Temple University Athletics
DAN KLECKO BECOMES TEMPLE'S FIRST UNANIMOUS ALL-BIG EAST FOOTBALL HONOREE; SEAN DILLARD CAPTURES SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
12.5.01 | Football
Klecko (6-1, 264) is one of just three players (Syracuse senior defensive end Dwight Freeney and Miami senior safety Edward Reed) to be a unanimous selection on defense and is the only one slated to return in 2002. He becomes Temple's first unanimous All-Big East Conference honoree since the Owls joined the league as a charter member in 1991.
Klecko, the son of former Owl and NFL All-Pro Joe Klecko, posted 62 tackles (40 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, two pass break-ups and 27 quarterback hurries in 11 starts this season to help lead a defense that concluded the year ranked 19th nationally. On October 15, he earned his second career Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Week award after a seven tackle, four tackle-for-loss, 2.5 quarterback sack, four quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery performance in Temple's 30-5 victory over Rutgers. In preseason strength and conditioning testing, Klecko registered a 34.5-inch vertical jump and a 520-pound bench press.
Dillard (5-9, 162) led the Big East Conference in receptions per game (4.64) and placed second in both receiving yardage (747) and receiving yards per game (67.9). He led the Owls in every receiving category, catching 51 passes for 747 yards (14.6 avg.) and three touchdowns in 11 games (10 starts). Dillard concluded the 2001 season with nine catches for a career-high 148 yards and two touchdowns in the Owls' 56-7 season-ending shellacking of future Big East Conference affiliate Connecticut.
Dillard also made an impact on special teams, returning 26 punts for 234 yards (9.0 avg.). He will enter the 2002 season ranked 10th on Temple's all-time receiving list with 1,254 yards on 99 receptions in 30 career games. In preseason strength and conditioning testing, Dillard posted a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, best on the team.
Temple has now had 21 different Owls recognized on All-Big East Conference teams since the league's inception, with eight capturing first team accolades. The last players to be named to the first team were linebacker, and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Alshermond Singleton and wide receiver Van Johnson in 1996.
