, not one weighed down by eight MAC games a season.

Still, the high school deeds of the playing coming into Temple University take a back seat to no era.
Averee Robinson was 43-0 as a state championship wrestler during his junior year but said "truth be told, I really enjoy football more" and "I've always loved Temple." Do you love this kid or what? With that kind of attitude, it won't be long before he comes out from under brother Adrian's shadow. He's built low to the ground (6-1, 290) but nobody has the kind of leverage he does.
Adrian's number at Temple was 43, the same number of wins Averee had in wrestling last year and the same number of touchdowns Gilmore scored.

Herbin ran away from
the competition in N.J.

Khalif Herbin also scored 36 rushing touchdowns against outstanding competition and averaged a sick 13.1 yards a carry from the line of scrimmage, often while taking off the entire second half because his Montclair (N.J.) team was benefiting from the Mercy Rule. I know they have him listed as a slot receiver, but I'd really like to see Daz give Herbin a shot at running back. Hey, if it worked for 5-5, 150-pound Matty Brown it will work for 5-7, 170-pound Herbin.
This story calls Herbin "arguably the most electrifying player in the state" but I did not get a single argument when I asked a North Jersey colleague who would be the other part of that argument.
"Nobody," he said. "I guess the writer just wanted to use the word arguably but, honestly, there was no close second."
Truth be told, to borrow a phrase from Averee Robinson.


For a complete list of bios and photos click here:

Recruiting heads into the home stretch

Khalif Herbin is about two inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than Matty Brown. Otherwise, the two games are very similar as you can see here.




Khalif Herbin's 2011 rushing stats

College football has evolved in the last 20 years in a lot of ways I'm not all that excited about.
One of the ways is the BCS and the power that group of schools have over the other half of the schools who attempt to play FBS football.
It's not fair when six conferences get automatic bids into BCS games while the conferences on the outside looking in have to go without a loss even to be considered for a seat at the table.
Not fair at all.
It's particularly disconcerning that one of the few "good" rules curtailing that kind of power was overturned two years ago surrounding  bowl games. Back then, in the good old days, a 6-6 BCS team could not be considered for a bowl over a 7-5 team, no matter what conference you come from. Likewise, a 7-5 team over an 8-4 team and so on and so forth.
The BCS schools, naturally, got together to overturn that rule.
Not fair again.
Recruiting has evolved pretty much the same way.
Non-BCS staffs can work their asses off to assemble a recruiting class to be proud of, only to see the BCS vultures swipe in at the last minute and snatch some of their best recruits away.
Not fair again, but get the trend here?
So I take recruiting with a very large grain (make that boulder) of salt when it comes to Temple football.

As excited as I was for some of Al Golden's classes, I learned to wait until the ink is dry on the dotted line before assessing the harvest.
Golden spent five years here pushing that rock uphill and he did a pretty darn good job, even though Addazio flattened him with it when he "stole" Tyler Murphy away from Temple.
In those days, Addazio was pushing the rock downhill as Florida's top recruiter.
The closest I ever came to contacting a recruit came was when a top-flight one was considering Temple three years ago.
I heard he committed, but I wanted to make sure so I dashed off an email to a sports writer I knew in that state. I'll call him Doug because that's his name.
"Geez, his father was a boyhood friend of mine," Doug said, "why don't you ask him? Here's his phone number and his email."
"You sure it's OK?"
"Yeah, he's a good guy and a  straight-shooter."
My colleague Doug was right and the kid did sign at Temple after all and the father turned out to be a good guy from the get-go.
Still is.
That was the closest I came and still it didn't feel right, so I stay out of the process altogether now.
I believe all fans should do likewise, even in these days of instantaneous social media.
Generally speaking, though, I'll be a little more excited to see a tailback who can hit the home run like Bernard Pierce or a pass rusher who can put a quarterback on his ass like Adrian Robinson than I would recruits at, say, other positions.
That's the kind of immediate help Temple needs now.
Temple's got maybe the best quarterback in the league in Chris Coyer and the best tailback in Matty Brown, but I see a huge dropoff behind Brown that needs to be addressed with this class. If Montrell Dobbs or Khalif Herbin can get eligible and play right away, it has been addressed. If not, another home run hitter needs to be brought into the fold.
When it comes to recruiting individual players, I'm of the firm belief that  fans should be seen and not heard.
Not only does it border on NCAA violations, it's a big waste of time until Feb. 1.
That's the day when the faxes arrive with the signatures on the dotted line.
That's when I get excited.
The way the field is tilted so heavily against the non-BCS schools, the only thing you can do is root for Steve Addazio and company to bring in the best class possible.
Pushing that boulder uphill after years of rolling it downhill is a hard-enough task.

Temple signing class bios (with videos)

The 2011 Class of Temple Football Owls

Only time will tell if Juice Granger becomes TU's Cam Newton

Watching Steve Addazio today he used a word that I've used to describe quarterbacks for years.
It.
"What's it?" Addazio said. "I can't describe it, but I know it. Juice has it."
Addazio was talking about new quarterback recruit Clinton "Juice" Granger.
The new Temple head coach was referring to it the way I've been describing it for years in referencing quarterbacks.
It.
You just know if quarterbacks have it or don't.
It.
You can throw me all the stats in the world about how this quarterback ranks against that quarterback in terms of yards, touchdowns, etc., but "it" is the most important factor to me.
It is a hodgepodge of ingredients, that's the best way I can put, err, it.
Overlapping skills like moxie, mobility,  leadership, intelligence, will to win, toughness, guts, courage, clutchness=it.
I know who has it.
You probably know who has it.
Walter Washington had it.
Then Adam DiMichele had it.
Vaughn Charlton never had it, nor did Chester Stewart.
(Heck, I never saw anything on their high school film that ever led me to believe either one had it so I was not surprised once they got here that they struggled so mightilty to put points on the scoreboard.)
There's not a big enough body of work to determine if Mike Gerardi or Chris Coyer have it.
I'll tell you what. Gerardi had "it" against Buffalo, but he didn't have it against the fake Miami.
Three points?
That's damning. That's not it.
What is it John Chaney once said?
"If you tell me you don't love me once, you are done."
The rule on it is "if you have it sometimes and not others, you really don't have it."
Anything less is an "it" violation.
DiMichele, to me, had it all the time. So did Matty Baker, Tim Riordan, Walter Washington, Brian Broomell and Doug Shobert.
Tink Murphy never had it.
Give me a Temple quarterback with "it" and we're in business.
I loved Al Golden for a lot of things, but not for his understanding of it.
Don't get me wrong. Golden was a great CEO and wonderful leader at Temple, but he was not God.
He had no clue what "it" was.
Never once did Golden bring up the "it" factor in any press conference or Signing Day function.
Throwing Charlton out there and Stewart out there game after game when Golden could have recruited a better JUCO was proof Golden never understood "it."
God, if you had Adam DiMichele once, had do you throw the fanbase Charlton and Stewart without getting a big-time JUCO All-American to push them?
That was the most encouraging thing about Wednesday's press conference.
If a coach understands what "it" is, then I'm on board.
I don't really care if he can express a precise definition of it because I can't either.
So if Juice has it and Jalen Fitzpatrick has it, we're in business because the quarterback position is that important.
There's some Juice in this recruiting class and it doesn't stop with the quarterback position.
Owlsports.com did a great job of introducing the recruits so I will provide that link here for those you want to delve into it further.
What follows is the Cliff Notes' version with my analysis at the end:



Robbie Anderson

 Robbie Anderson, WR, 6-3 180, Davie, Fla. • South Plantation HS _ High School: Three-year letterwinner that played wide receiver and safety for coach Doug Gatewood at South Plantation HS … also returned kicks … finished prep career with 42 receptions for 545 yards and six touchdowns … as a junior, had 39 receptions for 477 yards and six touchdowns … selected Temple over Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Marshall.
TFF ANALYSIS: Owlsports doesn't mention Western Michigan, which had Anderson as committed as late as Tuesday of this week. According to this story, he assured a Western Michigan newspaper as late as Feb. 1 that he would honor his WMU commitment. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? I think he could be moved to safety, an area of need for the Owls.
Naniyah Bah, WR • Freshman • 6-2 • 184, Clinton, Conn. • The Morgan School (pronounced NINE-ee baah) _ Played wide receiver and defensive back for coach Mike Eagle at The Morgan School … as a senior, had 49 receptions for 724 receiving yards and seven touchdowns … also had 29 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown at running back … had 29 tackles and two interceptions at defensive back … 2009 All-Pequot League honoree.
TFF: Love the speed and 1,000-yard history as a rusher, which shows me his RAC (run-after-catch) ability, which would make him suitable for immediate playing time in Addazio's spread offense. Will be in the mix for receiver immediately.
Antonio Belt, WR • Freshman • 6-0 • 170, Forestville, Md. • Forestville Military Academy • Fork Union Military Academy  _ Belt played wide receiver for coach John Shuman during the 2010 season at Fork Union … helped the Cadets to a 6-2 record … fellow FUMA teammates Nate Smith and Hershey Walton are Temple signees.
High School: Three-star prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com … played quarterback, wide receiver, and cornerback for coach Charles Harley at Forestville Military Academy … as a senior, rushed for 414 yards, had 448 yards passing, and had 403 receiving yards and three touchdowns … as a junior, had 11 touchdown receptions … as a sophomore, had four touchdowns and returned two interceptions … also played basketball.
TFF: Athleticism and the year of maturity at Fork Union puts him in the mix immediately.

Brandon Chudnoff

Brandon Chudnoff, LB • Freshman • 6-2 • 228, Philadelphia, Pa. • George Washington HS _ High School: Played tight end and defensive end for coach Ron Cohen at George Washington HS … rated the 33rd best player in Pennsylvania in the Class of 2011by Rivals.com … 2010 Mini Max Award winner by the Maxwell Football Club … 2010 Associated Press second-team Class AAAA All-State honoree as a senior … 2010 Pennsylvania Sportswriters' second-team Class AAAA All-State honoree … 2010 Philadelphia Inquirer first-team defense All-Southeastern Pennsylvania pick … 2010 All-City honoree … 2010 Public League AAAA Gold Defense All-Star … All-Combine second-team selection at the U.S. Army All-American Combine … team won three consecutive Public League championships … registered 450 tackles and 18 sacks during prep career … participated in the 2010 Chesapeake Bowl … 2009 first-team coaches' All-Public League selection … 2009 Philadelphia Daily News third-team All-City pick … as a junior, had 10 sacks and 11 receptions for 119 yards and three touchdowns … National Honor Society member … 2007-08-09 Top Achiever Award recipient from the Philadelphia Eagles … also participated in swimming and lacrosse … attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp … high school teammate Daquan Cooper is a fellow Temple signee.
TFF: Workout freak who is versatile enough to play either DE or OLB. With an injury at either position, could see immediate playing time. Must improve as a pass rusher.


Daquan Cooper, WR • Freshman • 5-10 • 161, Philadelphia, Pa. • George Washington HS _ (pronounced DAY-qwahn) _ High School: Two-way athlete for coach Ron Cohen at George Washington HS … 2010 Associated Press second-team Class AAAA All-State honoree as a senior … 2010 Pennsylvania Sportswriters' second-team Class AAAA All-State honoree … 2010 Public League AAAA Gold Offense All-Star … played wide receiver and defensive back … also returned punts and kickoffs … as a senior, had 24 receptions for 426 yards and six touchdowns … participated in the 2010 Chesapeake Bowl … … attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp … high school teammate Brandon Chudnoff is a fellow Temple signee.
TFF: Immediate candidate to be Temple's next great punter returner after Delano Green.

Malcolm Eugene

Malcolm Eugene, WR • Junior • 6-4 • 205  _ Huntington, N.Y. • Elwood-John Glenn HS • ASA College _
Enrolled at Temple in January … has three seasons to play two … originally signed a National Letter of Intent with Hofstra in February 2009.

Junior College: A 2010 JUCO All-American … three-star prospect by Rivals.com … played two seasons at Brooklyn's ASA College for coach Dennis Orlando … 2010 first-team All-Conference honoree … helped team to back-to-back 7-3 records … as a sophomore in 2010, had 49 receptions for 898 yards and eight touchdowns … participated in the 2010 Triumphant Sports Junior College All-American game ... as a freshman in 2009, had 21 receptions for 335 yards and five touchdowns … ASA teammate Jerry Watters is also a Temple Owl.

TFF: Seldom drops a ball, much like current Owl  Rod Streeter. Could be a great compliment to Streeter at the other end.

Jalen Fitzpatrick

Jalen  Fitzpatrick, QB • Freshman • 5-11 • 180, Harrisburg, Pa. • Harrisburg HS _ High School: Played quarterback for coach George Chaump at Harrisburg HS … 2010 Pennsylvania Sportswriters' Class AAAA first-team All-State quarterback … 2010 first-team Harrisburg Patriot-News All-Star … selected to play in the 2011 Pennsylvania Big 33 game … finished prep career with 3,075 yards passing and 28 touchdowns while rushing for 1,675 yards and 16 TDs … helped Harrisburg to a 9-3 overall record and a perfect 6-0 conference record as a senior in 2010… as a senior, went 98-of-179 for 1,743 yards and 17 touchdowns … also rushed for 1,116 yards … also played basketball.

TFF: If this kid was 6-2, not 5-10, he'd be recruited by every SEC school. Don't count him out in the QB mix, because he moves around to see open receivers downfield. I think Addazio will give him a shot to dazzle at QB first.
Clinton Granger, QB • Sophomore • 6-3 • 235, Philadelphia, Pa. • George Washington HS • Pierce College _ Junior College: Played quarterback for coach Efrain Martinez at Pierce College in Los Angeles … 2010 second-team All-Pacific Conference selection … in 2010, passed for 1,176 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 200 yards and five touchdowns … redshirted as a true freshman … selected Temple over Florida International, Minnesota, and North Texas.

TFF: I hate (actually love) to say this, but this kid reminds me of Cam Newton in everything he does. He's got the ability to feel the rush and either get rid of the ball or take it upfield for positive yardage. Temple hasn't had that since 2008.

Kenneth Harper, SS • Freshman • 6-0 • 215, Gainesville, Fla. • Buchholz HS _ High School: Played fullback and safety for coach Jay Godwin at Buchholz HS … participated in the 2010 Orlando Nike Combine, earning All-Combine honors as an athlete … two-time first-team Gainesville Sun All-Area honoree … as a senior, had 133 tackles, including 81 solos, two interceptions, and 10 break-ups … as a junior, rushed 32 times for 240 yards and had 20 receptions for 333 yards … also had 91 tackles, including 63 solo takedowns, five TFL, 10 break-ups, and two interceptions… also played basketball … Buchholz teammate TE Louis Addazio plays at Syracuse.
TFF: An incredibly impressive playmaker who I predict has the best chance to becoming a true freshman starter from this class (Juice Granger is a close second). Smart, tough.

Tyron Harris

Tyron Harris, WR • Junior • 6-3 • 195, Lindenwold, N.J. • Lindenwold HS • Pierce College (Calif.) _ 
Junior College: Played two seasons for coach Efrain Martinez at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. … received his associate's degree in December 2010 … helped the Bulls to an 8-3 record en route to a win in the American Championship Bowl … as a sophomore in 2010, had 38 receptions for 708 yards and six touchdowns while playing all 11 games ... 2009 second-team All-Conference honoree … as a freshman, had 32 receptions for 603 yards and seven touchdowns … participated in the Elite Combine as a junior … became the second Division I-A player to come out of Lindenwold HS, joining Dell Robinson who played at Navy … attended the 2008 Temple Football Camp … selected Temple over Hawaii, New Mexico State, and Wisconsin.
TFF: His symbiotic relationship with Juice Granger gives him a great shot to get on the field often.

Chris Hutton with the stiff arm

Chris Hutton, DB • Freshman • 5-10 • 185, Sicklerville, N.J. • Paul VI HS _ High School: Played wide receiver and cornerback for coach John Doherty at Paul VI HS … as a senior, had 32 tackles, four interceptions, and a sack to help Paul VI finish 8-2 overall and win the West Jersey Football League Constitution Division title … offensively, had 14 receptions for 301 yards and two touchdowns … had six tackles in the title-clinching victory over Camden Catholic … attended the 2010 Nike Combine … … attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp … selected Temple over Rutgers.
TFF: Tremendous bloodlines (brothers played at Temple and Notre Dame) means he's got a chance to be horse for us in the defensive backfield. Call him Smarty Jones.
Cory Johnson, DT • Freshman • 6-3 • 285, Chambersburg, Pa. • Chambersburg Area HS _  High School: Played for coach Mark Saunders at Chambersburg Area HS … moved from defensive end to tackle as a senior 2010 second-team All-Conference selection … 2010 first-team Public Opinion Online All-Star … as a senior, had 101 tackles, 24 TFL, and three sacks … had a season-high 18 tackles against Central Dauphin … attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp … also participated in track and field … finished eighth in the shot put at the 2010 PIAA Track and Field Championships.
TFF: Likely to be redshirted due to depth at DT.

Eric Lofton, OL • Freshman • 6-5 • 280, Lumberton, N.J. • Rancocas Valley HS  _ High School: Played tight end and offensive tackle for coach Dan Haussman at Rancocas Valley HS … as a senior, had two receptions for 21 yards … also wrestled at heavyweight for the Red Devils … also recruited by Villanova and Rutgers.

TFF: Outstanding athlete who will eventually work his way into the OT rotation, but may need a redshirt year.
Praise Martin-Oguike, LB • Freshman • 6-1 • 220, Sewaren, N.J. • Woodbridge HS _ (pronounced oh-GEEK-way) _ High School: Played linebacker and tight end for coach Brian Russo at Woodbridge HS … … as a senior, had 112 tackles and 12 sacks … as a junior, had 90 tackles, two sacks, two blocked punts, and a blocked field goal … also participated in track and basketball … attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp … also recruited by Rutgers, Connecticut, and Cincinnati.

TFF: This kid reminds me of Junior Galette, who made the Saints, and you know what he did his first year, which was start and make the greatest punt block in Temple history. I would not be surprised to see OH GEEK WAY do the same.


Jacob Quinn, OL • Freshman • 6-5 • 245, Wilmington, Del. • St. Mark's HS
 _ High School: Team captain … played offensive and defensive tackle for coach John Wilson at St. Mark's HS … 2010 Delaware High School State Lineman of the Year … 2010 and 2009 first-team All-State honoree … helped the Spartans to a perfect 12-0 record as a senior in 2010 en route to the state championship … three-year starter … as a senior, had 66 tackles and nine sacks ... 2009 first-team All-Conference honoree for offense line … selected to the 2009 Football Leadership Council … played right tackle as a sophomore … attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp … also recruited by Delaware and Maryland.

TFF: I like his versatility in that he can move to either side of the ball. Certainly has the talent to play right away.

Spencer Reid shows moves his dad doesn't have.

Spencer Reid, RB • Freshman • 5-10 • 205, Villanova, Pa. • Harriton HS _ High School: Played running back and linebacker for coach Matt Barr as a senior at Harriton HS … 2010 second-team All-Main Line honoree … played tailback at St. Joseph's Prep as a sophomore and junior … as a junior, finished as the second-leading rusher for the Hawks with 416 yards and six touchdowns on 65 carries while playing in only six games … averaged 6.4 yards per carry and over 69 yards per game … had a career game to remember against Archbishop Ryan, running for 176 yards and scoring four touchdowns … attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp.

TFF: Love the kid, but I don't get this scholarship on anything but a PR level. Instead of having a second-team All-Central League running back who runs a 4.5, Daz could have had a three-time first-team all-state running back who runs a 4.4.-40 (Ryan Brumfield), a kid who is the same size, the same great student, the same great person. That kid is going to kill us for four years at Eastern Michigan. I hope Spencer Reid reminds us all of Bernard Pierce but, sadly, I don't think so. Why not offer both Brumfield, who wanted to be here, and Spencer Reid? Prove me wrong, Spencer. I'll be rooting for you. (Really.) Reid's ceiling (the best he can be) is a Mark Bright, who was pretty good. Brumfield's ceiling is Paul Palmer, who was a lot better.
Daz did not do his homework here.



Raysean Richardson is a pain in the neck to opposing QBs.

 Raysean Richardson, LB • Freshman • 6-1 • 210, Chesapeake, Va. • Oscar Smith HS _ High School: Four-year starter at outside linebacker for coach Rich Morgan at Oscar Smith HS … two-time All-Tidewater selection … 2010 Southeastern District Defensive Player of the Year … team went 52-4 during his prep career … finished with 300 career tackles … as a senior, had 106 tackles and eight sacks … selected Temple over Connecticut, Illinois, and Syracuse.

TFF: Here's a great story on Raysean, who played at a high level of football in Virginia. Outside chance of being an immediate starter or at least making the two-deep.

Nate Smith, LB • Freshman • 6-0 • 220, Highland Park, N.J. • Highland Park HS • Fork Union Military Academy _ Postgraduate: Played running back and linebacker for coach John Shuman during the 2010 season at Fork Union … helped the Cadets to a 6-2 record … fellow FUMA teammates Antonio Belt and Hershey Walton are Temple signees.
High School: Four-time All-Division honoree … 2009 Player of the Year … three-time All-State, three-time All-GMC Conference and three-time All-Area honoree … 2009 first-team coaches' All-Public League selection … four-year letterwinner for coach Rich McGlynn at Highland Park HS … team won four divisional championships and played in the 2009 state championship game … during his prep career, recorded a school record 378 tackles, including 131 as a senior … rushed for more than 3,700 yards … as a senior, rushed for 2,442 yards and 32 touchdowns … as a junior, had 92 tackles, including 14 TFL … played in the North/South All-Star game … also a three-year letterwinner in basketball … lettered in track and field … attended the 2009 Temple Football Camp.


TFF: Great running back, great linebacker. Must impress upon him the team's dire need at running back this year. Would provide a great insurance policy should Bernard Pierce go down with an injury, a policy the Owls could not purchase last season. Potential to be immediate starter on either side of the ball. My pick for Best of the Class.
Hershey Walton, OL • Freshman • 6-4 • 320, Reading, Pa. • Reading HS • Fork Union Military Academy _
Enrolled at Temple in January … originally signed a National Letter of Intent with Temple in February 2010.
Postgraduate: Played defensive tackle for coach John Shuman during the 2010 season at Fork Union … helped the Cadets to a 6-2 record … fellow FUMA teammates Antonio Belt and Nate Smith are Temple signees.
High School: Played offensive line and defensive line for coach Preston McKnight at Reading HS … 2009 first-team All-Lancaster Lebanon League honoree on offense and defense … participated in the East-West Berks Senior Voices All-Star game and the Pennsylvania Bowl … 2009 Philadelphia Eagles Top Achiever Award recipient … high school teammate was Owl Darryl Pringle … also played basketball … participated in track and field … 2010 Berks County All-Division honoree in track … 2010 Andy Stopper Memorial Award recipient … attended the 2009 Temple Football Camp.


TFF: Could project on two-deep chart.

Khadeem Wilson, DE • Freshman • 6-3 • 240, Jersey City, N.J. • St. Anthony's HS  _ High School: Played tight end and defensive end for coach Sean Fallon at St. Anthony's HS … attended St. Anthony's as a freshman, sophomore, and senior … transferred to Marist in Jersey City for junior year … 2009 first-team All-North Jersey Tri-County Conference honoree on both offense and defense … as a junior, had 36 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown … attended the 2010 Temple Football Camp … also played basketball.
TFF: Redshirt candidate.

Postscript: I hope coach Daz will be able to offer SS Desmond Blue and RB Jared Williams of Bradenton Southeast to really put a nice tidy blue ribbon on this class.
Both  have a chance to start immediately and Temple showed great interest in both earlier this month.
I hope the interest is still there because Blue and Williams would be good for Temple and Temple would be good for Blue and Williams.