Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE FOOTBALL SIGNS 24 STUDENT-ATHLETES TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT
2.1.06 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple University Football Program, under the leadership of first-year head coach Al Golden, today signed 24 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The group is comprised of 19 high school and five prep school entries, all of which arrive in Owl Country with true freshman eligibility. Three of Temple's postgraduate signees are already enrolled as mid-year transfer students.
"Today is a day that we coined as one in which we will hunt a MAC title with local talent," said Golden. " I believe we backed that up. We signed just about a full team on offense and a full team on defense...I am very proud that that we stayed within our designed footprint. We have been saying since December 6, that our footprint will be from Boston, down to Northern Virginia and west to Pittsburgh. We held to that and were successful.
"We would not have been able to accomplish so much recruiting without a tremendous staff. If it wasn't for the relationships that our coaches had in the Northeast corridor, I do not think this day would have turned out so positive. I would like to thank the students, Temple personnel, facilities and everyone that had a hand in helping us to achieve this inaugural class...I think it's safe to say that this is the strongest class academically in a long time and we are very proud of that.
"We have 15 team captains in this class, an outstanding number that speaks to the leadership capacity of these young men and to the type of young men we are attracted to."
Geographically, the state most represented in the Owls' class is New Jersey, with 12 student-athletes having played their high school football in the Garden State. Three signees hail from the state of Maryland, three call Connecticut home and two are from Pennsylvania. In terms of positions, 13 players are initially listed on the the offensive side of the ball, with 11 residing on defense.
