Temple University Athletics
FOOTBALL TO BEGIN SPRING PRACTICE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 29
3.28.03 | Football
"Our goals for the spring are, No. 1, to be a better football team on both sides of the ball in the red zone," said Wallace. "No. 2 is to eliminate turnovers offensively and create more turnovers defensively. We are in a situation where both sides of the ball need to work on the same thing. Obviously both sides cannot be successful in practice when you're competing against yourselves. We also need to work on exiting the spring with solid offensive and defensive fronts."
In total, Temple returns 22 players with starting experience in 2003, 11 on offense and 11 on defense. The Owls lose 23 lettermen, including 10 offensive players, 12 defenders and one specialist. The 23 former letterwinners depart Owl Country with a combined total of 403 starting assignments.
"Despite losing a lot of seniors, the talent level of this football team is better than ever," said Wallace. "We will, however, be inexperienced. We have to rely on the handful of experienced players that we have to provide us great leadership. So far, these guys have done a great job in the off-season. As a team, you can't worry about players that you have lost, they're gone. We have to develop a new team with its own identity."
Temple starts spring practice with three fresh faces in the crowd, courtesy of a trio of junior college mid-year transfers. The influx of junior college talent, however, will take place in the fall when 20 additional JUCO signees arrive on North Broad Street. Temple signed 28 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent in February, made up of 23 junior college players and five high school entries. Hank Ives of JCFootball.com rated the Owls' JUCO recruiting class as the best in the country. The March 3, 2003 issue of ESPN The Magazine echoed these sentiments, reporting that the Cherry & White had snatched junior college recruits from Nebraska, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and Oregon.
"A player does not earn a job in Division I college football because he has been there the longest," said Wallace. "The best players are going to be on the field. A player does not inherit anything, he earns it. When the junior college talent arrives in the fall there is going to be intense competition. This is going to make everybody better and improve our football team."
Temple begins spring practice on Saturday, March 29. The Owls are scheduled to hold 15 practice sessions, concluding with the annual Cherry & White Game on Saturday, April 26. The team will utilize both the Geasey Field practice facilities and the former Temple Stadium site during spring drills.
OFFENSE
After experiencing some growing pains with a new offense under Offensive Coordinator Dave Brock in 2002, the Owls enter spring practice with familiarity in their favor. Junior quarterback Mike McGann, a two-year starter, returns to orchestrate the spread offense. McGann completed 173 of 353 passes for 1,994 yards last season but also threw a league-high 22 interceptions. He will run the show in the spring but a thoroughbred arrives to provide competition in the fall in the form of NJCAA First Team All-American Walter Washington from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College. Washington threw for 1,464 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 708 yards and seven scores to earn runner-up status for National Player of the Year in 2002. Despite being a junior college transfer, he will have three years of eligibility at Temple.
"I don't think there is any question that we will be more productive coming out of the spring," said Wallace. "Last year was all learning and installation. Now we will be able to work more on accuracy and detail. Our experience should carry over. After studying English I last season, we're now working on English II as far as our offense is concerned."
Depth at quarterback is an issue, as junior walk-on Satyen Bhakta is the only other quarterback on the roster in the spring. To rectify this problem and generate the necessary repetitions, wide receiver Ikey Chuku, a former high school quarterback whose mobility is limited due to a 2002 injury, will see time under center in spring.
The backfield must find a replacement for Tanardo Sharps, who ended his career ranked second to Paul Palmer in virtually every Temple rushing category. Senior Makonnen Fenton, who has made a name for himself around the Big East for his kick return skills, is poised to assume the role. Fenton placed second in the Big East and ninth nationally with a 27.1 yards-per-return average last season after leading the league and finishing 21st in the country with a 26.1 average in 2001. Fenton played in 10 games, starting five at receiver last year. He will find competition in the form of junior college transfer Jamil Porter, juniors Lawrence Wade and Umar Ferguson, sophomore Mark Miller and redshirt freshman Ryan Gore in the spring.
"We have a lot of competition at running back," said Wallace. "We have too many athletes at the position. We need to figure out who are going to be our running backs so that we might shift some talented players to other positions."
The receiving corps boasts three experienced returnees in seniors Zamir Cobb and Terrence Stubbs, plus sophomore Sean Szarka. Cobb placed fourth in the Big East last year, averaging 3.75 receptions per game while making a team-high 45 catches for 483 yards and six touchdowns starting all 12 games at X-receiver. Stubbs started all 12 games at Z-receiver and hauled-in 32 aerials for 364 yards and one score. Szarka played in 11 games, making three starts at Y-receiver as a true freshman in 2002. He averaged 16.1 yards per catch making 22 receptions for 355 yards and four touchdowns. Chuku, who is recovering from a knee injury, junior Scott Pristas and redshirt freshmen Jamel Harris and Bill Monan will compete for time
Five junior college wideouts are scheduled to arrive in the fall, including First Team California All-American Phil Goodman from Sacramento (Calif.) City College. Goodman had 79 catches for 1,272 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games last season.
Juniors Dan Bosnic and Eric Carpenter, both Big East All-Academic selections last season, return at tight end each after having started in 2002. Bosnic will not participate in spring drills while recovering from an injury. Junior Collin Hannigan, a former quarterback, and sophomore Mike Costello will provide competition. Junior Thomas Sheehan, a former walk-on, is also in the mix.
Senior offensive guard Joe Laudano, who has played in 32 consecutive games and made 22 starts, returns to lead the front five under the direction of new offensive line coach Jim Turner. The Owls must find replacements for stalwarts Dave Yovanovits (43 career starts) and Damian Hendricks (20 career starts) at tackle and Donny Klein (35 career starts) at center. Sophomore John Gross and senior Adam Boyd will compete at tackle while junior college mid-year transfer C.J. Blomvall and senior Anthony Nembhard will vie for the center spot. Versatile senior Jose Portillo, who has made 11 career starts playing center, guard and tackle is slated to man the guard position vacated by departed Anthony Bolden (21 career starts). Sophomore Yohance Perry and redshirt freshmen Tariq Sanders, Leigh Denman, Elliott Seifert and Larry Bonczar will make cases for themselves in the spring.
"I think we have 10 players on our offensive line that have a chance," said Wallace. "We also have three junior college players coming in the fall to enter the mix. I expect us to have a pretty good offensive line by the time it's over. Laudano is definitely the leader of the group."
DEFENSE
Under the direction of Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Raymond Monica, the Temple defense has developed a reputation of production and aggressiveness. Monica, however, faces perhaps his biggest challenge since arriving on North Broad Street six years ago from North Alabama with Bobby Wallace. He must find a way to replace a large contingent of departed seniors that includes Big East Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team Associated Press All-American Dan Klecko.
"We know what to do on defense," said Wallace. "We know the schemes we are going to utilize because we have been very successful using them in the past. We just have to implement them with new people."
On the defensive line, Temple returns five players with starting experience. Sophomore Rodney Wormley is back at defensive end after playing in 11 games and making nine starts en route to 42 tackles (17 solo), 6.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks and three QBHs. Sophomore Mike Mendenhall is also poised to play a key role after playing in all 12 games and making three starts as a true freshman last season. Additional competition at end will come from senior J.D. Stanley and sophomore Jason Johnson.
"I expect Rodney Wormley and Mike Mendenhall to be the starters at defensive end," said Wallace. "They both contributed quite a bit to our defense last season as freshmen and both have continued to get bigger and stronger. I anticipate great springs from them. The player at the position that I would like to see come on to be a key contributor is Johnson. I am excited to watch him this spring."
On the interior, senior Taso Apostolidis played both tackle spots last season appearing in 12 games and making seven starts. A former walk-on, Apostolidis made 40 tackles (19 solo) seven TFLs, three sacks and seven QBHs in 2002. Sophomore Adam Fichter played in five games last year, making one start. Senior Luis Lumpris and sophomore Steve Jewell will be looking to expand their roles after seeing limited action last season. Junior Ismael Seals is also in the mix.
"From a physical standpoint, we have a group of kids that can be outstanding defensive tackles," said Wallace. "They need to mature and understand how to play the game from a mental standpoint. Fichter and Jewell are loaded with talent and this spring will be tremendously important for them. Apostolidis is a solid football player that will start for us."
Sophomore Rian Wallace returns at inside linebacker after being named a Fourth Team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News last season. Wallace, the cousin of former Temple standout defensive back Chonn Lacey, made 76 tackles (51 solo), 6.5 TFLs, one sack, one interception and four QBHs playing in all 12 games and making seven starts. He will be joined on the inside by Troy Bennett, who appeared in all 12 games (seven starts) en route to 53 tackles (27 solo) and five QBHs. Junior Christian Dunbar and sophomore Manuel Tapia return after starting one game in 2002. Set to compete for playing time are junior Anthony DeGannes, redshirt freshman David Fatherly and freshman Vince Yasenchak.
"Wallace and Bennett are outstanding football players," said Wallace. "I think this is a very strong position for us considering we also have Tapia and Dunbar competing. We have a lot of linebackers entering spring ball. After a week or two we might move one or two to provide us additional depth at defensive end."
The outside linebacker spots in Temple's 4-2-5 formation consist of the owl safety and strong safety positions, both of which require new starters after the departures of Jairo Almonte (22 career starts), Lafton Thompson (30 career starts) and key reserve Gerard Bishop. Senior Shawn Bullard, who suffered a broken leg last season, will be looking to earn a starting spot as will juniors Joel Gray and Alex McClean. Junior college mid-year transfer Sadeke Konte is available for spring drills.
"Entering spring ball, we are short on numbers at the safety spots," said Wallace. "We anticipate a lot of help in this area when our junior college talent arrives in the fall."
Senior Yazid Jackson is the lone returning starter in the secondary. Jackson started all 12 games at right cornerback last year, posting 65 tackles (48 solo), three interceptions and seven pass break-ups. He will be held out of spring practice, however, recovering from an injury. At left cornerback a replacement needs to be found for Terrance Leftwich (33 career starts) while someone must also fill the shoes of free safety Jamal Wallace (38 career starts). Senior Donnie Coleman and sophomores Jonathan McPhee, Mike Holley and Delonne Wilbourn are all candidates.
The secondary will receive a strong dose of competition in July when eight junior college defensive backs join the fray.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Owls are in the market for a new kicker after the departure of Second Team All-Big East honoree Cap Poklemba. Senior Jared Davis, a three-time Big East All-Academic honoree who was redshirted last season, has the inside track. Davis, who is listed at 5-6, 145 pounds is believed to be the lightest player in Division I-A. He will receive competition from sophomore Roger Price.
"The area where I am most concerned is on kickoffs," said Wallace. "As far as field goals and extra points, I think Davis is equal in talent with Poklemba. We need to develop his kickoff skills this spring."
Senior Garvin Ringwelski is back to handle the punting chores. Ringwelski averaged 38.7 yards-per-punt on 47 kicks last season and landed eight punts inside the 20-yard line. Sophomore Mike McLaughlin, the holder on field goals and extra points, will provide depth.
Senior Joey Lippo returns at long snapper after doing a solid job as a first-year junior last season.
Return teams look to be an area of strength for the Owls with Fenton, Wade and Szarka returning on kickoffs and Cobb back to return punts. Temple averaged 20.59 yards on kickoff returns and 8.57 yards on punt returns last season.
"We are not going to concentrate on returns teams very much in the spring," said Wallace. "This is an area where we have some very talented players already here in addition to some very skilled players coming in the fall."
