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Temple adds 29 players in large recruiting class

The Owls had signed 25 in the early period in December and another four on Wednesday

Temple footbal head coach Geoff Collins said that a priority in this class was the offensive and defensive lines and cornerback.
Temple footbal head coach Geoff Collins said that a priority in this class was the offensive and defensive lines and cornerback.Read moreTim Tai/Staff Photographer

Temple coach Geoff Collins was hired Dec. 13, 2016, and had about six weeks to recruit before the signing period.

This season, Collins had extra time and an extra recruiting period to work with, and he was able to take full advantage.

After signing 17 players last February, Temple wrapped up the 2018 class by signing four on Wednesday to increase its total this season to 29.

This was the first year of an early signing period and Temple did most of the heavy lifting in that Dec. 20-22 period by signing 25 players. Four more signed on Wednesday. They were Woodrow Wilson linebacker Travon King, East Pennsboro (Pa.) running back Onasis Neely, defensive lineman David Nwaogwugwu of DeWitt Clinton in the Bronx and defensive lineman Tyreke Young, Hilton Head, S.C.

The class finished with seven defensive linemen, six wide receivers, five offensive linemen, three cornerbacks, two each of safeties, running backs and linebackers, and one quarterback and tight end.

Collins said that a priority in this class was the offensive and defensive lines and cornerback. The Owls graduated starting offensive tackles Cole Boozer and Leon Johnson, starting defensive ends Jacob Martin and Sharif Finch and starting corners Mike Jones and Artrel Foster.

Collins, unlike many of his fellow coaches, enjoys recruiting and he proved it. Having a full year to work on this class paid off.

"Last year we didn't have a lot of time to get it [recruiting] done and this year we had a full year worth of relationships and it meant everything to have so much more time," Collins said Wednesday in a phone interview. "We went after guys with length, speed, and athleticism and we're excited about the players coming to Temple."

Six of them have already enrolled and will participate in spring practice, led by quarterback Trad Beatty of Ben Lippen High in South Carolina, one of the centerpieces of the class. The others who are already enrolled are Swedish offensive lineman Isaac Moore, receiver Kadas Reams, who spent a prep year at Milford Academy in New York, wide receiver Sean Ryan from Brooklyn, offensive lineman J.C. Gomez, a junior college transfer from ASA College in Florida, and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, who is a transfer from Presbyterian College in South Carolina.

There were some players who left the program. Logan Marchi, who started the first seven games at quarterback, then got hurt and lost his job to Frank Nutile, has transferred to East Tennessee State. Cornerback Derrek Thomas left for Baylor and wide receiver Marshall Ellick will attend Stony Brook. Placekicker Austin Jones is at Alabama.

Collins also said that linebacker Jared Folks, who has earned his degree, won't be returning.

Last year the Owls depth was stretched due to injuries so Collins wanted to bring in a large class this year to address that issue.

He said Temple had the room to sign a couple of more players, but Collins was content with bringing in 29.

The Owls finished 7-6 and won four of their last five, including a 28-3 victory over Florida International University in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.

"Winning that bowl game, being the only game in town and the exposure on ESPN helps our recruiting effort," said Collins.

Temple will begin spring practice on March 13 and conclude it with the Cherry and White game on April 14.

Temple football’s 2018 recruiting commitments

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. H.S., State/Country

Oskar Andersson OL 6-6, 298 Celsiusskolan, Sweden

Khris Banks DT 6-4, 294 DePaul, N.J.

Jose Barbon WR 6-0. 177 Conestoga Valley, Pa.

Trad Beatty 6-5, 222 Ben Lippen, S.C.

Evan Boozer DL 6-4, 231 Loyola Blakefield, Md.

Dante Burke DE 6-4, 253 Bishop Sullivan, Va.

Elijah Clark CB 6-3, 168 Sayreville, N.J.

Antonio Colclough DL 6-3, 221, Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y.

Kyle Dobbins RB 5-11, 186 Timber Creek, N.J.

Amir Gillis S 5-11 187, Simon Gratz, Pa.

Aaron Jarman TE 6-6, 254 North Lenoir, N.C.

Layton Jordon LB 6-2, 207 McKeesport, Pa.

Travon King LB 6-3, 189 Woodrow Wilson, Camden, N.J.

Adam Klein OL 6-5, 264 Episcopal Academy Pa.

David Martin-Robinson WR 6-4, 228 Hempfield, Pa.

Chauncey Moore CB 6-0 175 Friendship Collegiate Academy, Washington

Isaac Moore OL 6-7 311 Thoren Business, Sweden

Onasis Neely RB 6-0. 201 East Pennsboro, Pa.

David Nwaogwugwu  DL 6-5 240 DeWitt Clinton, Bronx, N.Y.

Kadas Reams WR 6-2, 169 Milford Academy N.Y.

Jean Paul Rodriguez OL 283 Lakewood, N.J.

Sean Ryan WR 6-4, 189 Eramus Hall, N.Y.

Jordan Smith WR 6-3, 210 Western, Fla.

Ronniev Stevenson WR 6-5, 194 Montour, Pa.

DaeSean Winston S 6-2 201 Archbishop Spalding, Md.

Tyreke Young DL 6-3, 208 Hilton Heat, S.C.

Transfers

JD Gomez OL 6-6 293, ASA College, Miami, Fla.

Nickolos Madourie DE 6-6, 230 Dakota College, N.D.

Rock Ya-Sin CB 5-11, 189, Presbyterian College, S.C.