-Courtesy of Temple University
PHILADELPHIA-- The Temple University Football Program, under the leadership of third-year head coach Al Golden, signed 26 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. At the time of this release, Temple's recruiting class is ranked No. 1 in the MAC by Scout.com, marking the third consecutive top ranking for the Owls.
Geographically, the states best represented in the Owl class are Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with 12 student-athletes listing their hometown in the Keystone state and four hailing from the Garden State. Ten signees hail from Southeastern Pennsylvania, including five from the Philadelphia metro area. Golden stated that he was going to pursue a MAC title with local talent, and he is holding true to that with signing numerous Pennsylvania and New Jersey players.
Additionally, two signees are from Florida and Maryland. Other states represented include Connecticut, Georgia, New York, Texas, and Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C., with one recruit each.
Three of Temple's signees are already enrolled as mid-year students. Eighteen of the 26 served as team captains (69%), while 14 of the 22 high school signees attended the Al Golden Football Camp (64%). Three of the signees have been invited to play in the Big 33 All-Star Game, the most in the Golden era.
The Owls begin spring practice on Tuesday, March 18 in preparation for their second season of Mid-American Conference play in 2008. This upcoming season's squad returns everyone from last year except for one starter. In 2007, Temple fielded the nation's youngest team, playing 25 freshmen, including 20 true freshmen, and starting the nation's most freshmen (12). Temple kicks off the 2008 season at Army on August 30.
2008 Temple Football National Letter of Intent Signees
| Name | Pos. | Elig. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | High School / Other |
| Deven Baker | WR | Fr. | 6-4 | 190 | South Bound Brook, N.J. | Bound Brook |
| Pat Boyle | OL | Fr. | 6-5 | 295 | Towson, Md. | Calvert Hall College |
| Sean Boyle | OL | Fr. | 6-5 | 295 | Towson, Md. | Calvert Hall College |
| Steve Caputo | OL | Fr. | 6-5 | 300 | Kennett Square, Pa. | Unionville |
| Vaughn Carraway | CB/WR | Fr. | 6-2 | 170 | Laureldale, Pa. | Muhlenberg |
| Tony Cornelius | RB | Fr. | 5-11 | 180 | Boca Raton, Fla. | Boca Raton |
| C.J. Hammond | WR | Fr. | 6-2 | 175 | Washington, D.C. | St. John's College HS |
| Alex Jackson | DE | Fr. | 6-4 | 225 | Dunnellon, Fla. | Dunnellon |
| Maurice Jones | RB/DB | Fr. | 5-10 | 190 | Belleville, N.J. | Belleville |
| Kevin Kroboth | ATH | Fr. | 6-0 | 180 | Nazareth,?Pa. | Nazareth Area |
| Ryan Murray | OL | Fr. | 6-6 | 315 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Edward Bok Tech |
| James Nixon* | RB | Fr. | 6-1 | 177 | New Haven, Conn. | Hyde / Bridgton Academy |
| Shahid Paulhill | DL | Fr. | 6-4 | 275 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Northeast Catholic |
| Geoffrey Prather | LB | Fr. | 6-2 | 210 | Gulph Mills,?Pa. | Archbishop Carroll |
| Anthony Rapley | WR | Fr. | 6-3 | 210 | Atlanta, Ga. | Mays / Fork Union MA |
| Adrian Robinson | LB | Fr. | 6-2 | 225 | Harrisburg, Pa. | Harrisburg |
| Ahkeem Smith | RB | Fr. | 6-0 | 190 | Bethlehem, Pa. | Liberty |
| Marlin Terrell | RB/DB | Fr. | 5-10 | 185 | Coppell, Texas | Coppell |
| Wayne Tribue | OL/DL | Fr. | 6-3 | 290 | York, Pa. | Central York |
| Lawrence Turner | LB/QB | Fr. | 6-1 | 215 | Newport News, Va. | Heritage |
| Quinten White | LB | Fr. | 6-3 | 200 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Cardinal Dougherty |
| Tahir Whitehead | S | Fr. | 6-2 | 200 | Newark, N.J. | West Side |
| Muhammad Wilkerson | DL | Fr. | 6-5 | 290 | Linden, N.J. | Linden / Hargrave MA |
| Jared Williams* | ATH | Fr. | 5-9 | 185 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Perry Traditional / Ariz. Western |
| Josh Williams* | DL | Jr. | 6-2 | 260 | Queens, N.Y. | New Hampton Prep / Ariz. Western |
| Malcolm Williams | ATH | Fr. | 6-0 | 180 | Reading,?Pa. | Reading |
*Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January
Headshots courtesy of Rivals.com and Scout.com
 |
Wide Receiver
Freshman, 6-4, 190
South Bound Brook, N.J. (Bound Brook HS)
High School: Attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... game captain ... All-Conference performer at wide receiver for coach Kevin Carty at Bound Brook HS ... New Jersey All-State Group 1 selection ... team's scoring leader in 2007 with 17 touchdowns for 102 points ... led all receivers with 45 catches for 893 yards and 13 TDs ... averaged 89.3 yards per game ... also played on special teams ... opened his senior year in style, scoring three long touchdowns to lead the Crusaders to a 39-22 victory over Bernards HS ... scored on a 95-yard run and an 85-yard kickoff return and turned a screen pass into a 65-yard touchdown in one of the Garden State's top opening week performances ... selected to play in the New Jersey North-South All-Star game ... as a junior, had 50 receptions for 900 yards and 13 TDs ... returned six kickoffs for touchdown ... had 19 TDs on the season ... also participated in basketball and track ... Honor Roll.
Personal: Deven Christepher Baker ... born April 1, 1989, in New Brunswick, N.J. ... mother is Ramona Baker ... has a younger sister Deanna (17) and a younger brother Glenzell (4) ... interested in accounting.
Coach's Analysis: "Deven is a smooth, fluid receiver who utilizes his rare combination of size and speed to make explosive plays on the perimeter. He dominated games at the high school level with his ability to go get deep balls and make big runs after the catch, and with his kick return prowess."
 |
Offensive Lineman
Freshman, 6-5, 295
Towson, Md. (Calvert Hall College HS)
High School: Team captain ... attended the 2007 All Golden Football Camp ... well-rounded student-athlete ... 2007 All-MIAA Conference performer for coach Donald Davis at Calvert Hall College HS ... named to the Maryland Varsity Dream Team ... selected as an All-Star by the Baltimore Touchdown Club ... also participated in track and field for three years ... earned All-MIAA Conference accolades in the shot put ... helped the team to a conference indoor championship in 2008 ... played lacrosse for two seasons ... a national qualifier in the shot put with a throw of 55'10" ... honor student with a 3.4 GPA.
Personal: Frank Patrick Boyle ... born May 30, 1990, in Towson, Md. ... parents are Robin and Frank Boyle ... has an older sister Courtney (19) and a twin brother Sean (17) ... Sean will also play on the O-line for Temple ... enjoys painting, carving, and drawing.
Coach's Analysis: "Pat is a big, athletic player and a very physical blocker. He has very good feet in pass protection. Pat possesses the power and strength to be a dominating run and pass blocker. He has the athletic ability to pull and make blocks in the open field."
 |
Offensive Lineman
Freshman, 6-5, 295
Towson, Md. (Calvert Hall College HS)
High School: Team captain ... attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... played for coach Donald Davis?at Calvert Hall College HS ... Honorable Mention All-State honoree ... 2007 All-MIAA Conference performer ... named to the Maryland Varsity Dream Team ... selected as an All-Star by the Baltimore Touchdown Club ...also a three-year letterwinner in track and field ... private school regional qualifier in the shot put with a throw of 49' 1 ¾" ... captured second place in the shot put in the MIAA Conference meet ... played lacrosse for two seasons.
Personal: Sean Mitchell Boyle ... born May 30, 1990, in Towson, Md. ... parents are Robin and Frank Boyle ... has an older sister Courtney (19) and a twin brother Pat (17) ... Pat will also play on the O-line for Temple ... volunteered at the Blakehurst retirement community ... intends to major in kinesiology ... would like to pursue a career as a strength and conditioning coach.
Coach's Analysis: "Sean is a very powerful run blocker and a quick-footed pass protector. He also possesses great athleticism for a player his size, which allows him to excel at blocking in the open field. Sean is a smart, tough, physical player that plays the game with passion."
 |
Offensive Lineman
Freshman, 6-5, 300
Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville HS)
High School: Team captain as a senior ... three-star recruit by Scout.com ... 2007 first-team Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AAA All-State selection ... played offensive guard for coach Pat Clark at Unionville HS ... four-year starter ... helped the Indians to a 10-1 record as a senior ... team won three consecutive division titles ... 2007 Honorable Mention All-Eastern PAFootball.com Big School Team honoree ... first-team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania honoree ... 2007 preseason SportsFever magazine All-State pick ... second-team All-Area as a sophomore ... also played basketball and baseball ... chose Temple over Syracuse.
Personal: Born Feb. 27, 1990 ... parents are Anita and Lou Caputo ... has an older brother and a younger brother ... his family owns and operates the largest mushroom distributor in the state of Pennsylvania ... plans to study business.
Coach's Analysis: "Steve is an offensive lineman that plays with a mean streak. He has the athletic ability to get to the second level of defenders and to maintain blocks once he makes contact."
 |
Wide Receiver
Freshman, 6-2, 170
Laureldale, Pa. (Muhlenberg HS)
High School: Team captain ... attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... selected for the 2008 Big 33 All-Star Game ... four-star prospect by Scout.com and a three-star recruit by SuperPrep.com ... ranked the No. 48 wide receiver in the nation by Scout.com ... ranked No. 12 on SuperPrep.com's Top 25 prospects in Pennsylvania ... played for coach John Yocum at Muhlenberg HS ... second-team All-State selection at safety ... team finished 9-3 his senior season, advancing to the Class AAAA playoffs ... as a senior, had 50 catches for 830 yards and 14 touchdowns ... also scored on three punt returns, a kickoff return, and an interception return ... 2007 preseason SportsFever magazine first-team All-State pick ... as a junior, caught 29 passes for 545 yards and nine touchdowns ... defensively, had 39 tackles, four sacks, and four interceptions ... also played basketball ... chose Temple over Pitt, West Virginia, and Michigan.
Personal: Born May 15, 1990 ... parents are Dora and Ronald Carraway ... cousin Sam Bryant played safety at Pitt.
Coach's Analysis: "Vaughn is a player with great speed and excellent hands. He is extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands. Vaughn has tremendous burst and quickness which allow him to get off the ball as well as being a threat in the open field. As a big receiver, he has the ability to go over the middle and make the tough catch in traffic."
 |
Running Back
Freshman, 5-11, 180
Boca Raton, Fla. (Boca Raton HS)
High School: Played running back for coach Eddie Giersbrook ... team finished 7-3 in 2007 ... second-team All-State honoree ... first-team All-League ... led all rushers with 718 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior ... also caught five passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns for the Bobcats ... junior season was hampered by an ankle injury ... chose Temple over Iowa.
Personal: Born Dec. 17, 1989 ... mother is Tina Boone ... cousin Damian Sims played running back at Iowa.
Coach's Analysis:"Tony is a good-sized running back with explosive speed. He has the ability to change a game in just one play. One of the top running backs in the state of Florida, Tony had offers from Big Ten schools but chose to come to Temple to help bolster the Owls' running attack."
 |
Wide Receiver
Freshman, 6-2, 185
Washington, D.C. (St. John's College HS)
High School: Attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... helped St. John's College HS to a first-place tie in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference?in 2007 under head coach Joe Patterson ... team finished 8-2 his senior and junior seasons ... made a state semifinal appearance in 2007 ... All-Region selection ... Honorable Mention WCAC in 2007 ... participated in the 2007 Scout.com All-American Combine in Pittsburgh ... as a junior, had 13 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns ... also participated in track ... Honor Roll ... chose Temple over NC State and Connecticut.
Personal: Cedric E. Hammond, Jr. ... nickname is CJ ... born May 24, 1990, in Washington, D.C. ... parents are Vandella and Cedric Hammond,?Sr. ... has an older brother David (22) ... parents work for the U.S. government ....mother works for the Department of State, while father works for the Department of Treasury ... former high school teammates Antwan Bailey (Syracuse) , Karey Neal (Eastern Michigan), and Gerald Moore (Ohio) also play collegiate football ... intends to major in business.
Coach's Analysis:"C.J. is a big receiver who can stretch the field and go get the ball. He is physical at the line of scrimmage and is a good blocker. C.J. made a big catch late in the game to help St. John's beat Good Counsel for the first time in years."
 |
Defensive End
Freshman, 6-4, 225
Dunnellon, Fla. (Dunnellon HS)
High School: Played defensive end at Dunnellon HS?for coach Frank Beasley ... first year football player for the Tigers ... this year's "Super Sleeper" ... 2007 FACA Football Class 4A DE Honorable Mention All-State honoree ... 2007 Iron Man Club/Dunnellon Football Award ... Academic Honor Roll .. also played basketball ... named to the all-tournament team at the 2007 Tim Brinkley Tournament ... named MVP of the Villages Tournament (Dec. 2007) ... team MVP for the 2006-07 basketball season.
Personal: Born Dec. 24, 1989 ... guardians are Sheila and Charlie Patterson.
Coach's Analysis:"Alex is an extremely talented but raw player that plays the game with great energy. He is an emotional and physical defender that is strong enough to stop plays and fast enough to chase them down from behind. Alex has an explosive first step that makes him a great pass rusher. He is a relentless player with a great motor that has tremendous upside."
 |
Defensive Back
Freshman, 5-10, 190
Belleville, N.J. (Belleville HS)
High School: Team captain ... played safety and running back at Belleville HS?for coach Joe Fischer ... first-team All-State Group 4 ... second-team All-State by the Newark Star Ledger ... the Buccaneers earned a state playoff berth in 2007 ... had 51 carries for 622 yards and five touchdowns ... selected to the Governor's Bowl ... as a junior, rushed for 500 yards ... also grabbed nine interceptions and ran a kickoff return 91 yards for a score ... ran the 100 meters in 10.7 seconds for the track team ... a starter for the basketball team ... chose Temple over North Carolina.
Personal: Born July 2, 1989 ... parents are Tracey Jones and Robert Henry ... originally from North Carolina ... played against Owl junior DB Anthony Ferla in high school.
Coach's Analysis:"Maurice is the total package. His athleticism would allow him to play on either side of the ball. His range, quickness, instincts, and toughness allow him to be a tremendous player in the defensive secondary. We believe that he should have an immediate impact in the secondary and on special teams."
 |
Athlete
Freshman, 6-0, 180
Nazareth, Pa. (Nazareth Area HS)
High School: Team captain ... attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... multi-purpose athlete at Nazareth HS for coach Mark Madson ... played quarterback and safety for the Blue Eagles as a senior ... 2007 preseason SportsFever magazine All-State pick ... as a junior, had 23 receptions for 308 yards and four touchdowns ... also had 27 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown ... averaged 25.5 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns ... started at free safety and had 58 tackles ... also punted, averaging 31.5 yards per punt ... also participated in baseball and track and field ... National Honor Society member ... Honor Roll student ... maintained a 3.5 GPA ... went to high school with former Temple softball All-American Adrienne Repsher.
Personal: Born Feb. 5, 1990 ... parents are Denise and Ron Kroboth ... has an older brother Jeffrey ... brother plays baseball at Frostburg State University ... interested in physical education ... would like to pursue a career in coaching.
Coach's Analysis:"Kevin is a very athletic player. He has the ability to play all of the skill positions on either offense or defense. He has great skills with the ball in his hands, evidenced by his playing quarterback. He is a runner that can make defenders miss or out run them with speed. He is one of the special players that never comes off the field, playing offense, defense, and special teams. Kevin also has the ability to punt and return punts on the college level. He plays the game not only with great athletic ability but is also a very smart player and a leader on and off the field."
 |
Offensive Lineman
Freshman, 6-6, 315
Philadelphia, Pa. (Edward Bok Tech HS)
High School: Team captain ... attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... played tackle at Bok Tech for coach Tom DeFelice, a former Owl quarterback (1965-67) ... helped Bok Tech to back-to-back division championships ... team went 11-1 his senior season in 2007 ... rated the third best OT in Pennsylvania as a senior ... 2007 first-team Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AAA All-State selection ... first-team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania honoree ... first-team All-Public ... defensively as a senior, forced a fumble and recorded three sacks ... first-team All-State honoree ... second-team All-City by the Philadelphia Daily News ... selected for the All-City All-Star Game ... as a junior, forced three fumble and had three sacks ... All-Public and All-City selection as a junior ... also played basketball as a sophomore ... received the Leadership Award twice (2004, 2005).
Personal: Ryan D. Murray ... born February 12, 1990, in Philadelphia, Pa. ... mother is Leticia Woodson ... has a younger sister Ashley Woodson (12).
Coach's Analysis:"Ryan is a young man in a huge body. He is an offensive tackle from the City that has his best years of football ahead of him. He is a very good athlete for being 6-6 and over 300 lbs. and has the chance to develop into a dominant offensive lineman."
 |
Athlete
Freshman, 6-1, 177
New Haven, Conn. (Hyde Leadership Academy / Bridgton Academy)
Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2008 and will participate in spring practice ... ranked the 34th best athlete in the country by Rivals.com ... ranked 38th best cornerback in the nation by Scout.com ... originally signed a National Letter of Intent with Connecticut in February 2006.
Postgraduate: Attended Bridgton Academy (Maine) where he played for coach Rick Marcella.
High School: Led the Hyde Leadership School to two undefeated seasons under coach John Acquavita ... played running back, defensive back, and kick returner ... 2006 preseason All-American ... earned All-State honors ... as a senior, carried the ball 160 times for 1,532 yards and 19 touchdowns ... averaged 9.6 yards per carry ... along with Temple junior Dy'Onne Crudup at quarterback, Hyde won two consecutive state championships his junior and senior seasons ... team went a perfect 12-0 in 2005 and 2006 ... also ran track ... won the New England championship in the 100 meters two years in a row ... won five state titles in track ... heavily pursued recruit that garnered over 20 offers to play college football.
Personal: James A. Nixon ... born Feb. 2, 1988, in New Haven, Conn. ... parents are Erika and Lionel Nixon, Sr. ... has five brothers--Jon, Brandon, Lionel, Jr., Ezekial, and Elijah ... Brandon played at Connecticut for three seasons before enrolling at Southern Connecticut State ... Lionel, Jr., is a senior at Maine where he plays defensive back ... lives two blocks away from fellow Temple Owl Dy'Onne Crudup in New Haven ... the duo have known each other since preschool ... volunteered with the New Haven Parks and Recreation Department ... ran the Dwight Elementary gym program for children ... intends to study kinesiology ... plans to pursue a career as a personal trainer.
Coach's Analysis:"James has started classes at Temple already and will participate in spring practice. He is an explosive athlete that can change a game in one play. He is talented enough to play a number of positions on either side of the ball."
 |
Defensive Lineman
Freshman, 6-4, 275
Philadelphia, Pa. (Northeast Catholic HS)
High School: Team captain ... attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ...?first-team All-Catholic League honoree at defensive end for coach Charlie Szydlik ... first-team All-City and first-team All-Catholic League by the Philadelphia Daily News ... selected to play in the East-West All-Star Game ... also a starter in basketball for the Falcons and the Philadelphia Patriots AAU?team.
Personal: Born Oct. 31, 1990 ... son of Terresa and Kevin Paulhill ... siblings are Shanika (20), Christian (20), and Shakira (12) ... played prep football with Owl sophomore Daryl Robinson ... interested in criminal justice.
Coach's Analysis:"Shahid is a very versatile first-team All-Catholic League selection. In high school he played defensive end, tight end, and offensive tackle. He has tremendous feet and natural athletic ability. He currently starts on the Catholic League-leading Northeast basketball team. He is a former teammate of current Owl Daryl Robinson. "
 |
Linebacker
Freshman, 6-2, 210
Gulph Mills, Pa. (Archbishop Carroll HS)
High School:Attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... three-star recruit by Scout.com ... ranked No. 37 on the Pittsburgh Sports Insider's PA's Top 50 High School Players list ... played linebacker, safety, wide receiver, and kick returner for coach Dan Bielli at Archbishop Carroll HS ... first-team Scout.com All-Combine honoree ... team went 10-3 in his senior season ... selected to the East-West All-Star Game ... 2007 preseason SportsFever magazine All-State pick ... played defensive back as a sophomore and then linebacker as a junior ... didn't play football until ninth grade ... also played baseball.
Personal: Born June 9, 1990 ... son of Jackie and Charles Prather ... has several family members who are Temple alumni.
Coach's Analysis:"Geoff is one of those players that you look at physically and know he has the ability to be very good. He has the muscular definition of a much older player in his upper body. As a football player he is very athletic and attacks the ball carrier. His athletic ability allows him to drop into coverage and be a factor that quarterbacks have to deal with."
 |
Athlete
Freshman, 6-3, 210
Atlanta, Ga. (Mays HS / Fork Union Military Academy)
Postgraduate: Attended Fork Union Military Academy where he played for coach John Shuman ... team finished 9-2.
High School: Team captain ... played wide receiver for coach Jesse Solomon at Benjamin Elijah Mays HS ... first-team All-State by the Georgia Sportswriters Association as a senior in 2006 ... helped the Raiders to the second round of the Georgia state playoffs and a runner-up finish in the Region ... had offers to play basketball at Georgia and Georgia Tech.
Personal: Born Dec. 24, 1988 ... mother is Melvette Dickerson.
Coach's Analysis:"Anthony was a receiver at Fork Union Military Academy. He has very good size, and he is extremely explosive. He is an excellent athlete that could play on either side of the ball and excel. He was recruited by SEC and Big Ten schools out of high school. Also a superior basketball player, he plans to walk on the (basketball) team at Temple."
 |
Linebacker
Freshman, 6-2, 225
Harrisburg, Pa. (Harrisburg HS)
High School: Three-star prospect by Scout.com ... selected to play in the Big 33 All-Star Game ... played for coach George Chaump at Harrisburg HS ... helped the Cougars to a 12-2 record as a senior ... served as a game captain ... team made back-to-back state semifinal appearances in 2006 and 2007 ... first-team All-State honoree ... named to the Harrisburg Patriot-News' Platinum 33 Team ... posted 75 tackles, 19 sacks, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a touchdown as a senior ... served as a game captain ... as a junior, earned first team Class AAAA Associated Press All-State honors ... had 14 sacks, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries as team went 10-2 with a state playoff berth ... also an excellent wrestler ... posted a 22-10 record in his first year as a sophomore and a 33-3 mark as a senior ... chose Temple over Pitt.
Personal: Born Nov. 21, 1989 ... father is Adrian Robinson.
Coach's Analysis:"He is an extremely talented and explosive player. Adrian plays with a very high motor and is a relentless pass rusher. He plays with passion, toughness, and a love for the game."
 |
Running Back
Freshman, 6-0, 190
Bethlehem, Pa. (Liberty HS)
High School: Team captain ... attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... a "true sleeper", according to ESPN.com ... played tailback for coach Tim Moncman at Liberty HS ... scored 50 touchdowns as a junior and senior ... as a senior, rushed for 1,010 yards and 23 touchdowns ... also excelled at strong safety, making 77 tackles, intercepting four passes, and returning two of them for touchdowns ... two-time Morning Call All-Area football selection ... 2007 preseason SportsFever magazine All-State pick ... as a junior, set the single-season school record with 27 touchdowns and rushed for 1,340 yards on 214 attempts while helping the Hurricanes repeat as District 11 Class 4A champions ... also caught 16 passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns ... chose Temple over Connecticut and Akron.
Personal: Born May 14, 1990 ... parents are Patricia Smith and Darren Smith.
Coach's Analysis:"Ahkeem is a powerful runner that has speed to go the distance. He is an explosive player that likes contact as an offensive or defensive player. He played safety and linebacker on defense. He also brings with him the ability to block kicks and make other contributions in special teams."
 |
Defensive Back
Freshman, 5-10, 185
Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)
High School: Played at Coppell HS for coach Bob Shipley ... second-team All-District in 2007 ... as a senior, had 111 tackles, three forced fumbles, and an interception ... named first-team All-District at safety as a junior ... also returned punts for the Cowboys ... as a junior, had 73 tackles, including 50 solo, two forced fumbles and several PBUs ... also played running back and scored four touchdowns ... also participated in track and field where he earned All-District honors ... chose Temple over Baylor, Southern Methodist, Hawaii, and Iowa State.
Personal: Born Jan. 4, 1990 ... parents are Yolanda and Marcus Terrell ... has two older brothers-- Marcus (22) and Marquise (19) ...both brothers attend the University of North Texas ... interested in criminal justice.
Coach's Analysis:"Marlin is an outstanding athlete with great speed. He is talented enough to play either corner or safety. He is also able to contribute on special teams as a punt returner. His speed gives him the ability to change a game in a single play. He is planning to study criminal justice at Temple."
 |
Offensive Lineman
Freshman, 6-3, 290
York, Pa. (Central York HS)
High School: Team captain ... attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... selected to play in the Big 33 All-Star Game ... played for Central York HS?under coach Brad Livingston ... three-year starter ... second-team All-State honoree ... played right tackle as a sophomore when the team went 11-1 en route to the division championship ... switched to left tackle as a junior ... played along the o-line as a senior ... in 2007 team went 7-3 and participated in the state playoffs ... first-team All-York County on the offensive line and second-team All-State as a senior ... named first-team offensive tackle by the York Daily Record ... second-team All-County selection as a junior ... also competed in the shot put for the track and field team ... played club lacrosse as a senior ... carried a 4.017 GPA while taking honors classes ... Honor Roll student ... National Honor Society member ... recipient of the Top 5% Academic Achievement Award ... Temple Honors Program candidate.
Personal: Wayne Luis Tribue ... born April 30, 1990, in Philadelphia, Pa. ... parents are Teresa and Cyrus Tribue ... has an older brother Ryan (19) who attends Gettysburg College ... father works for the FAA ... enjoys downhill skiing and snowboarding ... interested in becoming a doctor.
Coach's Analysis:"Wayne is an extremely athletic offensive lineman who displays a tremendous motor on the field. He always plays to the echo of the whistle and dominated games on both sides of the line with his physical style of play. Wayne is an Honors Program candidate and a Big 33 Game selection."
 |
Linebacker
Freshman, 6-1, 215
Newport News, Va. (Heritage HS)
High School: Team captain at Heritage HS?for coach Jason Robinson ... played one game as a senior due to injury ... only played two seasons of high school football ... as a junior, earned Honorable Mention All-Peninsula honors at linebacker ... also played basketball ... as a junior, named second-team All-Peninsula.
Personal: Born Sept. 1, 1990 ... mother is Sharon Miller ... has a younger sister Tamisha (4) ... interested in business.
Coach's Analysis:"Lawrence has good size and athleticism for a linebacker. He was a high school quarterback and linebacker that plays very physical when on the defensive side of the ball. He has tremendous upside with the ability to impact the program right away."
 |
Linebacker
Freshman, 6-3, 200
Philadelphia, Pa. (Cardinal Dougherty HS)
High School: Team captain ... attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ... played linebacker at Cardinal Dougherty ... also saw time at running back and safety ... second-team All-Catholic League honoree ... had two interceptions ... second-team All-Catholic League by the Philadelphia Daily News ... played basketball as a freshman and sophomore ... also competed in track and field ... has a 3.5 GPA.
Personal: Born Feb. 13, 1990 ... parents are Maineva and Quinten White ... has a younger sister Jasmine (14) ... father is a police officer ... went to middle school with longtime friend and Owl sophomore Daryl Robinson ... interested in architecture or business management.
Coach's Analysis:"Quinten was an All-Catholic League selection as a junior and senior. He attended the 2007 football camp and that is where he left a lasting impression on the coaching staff. Quinten is a linebacker that has exceptional speed and great range. He has the body to easily be a 230-plus pound linebacker and still be able to run. He plays with great energy and enthusiasm."
 |
Safety
Freshman, 6-2, 200
Newark, N.J. (West Side HS)
High School: Team captain ... played at West Side HS?for coach Brian Logan ... played safety, wide receiver, tight end, and running back ... selected to play in the Governor's Bowl ... experienced an incredible turnaround during his prep career ... team went from 1-9 his freshman season to 10-2 with a NJSIAA?Group III?Sectional championship his senior season.
Personal: Born April 2, 1990 ... mother is Quadira Whitehead ... joins fellow Newark natives junior Terrance Banks and sophomore Amara Kamara as Temple Owls.
Coach's Analysis:"Tahir brings excellent size and speed to the secondary. He is a very physical player that looks to make big hits all over the field. He also possesses proven leadership skills as he led his high school team to its first-ever state championship."
 |
Defensive Lineman
Freshman, 6-5, 280
Linden, N.J. (Linden HS / Hargrave Military Academy)
Originally signed with Temple in February 2007.
Postgraduate: Ranked a Rivals.com Top 40 Prep Player ... three-star prospect by Rivals.com ... attended Hargrave Military Academy where he played for coach Robert Prunty ... chose Temple over Rutgers.
High School: Prep Star Big East/Independent All-Region selection ... played at Linden?HS?for coach?James McDonald ... had 78 tackles, five sacks, six knock downs, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery as a senior ... earned Home News Tribune first-team All-Area and Newark Star Ledger second-team all-Union County honors ... two-year varsity letterwinner, playing tight end and defensive end ... as a junior, earned first-team All-Wachtung Conference honors in 2006 while grabbing three touchdowns ... was also a highly recruited prospect on the hardwood, where he was the 173rd-rated power forward nationally by Scouts, Inc. ... helped the basketball team to the 2005-06 Group IV?state title ... helped his AAU?basketball team to the national tournament in Florida.
Personal: Born October 22, 1989 ... parents are Janice and Alvin Wilkerson .. has an older brother Haseez Brown (20) and a younger brother Zakkiyah (11) ... interested in business administration.
Coach's Analysis:"Muhammed is a very large, gifted athlete. He is a former basketball player with a combination of size, strength, and quickness that will allow him to not only hold up at the point of attack but also be a standout pass rusher."
 |
Athlete
Freshman, 5-9, 185
Pittsburgh, Pa. (Perry Traditional HS / Arizona Western College)
Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2008 and will participate in spring practice ... originally signed with Temple in February 2007.
Postgraduate: A three-star recruit by Scout.com ... attended Arizona Western College for the fall semester where he played cornerback for coach James Pryor ... played with fellow Temple Owl Josh Williams ... chose Temple over Pitt.
High School: A?team captain who played at Perry Traditional?HS?for coach Bill Gallagher ... Prep?Star Big East/Independent All-Region selection ... nationally rated prospect by Scouts, Inc. ... team captured three consecutive city titles from 2003 to 2005 ... rushed 220 times for 1,497 yards and 22 touchdowns ... also had 43 tackles, four interceptions, and three fumble recoveries as a senior in 2006 ... earned second-team Class AAA?All-State honors from the Associated Press ... Pittsburgh Tribune-Review first-team All-City League selection ... Pennsylvania Football News Honorable Mention Class AAA?All-State honoree ... participated in the 2007 PSFCA?East-West All-Star Game ... named the AK?Recruiting City League Player of the Year ... as a junior, rushed 116 times for 1,115 yards and 17 touchdowns ... also had 45 tackles, 10 PBUs, and two interceptions on defense ... started four seasons on defense and three on offense ... also a four-year letterwinner in track ... held the top time of 10.7 in the 100 meters ... Honor Roll student ... had a 3.6 GPA ... earned academic recognition from the Pittsburgh City Council ... participated in post-secondary activities through the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University ... completed a career mentorship in internship with the business office of Allegheny General Hospital.
Personal: Born May 17, 1989 ... parents are Janet and Irving Williams.
Coach's Analysis:"Jared is a very versatile, skilled athlete with long speed to go the distance. In high school he thrived at the running back position. At Arizona Western he proved his tremendous athletic skills by starting at cornerback. He has the ability to help in all three phases of the game at Temple."
 |
Defensive Lineman
Junior, 6-2, 260
Queens, N.Y. (New Hampton Prep / Arizona Western College)
Mid-year student that enrolled at Temple in January 2008 and will participate in spring practice ... originally signed a National Letter of Intent with Boston College in February (2006).
Postgraduate: Three-star prospect by Scout.com ... attended Arizona Western College where he played for coach James Pryor ... two-time recipient of All-Combine Team honors ... received his associate's degree in December 2007 ... redshirted as a freshman ... played with fellow Temple Owl Jared Williams.
High School: A?defensive end for coach Chris Adamson at New Hampton Prep in New Hampton, N.H. ... the Huskies went a perfect 8-0 his senior and sophomore seasons ... rated the 13th-best prospect in the state of New Hampshire by Rivals.com ... an All-New England second-team honoree in 2005 ... had 60 tackles, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three sacks as a senior ... earned All-New England Honorable Mention honors as a junior in 2004 ... also played lacrosse and wrestled.
Personal: Joshua Glenn Williams ... born July 6, 1985, in Queens, N.Y. ... parents are Winnie Walton and Anderson Williams ... has a brother Joel ... former high school teammates Brendan Smith (Northwestern) and Luis Vaszuez (Arizona State) also play collegiate football ... communications major.
Coach's Analysis:"Josh attended Arizona Western and is now enrolled at Temple for the spring. He is a physically imposing player when you first meet him. His athletic ability and speed allow him to be able to play defensive end, but his strength gives him the flexibility to play inside against bigger players. Josh will have the opportunity to compete for playing time this spring."
School Season Solo A T TFL Yd Sacks
AWC 2007 3 26 29 2.5 4 1.5
 |
Athlete
Freshman, 6-0, 180
Reading, Pa. (Reading HS)
High School: Two-time team captain ... attended the 2007 Al Golden Football Camp ...? played quarterback, running back, and cornerback at Reading HS?... 2007 preseason SportsFever magazine All-State pick ... as a junior, had 66 carries for 342 yards and four touchdowns before missing the last four games ... also had six receptions for 116 yards (19.3 average per catch) ... as a sophomore, totaled 206 rushing yards and six touchdowns in a single game for the Red Knights ... also a two-time captain for the track and field team ... captured first place in the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the Commonwealth Sports Medicine Team Challenge ... finished third nationally in the 1000 meters ... also competed in the long jump.
Personal: Born May 29, 1989 ... parents are Taresa Figarow and Anthony Williams ... lives with his paternal grandmother ... has six sisters and a brother.
Coach's Analysis:"Malcolm is a very versatile athlete. He is a high school quarterback that has the ability to play cornerback, running back, or wide receiver. He has tremendous speed and shows it in the way he plays. At the 2007 Al Golden football camp he impressed the staff with his tremendous playmaking ability."
