Sam Benjamin, Sharif Finch making big plays for Temple

When college football coaches change a player's position, they often don't know how the player will react.

However, a pair of position changes at Temple have worked out well so far for the 2-1 Owls, who are looking to improve to 3-1 for just the third time in the last 27 seasons.

Last week, Temple coach Matt Rhule moved redshirt sophomore Sam Benjamin from wide receiver to the secondary, where Benjamin has yet to crack the four-deep rotation at cornerback. However, Benjamin also was added to the punt-return team and immediately paid dividends, blocking a punt Saturday that Artrel Foster returned for a touchdown in a 59-0 win over Delaware State.

Temple's Sharif Finch made his only starts of 2013 at linebacker in place of the injured Blaze Caponegro. But Finch switched to defensive end over the summer and already has scored a pair of defensive touchdowns. He will make his fourth start of the season Saturday when the Owls visit Connecticut (1-3) in an American Athletic Conference game.

Recruited as an athlete out of Mount St. Joseph High in Baltimore, Benjamin is playing defensive back for the first time since high school. Although he has yet to make a contribution on defense, he is making the most of his opportunities on special teams. He also is on the kickoff coverage team.

"Sam is as talented as anybody, so getting him on the field in any way is important," Rhule said.

Rhule found out that Benjamin could contribute on special teams when he blocked a punt or two during practice on the scout team.

"I was cheering him on after the block and decided to see if it transferred to games," said Rhule, who expects Benjamin to be among the regular cornerbacks at some point.

"His best days at Temple are ahead of him at corner," Rhule said.

Finch blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown in the 2013 season finale, a 41-21 victory at Memphis. Against Navy, he recovered a fumble he caused on the Midshipmen's first offensive play. And against Delaware State, the 6-foot-4, 231-pound Finch dropped into coverage and returned an interception 65 yards for his second touchdown of the season.

"I'm really comfortable at defensive end," said Finch, who is about 15 pounds heavier this season. "We are more comfortable in the defense. When you understand it and do what you are supposed to do in it, you will make plays."