Talley To Play In Rotary Gridiron Classic

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 11) - Temple University's LeVar Talley has been selected to

play in the third annual Rotary Gridiron Classic. The game will be

televised nationally by ESPN2 this Saturday, January 13 at 1:00 p.m. The

senior was the leader of an Owls' defense that finished the season

ranked 33rd in the nation.

In its third year, the Rotary Gridiron Classic matches a team of Florida

natives who have completed their college eligibility at Division I

schools against a Team USA squad comprised of college players from

around the country. As a member of the Team USA squad, Talley will be

coached by former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan. The Team

Florida squad will be coached by former Indianapolis Colts head coach

Lindy Infante.

Talley, a Philadelphia native and graduate of Bishop McDevitt High

School, was selected as a second-team All-BIG EAST player after

finishing the season ranked eighth in the country in tackles per game

(12.3). Also recognizing Talley for his efforts was

CollegeFootballNews.com who named him a third-team All-America and

ranked him the 26th-best defensive player in the country. He was named

first-team All-BIG EAST by The Sporting News and

CollegeFootballNews.com. Talley accumulated 135 tackles (74 solo), four

sacks and nine hurries this season, moving his career tackle total to

348 (208 solo) and ranking him fifth all-time at Temple. Talley ranked

second in total tackles and tackles per game in the BIG EAST.

Talley was selected to the American Football Coachs Association 2000

Good Works Team. The team honors those who show exceptional dedication

to community service and to the betterment of the communities in which

they live. Talley is one of 11 Division I-A football players across the

country selected. He was named to the 2000 Butkus Award Watch List as

selected by The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO) this past

August along with fellow Temple linebacker Taylor Suman. Temple was the

only BIG EAST team to land two players on the watchlist.

Talley becomes the first Owl to play in the Gridiron Classic. He is the

second Owl to participate in a post season all-star game this year.

Owls' offensive tackle Mathias Nkwenti competed in the Kelly Tires

Blue-Gray Football Classic on Christmas Day. Nkwenti was rated by ESPN

Draft Analyst Mel Kiper as the top offensive lineman to come out of the

game.

Temple University Athletics