Temple University Athletics
Temple Training Camp: Day 11 Video
8.18.10 | Football
Owls Open Season on Sept. 3 with Villanova
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple University football team continued training camp on Tuesday at Edberg-Olson Hall.
Owl Outlook: Day 11 video
Owl Outlook is back for Day 11 of training camp, with today's focus being on the secondary, joining us for interviews today are defensive backs Justin Gildea (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) and Marquise Liverpool (Ramsey, N.J.).
Gildea, now a sophomore, played in 12 games in 2009 as a true freshman while recording eight tackles and a pass break-up. He was largely a special teams contributor in his inaugural campaign, and will look to continue making an impact in that phase of the game. Liverpool took a roundabout way to North Broad Street, and after his arrival he even took time to settle into a natural position for him. Now that he is, he is entrenched as one of the team's top cover-men at cornerback, a position that has definitely been in a transition period for the Owls over the past year. Entering last year's breakout season, Temple was playing with a group of corners that had no experience at the position at the college level in Liverpool (who played both wide receiver and running back in his first two seasons), Maurice Jones (a true freshman), Kwame Johnson (a first-year player), and Kevin Kroboth (who was previously playing safety). Later in the season, former leading rusher Kee-ayre Griffin made the switch and played significantly.
Now, with a full offseason under their belts, this group is ready for action. Jones (Belleville, N.J.) started the last four games of the year last year and ended the spring at the top of the depth chart. Johnson (Baltimore, Md.), has the speed to burn and made four tackles in his opening season as an Owl, three of which came in the Villanova game. Griffin (East Orange, N.J.), a player who was one of the top recruits in the state of New Jersey as a senior in high school, moved to the defensive backfield in a late-season game against Akron, recording two tackles and a pass break-up. The following week against Kent State he picked up his first career interception and took it back 36 yards for a touchdown. This previously inexperienced group of cornerbacks has always had a ton of talent, but now has had the time to gel together and become a cohesive unit.
While the cornerback position was in flux last year, Temple has not had to deal with any changes at safety over the past three seasons, with Jaiquawn Jarrett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Dominique Harris (now of the Buffalo Bills) on the team. Now with Harris gone, someone will have to step up to take his place. Kroboth and Gildea are both playing well enough to earn the job, and have shown the right amount of toughness and smarts to make an impact at the position. Backing them up are two players who redshirted in 2009, Deonte Parker (Lakeland, Fla.) and Byron Parker (Virginia Beach, Va.). Deonte was a player that made the most of his opportunity of his redshirt season, winning the 2009 Scout Team Player of the Year Award at the team's banquet. Byron, who saw some time as a wide receiver in last year's training camp, is back on defense and has shown that he has prepared himself to play at this level.
The team will also be depending on a faction of former wideouts to make their mark on defense as well. James Nixon (New Haven, Conn.), the team's 2009 Special Teams MVP, has made the move from wide receiver (where he caught 12 passes for 327 yards and a pair of touchdowns) to defensive back. Nixon was one of the most highly recruited players out of the New England area in High School out of New Haven, Conn., and has the skill set to be very successful as a shutdown corner. Another highly recruited player, redshirt sophomore Vaughn Carraway (Laureldale, Pa)., is making the move to defense and will look to a major player at safety. Carraway was also highly recruited out of high school, spurning offers from Pittsburgh and Michigan to join the Cherry and White. Former walkon Josh Hutchison, a former wideout, has also made the switch to cornerback. "Hutch" will continue to be one of the Owls' top special teamers in 2010.
Several players were also added on signing day that will be looking to make an impact. Defensive back Brian Burns (Bowie, Md.) has good size and athletic ability, while Norristown's Anthony Robey (Norristown, Pa.) has the speed to burn. Marquise Goods (Orange, N.J.) will undoubtedly be making a splash as well. Zamel Johnson (Staten Island, N.Y.), formerly of Hofstra University, enrolled in the spring and has already entrenched himself in the rotation at cornerback. Johnson isn't the only transfer though, with Abdul Smith (Trenton, N.J.), formerly of Rutgers, making it onto the camp roster as well. Walkons David Abror (York, Pa.), Brett Pierce (Sicklerville, N.J.), and Ryan Woods (Glen Mills, Pa.) will also be making an impact in camp.
The Temple video staff will provide insight into the team's progress with video reports posted every day after practice.
Practices are closed to the general public.
Temple opens the 2010 season on Friday, Sept. 3 with Villanova at 5 p.m. in the second annual Mayor's Cup at Lincoln Financial Field.
Temple football season tickets are on sale now for as low as $90, and can be purchased by calling the Temple Ticket Office at 215-204-8499. Fans are encouraged to visit www.OwlsTix.com for full season ticket pricing information.
Owl Outlook: Day 11 video
Owl Outlook is back for Day 11 of training camp, with today's focus being on the secondary, joining us for interviews today are defensive backs Justin Gildea (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) and Marquise Liverpool (Ramsey, N.J.).
Gildea, now a sophomore, played in 12 games in 2009 as a true freshman while recording eight tackles and a pass break-up. He was largely a special teams contributor in his inaugural campaign, and will look to continue making an impact in that phase of the game. Liverpool took a roundabout way to North Broad Street, and after his arrival he even took time to settle into a natural position for him. Now that he is, he is entrenched as one of the team's top cover-men at cornerback, a position that has definitely been in a transition period for the Owls over the past year. Entering last year's breakout season, Temple was playing with a group of corners that had no experience at the position at the college level in Liverpool (who played both wide receiver and running back in his first two seasons), Maurice Jones (a true freshman), Kwame Johnson (a first-year player), and Kevin Kroboth (who was previously playing safety). Later in the season, former leading rusher Kee-ayre Griffin made the switch and played significantly.
Now, with a full offseason under their belts, this group is ready for action. Jones (Belleville, N.J.) started the last four games of the year last year and ended the spring at the top of the depth chart. Johnson (Baltimore, Md.), has the speed to burn and made four tackles in his opening season as an Owl, three of which came in the Villanova game. Griffin (East Orange, N.J.), a player who was one of the top recruits in the state of New Jersey as a senior in high school, moved to the defensive backfield in a late-season game against Akron, recording two tackles and a pass break-up. The following week against Kent State he picked up his first career interception and took it back 36 yards for a touchdown. This previously inexperienced group of cornerbacks has always had a ton of talent, but now has had the time to gel together and become a cohesive unit.
While the cornerback position was in flux last year, Temple has not had to deal with any changes at safety over the past three seasons, with Jaiquawn Jarrett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Dominique Harris (now of the Buffalo Bills) on the team. Now with Harris gone, someone will have to step up to take his place. Kroboth and Gildea are both playing well enough to earn the job, and have shown the right amount of toughness and smarts to make an impact at the position. Backing them up are two players who redshirted in 2009, Deonte Parker (Lakeland, Fla.) and Byron Parker (Virginia Beach, Va.). Deonte was a player that made the most of his opportunity of his redshirt season, winning the 2009 Scout Team Player of the Year Award at the team's banquet. Byron, who saw some time as a wide receiver in last year's training camp, is back on defense and has shown that he has prepared himself to play at this level.
The team will also be depending on a faction of former wideouts to make their mark on defense as well. James Nixon (New Haven, Conn.), the team's 2009 Special Teams MVP, has made the move from wide receiver (where he caught 12 passes for 327 yards and a pair of touchdowns) to defensive back. Nixon was one of the most highly recruited players out of the New England area in High School out of New Haven, Conn., and has the skill set to be very successful as a shutdown corner. Another highly recruited player, redshirt sophomore Vaughn Carraway (Laureldale, Pa)., is making the move to defense and will look to a major player at safety. Carraway was also highly recruited out of high school, spurning offers from Pittsburgh and Michigan to join the Cherry and White. Former walkon Josh Hutchison, a former wideout, has also made the switch to cornerback. "Hutch" will continue to be one of the Owls' top special teamers in 2010.
Several players were also added on signing day that will be looking to make an impact. Defensive back Brian Burns (Bowie, Md.) has good size and athletic ability, while Norristown's Anthony Robey (Norristown, Pa.) has the speed to burn. Marquise Goods (Orange, N.J.) will undoubtedly be making a splash as well. Zamel Johnson (Staten Island, N.Y.), formerly of Hofstra University, enrolled in the spring and has already entrenched himself in the rotation at cornerback. Johnson isn't the only transfer though, with Abdul Smith (Trenton, N.J.), formerly of Rutgers, making it onto the camp roster as well. Walkons David Abror (York, Pa.), Brett Pierce (Sicklerville, N.J.), and Ryan Woods (Glen Mills, Pa.) will also be making an impact in camp.
The Temple video staff will provide insight into the team's progress with video reports posted every day after practice.
Practices are closed to the general public.
Temple opens the 2010 season on Friday, Sept. 3 with Villanova at 5 p.m. in the second annual Mayor's Cup at Lincoln Financial Field.
Temple football season tickets are on sale now for as low as $90, and can be purchased by calling the Temple Ticket Office at 215-204-8499. Fans are encouraged to visit www.OwlsTix.com for full season ticket pricing information.
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