Temple's season opener at Notre Dame on Aug. 31 will kick off at 3:30 and be televised nationally on NBC.
The Owls home opener is Saturday, Sept. 7 against Houston at the Linc.
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Chris Coyer heads into Saturday’s Cherry and White spring game as Temple’s starting fullback.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound fifth-year senior was expected to battle Juice Granger for the starting quarterback spot. However, Connor Reilly was promoted from fourth string to starter after his arm strength impressed the new coaching staff this spring. As a result, Coyer, who dropped to the fourth string quarterback, starting taking snaps at other positions.
Coyer was named Temple's starting quarterback with four games left in 2011. He capped that season by being named the offensive MVP of the New Mexico Bowl. But the Virginia native passed for just 946 yards in last season's first nine games. He lost his starting spot to Granger in Week 10.
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
This weekend, Gateway High School juniors Brenon Thrift and Delvon Randall became Temple's second and third football commitments for the Class of 2014. The teammates join St. Peter's Prep junior Shamir Bearfield, who committed on April 3.
Thrift, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound outside linebacker/defensive end, chose Temple over a scholarship offers from West Virginia and Pittsburgh. He finished with 49 tackles and seven sacks last season.
Randall is a 6-foot, 190-pounder, who the Owls recruited as an athlete. He picked Temple over Bowling Green, Toledo and Akron. He had 26 receptions for 478 yards and five scores last season. He also had an interception.
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Chris Coyer is still listed as a quarterback.
Just don’t be surprised to see the Temple fifth-year senior line up at tight end/h-back during certain situations this upcoming season. That’s what happened during Tuesday’s spring practice at Edberg-Olson Hall. And the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was impressive, catching two touchdown passes.
However, Owls coach Matt Rhule told reporters that Coyer is still a quarterback. With Connor Reilly listed as the first-stringer, Temple wants to try Coyer at other offensive positions. In other words, the Owls are trying to find ways to get one of their best athletes on the field no matter what.
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Mark Williams, a senior power forward at Montrose Christian (Md.), gave a verbal commitment to play basketball at Temple Monday night.
The 6-foot-8, 238-pounder chose the Owls over scholarship offers from Vanderbilt and Kent State. He averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds while leading Montrose in three-point shooting this season.
Williams becomes the third member of Temple’s 2013 recruiting class, joining signed players Josh Brown (St Anthony, NJ) and Kyle Green (Camden Catholic). Williams can sign his binding national letter of intent on Wednesday.
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Temple senior Khalif Wyatt was the named the Big Five player of the year on Monday.On the same day, La Salle's John Giannini was named the Big Five coach of the year, while Villanova freshman Ryan Arcidiacono received rookie-of-the-year honors.Wyatt's latest honor shouldn't come as a surprise.The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder is an honorable-mentional all-American and the Atlantic Ten Conference player of the year. He was also named an all-district selection by both the USBWA and NABC.Wyatt averaged a Big 5 leading 20.5 points and scored 30 or more points on seven occasions this season. The Norristown native concluded his career with back-to-back 31-point performances in the second and third round of the NCAA tournament.La Salle's Ramon Galloway and Tyreek Duren and Villanova's JayVaughn Pinkston and St. Joseph's Ronald Roberts join Wyatt as all-Big 5 first-team selections.Villanova's Darrun Hilliard is the most improved player, while Temple's TJ DiLeo is the scholar athlete of the year.
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Rysheed Jordan announced his commitment to St. John's Thursday morning on Twitter.
The 6-foot-4 senior guard at Roberts Vaux High tweeted "IM A JOHNNIE!!!!!! #choosestjohns" at 8:57 a.m.
Moments later, Jordan tweeted "NEW YORK HERE I COME!!!!"
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Mark Williams, a senior power forward Montrose Christian (Md.), will visit Temple on Thursday.
The 6-foot-8, 238-pounder averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and led Montrose in three-point shooting this season. In addition to Temple, he has scholarship offers from Vanderbilt, Kent State and Niagara.
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Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Is Connor Reilly Temple’s answer at quarterback? Or is his working with the first unit a way for the coaching staff to motivate senior quarterbacks Juice Granger and Chris Coyer?
Granger and Coyer were expected to battle for the starting position this spring. Reilly, a redshirt junior who’s also a member of the Owls baseball team, was ranked fourth on the depth chart.
But …
Pompey is a native Philadelphian and a University of Pittsburgh graduate. Follow him on Twitter @pompeysgridlock. Reach Keith at kpompey@phillynews.com.
