Temple names team captains

PHILADELPHIA – Temple football announced its team captains for the 2011 season on Thursday.

Seniors defensive end Morkeith Brown (Harrisburg, Pa.), offensive lineman John Palumbo (Lyndhurst, N.J.), defensive end Adrian Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa.), and linebacker Tahir Whitehead (Newark, N.J.) are the Owl leaders.

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Steve Addazio, Temple returns 46 lettermen, including 13 starters. The Owls open the 2011 season with cross-city rival Villanova in the third annual Mayor's Cup, sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts, at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, Sept. 1. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN3.

Brown moved back to defensive end during 2011 spring drills after playing tight end for a year-and-a-half. Last fall he played in all 12 games with nine starts. The oldest player on the roster at age 26, Brown enlisted in the Army following high school. The fifth-year senior received his degree in May in criminal justice. Brown was named the team's most improved player following spring drills.

Palumbo is a three-year starter, taking over the starting role at center for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The All-MAC honoree has also played at right guard. Palumbo received his degree in criminal justice in December 2010. The fifth-year senior is a 2010 preseason second-team All-MAC selection by Phil Steele's College Football.

Robinson, a candidate for the 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, is a two-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection and the MAC's 2009 Defensive Player of the Year. Last fall he started all 12 games at right end in 2010. The three-year starter is also a 2011 preseason first-team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele and 2011 CDS preseason FBS Honorable Mention All-American.

Whitehead is a preseason All-MAC honoree and was named to the 2011 Butkus Award Watch List. He played in all 12 games with eight starts at outside linebacker last fall. He finished sixth on defense with 56 tackles, including 7.5 TFL. Whitehead was named the team's recipient of the 2011 Mark Bresani Award for spirit and enthusiasm, presented at the conclusion of spring drills.