Temple University Athletics
Five Owls Sign Rookie Free Agent Contracts
4.24.10 | Football
Team captains Harris, Joseph, Maneri, Neblett & Tyler to Play in NFL
PHILADELPHIA– Five Temple Owls signed rookie free agent contracts with NFL teams late Saturday.
Defensive back Dominique Harris (Washington, D.C.) signed with the Buffalo Bills; linebacker Alex Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) signed with the Green Bay Packers; tight end Steve Maneri (Bound Brook, N.J.) signed with the Houston Texans; nose tackle Andre Neblett (Rahway, N.J.) signed with the Carolina Panthers; and offensive tackle Devin Tyler (Suitland, Md.) signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Four-year starter and two-time team captain Harris was named the team's MVP in 2009. He earned his second All-MAC honor. He has played in every game of his collegiate career with 44 starts. He was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine first-team Academic All-District Football Team. Harris received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice last May.
Joseph was a third-team All-MAC honoree last fall. The team captain led all Temple defenders with 80 tackles, including a team-best 49 solo takedowns and 5.5 TFL. He was the recipient of the team's George M. Illman Award for Leadership on and off the field.
Maneri was a 2009 third-team All-MAC honoree. The team captain started all 13 games at tight end. Mostly blocking on the line, he added 12 receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He earned the team's John Rienstra Award for excellence in off-season conditioning.
A three-time All-MAC honoree, Neblett was the recipient of the defensive most valuable player honor. The team captain is Temple's first three-time All-MAC honoree, earning first team honors in 2009. He earned second team honors in 2006 and 2007. A starter at nose tackle in all 13 games, he had 43 tackles and 9.5 TFL. Neblett was a candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Rotary Lombardi Award.
A second-team All-MAC honoree, team captain Tyler started all 13 games at left tackle. He also played on the field goal unit. Tyler, along with his fellow offensive linemen, was named the team's offensive most valuable player for the 2009 season.
There were five former Owls on NFL rosters last season-- DL Raheem Brock (Indianapolis Colts), DT Antwon Burton (St. Louis Rams), DT Dan Klecko (Philadelphia Eagles), DT Terrance Knighton (Jacksonville Jaguars), and FB Jason McKie (Chicago Bears).
Temple opens the 2010 season on Friday, Sept. 3 with Villanova in the second annual Mayor's Cup at Lincoln Financial Field.
Defensive back Dominique Harris (Washington, D.C.) signed with the Buffalo Bills; linebacker Alex Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) signed with the Green Bay Packers; tight end Steve Maneri (Bound Brook, N.J.) signed with the Houston Texans; nose tackle Andre Neblett (Rahway, N.J.) signed with the Carolina Panthers; and offensive tackle Devin Tyler (Suitland, Md.) signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Four-year starter and two-time team captain Harris was named the team's MVP in 2009. He earned his second All-MAC honor. He has played in every game of his collegiate career with 44 starts. He was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine first-team Academic All-District Football Team. Harris received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice last May.
Joseph was a third-team All-MAC honoree last fall. The team captain led all Temple defenders with 80 tackles, including a team-best 49 solo takedowns and 5.5 TFL. He was the recipient of the team's George M. Illman Award for Leadership on and off the field.
Maneri was a 2009 third-team All-MAC honoree. The team captain started all 13 games at tight end. Mostly blocking on the line, he added 12 receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He earned the team's John Rienstra Award for excellence in off-season conditioning.
A three-time All-MAC honoree, Neblett was the recipient of the defensive most valuable player honor. The team captain is Temple's first three-time All-MAC honoree, earning first team honors in 2009. He earned second team honors in 2006 and 2007. A starter at nose tackle in all 13 games, he had 43 tackles and 9.5 TFL. Neblett was a candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Rotary Lombardi Award.
A second-team All-MAC honoree, team captain Tyler started all 13 games at left tackle. He also played on the field goal unit. Tyler, along with his fellow offensive linemen, was named the team's offensive most valuable player for the 2009 season.
There were five former Owls on NFL rosters last season-- DL Raheem Brock (Indianapolis Colts), DT Antwon Burton (St. Louis Rams), DT Dan Klecko (Philadelphia Eagles), DT Terrance Knighton (Jacksonville Jaguars), and FB Jason McKie (Chicago Bears).
Temple opens the 2010 season on Friday, Sept. 3 with Villanova in the second annual Mayor's Cup at Lincoln Financial Field.
Monday, July 27
Thursday, July 16
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
