Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Chris Coyer: Change is in the Air
9.13.13 | Football
by Kevin Rossi
Chris Coyer is no stranger to change. His Temple Owls have been through three head coaches in the past four seasons, not to mention they are heading into their third conference in three seasons as well. For Coyer, however, those changes pale in comparison to the biggest change of his football career. Coyer is moving from quarterback to H-back for the 2013 season.
But how does a position change like this come about? As the top producer on Temple's offense as a junior in 2012, Coyer threw for 946 yards and eight touchdowns with a completion percentage over 50-percent, while also finishing second on the team with 444 yards and two touchdowns on ground. His 2012 season built off of the momentum of his 2011 season when he took over at quarterback for the Owls and went on to be named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Gildan New Mexico Bowl against Wyoming.
Coyer was already an award winner and a major asset for the Owls' offense while he was the man under center. This is the kind of move that comes from a selfless leader, one that has only the goal of winning football games in mind.
"Chris stepped forward and said that he would be willing to move and do what's best for the team," said Owls' head coach Matt Rhule. "Our young quarterbacks are ready to play, so I think Chris's decision to move is a big benefit to Temple."
One of the young quarterbacks that Coach Rhule has confidence in is Connor Reilly. Reilly, a junior from Fairfax, Va. who has also starred as an outfielder on Temple's baseball team, will step into the starting quarterback role for the Owls this season after biding his time as the team's holder last season. Taking the opportunity to learn from the guys in front of him, Reilly is looking forward to continuing his growth with the help of Coyer.
"Chris is incredibly football intelligent," Reilly said. "He's trying to don that off on me, trying to pawn information off on me, and it really helps."
The learning does not stop for Reilly when he leaves the football field, though. Coyer and Reilly are roommates in addition to teammates. By Reilly's own admission, the two talk a lot of football, and Coyer is always willing to help out when he has questions. Reilly said, "It's almost like having an extra coach when we're away from the facility or back at the room if I can't get Coach [Marcus] Satterfield or [offensive graduate assistant] Adam DiMichele to help me out."
It is off the field that Coyer has made some noticeable changes to his lifting and eating habits. Moving up from his quarterback playing weight of 225-pounds, Coyer has beefed up to 245-pounds over the offseason to transition to H-back and is shooting for an opening game playing weight between 245 and 250-pounds.
"Now that he doesn't have to watch his weight, he eats just as much as the linemen," Reilly joked, offering a theory to how Coyer is growing into his new position. "It's pretty funny, he'll go toe-to-toe with [6-foot-5 285-pound offensive lineman] Cody Booth in a wing competition, and sometimes he'll beat him. He's a human garbage disposal."
Coyer offered no rebuttal.
"That's definitely true," he laughed when he heard about Reilly's theory. "I've always kind of eaten like a lineman. I was raised with good food. My dad was in the restaurant business, and we always had good food on the table, so I always ate a lot."
Raised in Oak Hill, Va., a suburb of Washington D.C., Coyer lived with his parents, Chris and Nancy, and his younger twin sisters, Caroline and Katherine. Starring at quarterback for Oakton High School, Coyer always showed versatility and always proved to be a winner.
As a senior and captain of the Oakton team in 2008, Coyer threw for over 1,400 yards and rushed for nearly 1,300 yards, scoring 32 touchdowns. For his efforts, Coyer was honored as the Concorde District Offensive Player of the Year and the Sun-Gazette Player of the Year. Coyer's winning ways were not limited to the individual accolades, however. In his award-winning 2008 campaign, Coyer led Oakton to the Northern Virginia title.
When Coyer left for Philadelphia and a football scholarship with Temple, his twin sisters developed into burgeoning basketball prospects. To complete the sibling migration north from our nation's capital to the City of Brotherly Love, the pair accepted basketball scholarships with Villanova University where they are now sophomores.
Even with the rigors of his football and academic schedules, he said he is at every one of their home games. His sisters return the favor, attending all of Temple football's home games.
Now, though, Coyer's sisters can no longer simply look under center to find their brother. At H-back, Coyer could be anywhere on the offensive side of the ball. Whether he is lined up on the offensive line like a tight end to make a block or catch a pass, or in the backfield like a fullback, will depend on the play.
The move that Coyer accepted with open arms has been a challenge for the 23-year-old but one that he has welcomed. One would expect a few bumps for anyone switching positions as a senior, but for Coyer, the transition has gone as smoothly as it possibly could have.
"I'm having so much fun playing tight end," Coyer said. "I still get a chance to be a real student of the game and learn as much as I possibly can about what's going on around me. At the same time, I get more of a chance to go out, be an athlete, and make plays on the field that I wouldn't necessarily get the chance to make if I were still playing quarterback."
Coach Rhule agrees and had high praise for his new H-back.
"I don't really have any [concerns]," Rhule said. "He's just such an intense competitor and he runs the ball really, really well. He's got good vision skills and he's very, very intelligent."
When Coyer made this switch, he had the team at the forefront of his mind. Perhaps the biggest benefit of the move will be seen directly on the field. With Reilly in his first season at the helm, Coyer's quarterback-level intelligence and knowledge of the offense will be an important asset.
"You have a veteran that has been out there on the field with you and can calm you down when everything is going crazy around you and help you through situations," Rhule notes. "So I think it's really good that you can benefit from his wisdom, his experiences, his successes, his mistakes,"
Coyer recognizes the benefit and relishes the opportunity to help Reilly and the offense grow.
"The more people that truly know what they're doing, the better we're going to be," Coyer said. "Coach tells us to master our playbook, to master the plays, to master your role, and as we develop with more people getting to that level, it can only be a great thing for the team."
As a true student of the game, one that just wants to absorb as much information about the game of football as possible, Coyer is enjoying the new position. Admittedly, though, he will miss the mind game of playing quarterback.
"I find myself missing it a little bit, that mind game," Coyer said, looking back. "That true chess game that you get as a quarterback. It's not the same as what you get as a tight end, you're more of a rook."
Although Coyer may find himself missing the quarterback position at times, the nation has not missed the opportunity to recognize him for his selfless move. In July, Coyer was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list, the award given out annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung.
"It's an honor to be named to a list like that," Coyer said about the honor. "First and foremost I hope that I can help the team win, but second, play a certain way that would honor that award."
"I'm just happy any time one of our players gets recognized for what they've done," Coach Rhule said of Coyer being named to the Hornung Award watch list. "How many people would be a bowl game MVP and come back to play another position like he did? I'm glad he gets the recognition that he did."
Despite the national honor, Coyer's position on the team really has not changed one bit. He is still the leader of the Owls' football team, regardless of whether he's lining up at quarterback or H-back. A true leader is what his Temple teammates see in him.
"He's a Temple Owl inside and out and he wants to win however he can," Reilly said. "Moving to tight end was his decision, and right now, it's paying off because he's out here making plays."
Coyer remains focused on winning football games, and after a forgettable 4-7 season a year ago, he looks to lead the Cherry and White back to their winning ways of previous seasons.
He has seen a lot of changes during his Temple career, having been through three coaches, three conferences, and now a position change from quarterback to H-back as a senior. Now, in their first season in the American Athletic Conference and their first season under head coach Matt Rhule, there is one change that Chris Coyer and his Temple teammates would love to see this season: victory in a bowl game return.
Chris Coyer is no stranger to change. His Temple Owls have been through three head coaches in the past four seasons, not to mention they are heading into their third conference in three seasons as well. For Coyer, however, those changes pale in comparison to the biggest change of his football career. Coyer is moving from quarterback to H-back for the 2013 season.
But how does a position change like this come about? As the top producer on Temple's offense as a junior in 2012, Coyer threw for 946 yards and eight touchdowns with a completion percentage over 50-percent, while also finishing second on the team with 444 yards and two touchdowns on ground. His 2012 season built off of the momentum of his 2011 season when he took over at quarterback for the Owls and went on to be named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Gildan New Mexico Bowl against Wyoming.
Coyer was already an award winner and a major asset for the Owls' offense while he was the man under center. This is the kind of move that comes from a selfless leader, one that has only the goal of winning football games in mind.
"Chris stepped forward and said that he would be willing to move and do what's best for the team," said Owls' head coach Matt Rhule. "Our young quarterbacks are ready to play, so I think Chris's decision to move is a big benefit to Temple."
One of the young quarterbacks that Coach Rhule has confidence in is Connor Reilly. Reilly, a junior from Fairfax, Va. who has also starred as an outfielder on Temple's baseball team, will step into the starting quarterback role for the Owls this season after biding his time as the team's holder last season. Taking the opportunity to learn from the guys in front of him, Reilly is looking forward to continuing his growth with the help of Coyer.
"Chris is incredibly football intelligent," Reilly said. "He's trying to don that off on me, trying to pawn information off on me, and it really helps."
The learning does not stop for Reilly when he leaves the football field, though. Coyer and Reilly are roommates in addition to teammates. By Reilly's own admission, the two talk a lot of football, and Coyer is always willing to help out when he has questions. Reilly said, "It's almost like having an extra coach when we're away from the facility or back at the room if I can't get Coach [Marcus] Satterfield or [offensive graduate assistant] Adam DiMichele to help me out."
It is off the field that Coyer has made some noticeable changes to his lifting and eating habits. Moving up from his quarterback playing weight of 225-pounds, Coyer has beefed up to 245-pounds over the offseason to transition to H-back and is shooting for an opening game playing weight between 245 and 250-pounds.
"Now that he doesn't have to watch his weight, he eats just as much as the linemen," Reilly joked, offering a theory to how Coyer is growing into his new position. "It's pretty funny, he'll go toe-to-toe with [6-foot-5 285-pound offensive lineman] Cody Booth in a wing competition, and sometimes he'll beat him. He's a human garbage disposal."
Coyer offered no rebuttal.
"That's definitely true," he laughed when he heard about Reilly's theory. "I've always kind of eaten like a lineman. I was raised with good food. My dad was in the restaurant business, and we always had good food on the table, so I always ate a lot."
Raised in Oak Hill, Va., a suburb of Washington D.C., Coyer lived with his parents, Chris and Nancy, and his younger twin sisters, Caroline and Katherine. Starring at quarterback for Oakton High School, Coyer always showed versatility and always proved to be a winner.
As a senior and captain of the Oakton team in 2008, Coyer threw for over 1,400 yards and rushed for nearly 1,300 yards, scoring 32 touchdowns. For his efforts, Coyer was honored as the Concorde District Offensive Player of the Year and the Sun-Gazette Player of the Year. Coyer's winning ways were not limited to the individual accolades, however. In his award-winning 2008 campaign, Coyer led Oakton to the Northern Virginia title.
When Coyer left for Philadelphia and a football scholarship with Temple, his twin sisters developed into burgeoning basketball prospects. To complete the sibling migration north from our nation's capital to the City of Brotherly Love, the pair accepted basketball scholarships with Villanova University where they are now sophomores.
Even with the rigors of his football and academic schedules, he said he is at every one of their home games. His sisters return the favor, attending all of Temple football's home games.
Now, though, Coyer's sisters can no longer simply look under center to find their brother. At H-back, Coyer could be anywhere on the offensive side of the ball. Whether he is lined up on the offensive line like a tight end to make a block or catch a pass, or in the backfield like a fullback, will depend on the play.
The move that Coyer accepted with open arms has been a challenge for the 23-year-old but one that he has welcomed. One would expect a few bumps for anyone switching positions as a senior, but for Coyer, the transition has gone as smoothly as it possibly could have.
"I'm having so much fun playing tight end," Coyer said. "I still get a chance to be a real student of the game and learn as much as I possibly can about what's going on around me. At the same time, I get more of a chance to go out, be an athlete, and make plays on the field that I wouldn't necessarily get the chance to make if I were still playing quarterback."
Coach Rhule agrees and had high praise for his new H-back.
"I don't really have any [concerns]," Rhule said. "He's just such an intense competitor and he runs the ball really, really well. He's got good vision skills and he's very, very intelligent."
When Coyer made this switch, he had the team at the forefront of his mind. Perhaps the biggest benefit of the move will be seen directly on the field. With Reilly in his first season at the helm, Coyer's quarterback-level intelligence and knowledge of the offense will be an important asset.
"You have a veteran that has been out there on the field with you and can calm you down when everything is going crazy around you and help you through situations," Rhule notes. "So I think it's really good that you can benefit from his wisdom, his experiences, his successes, his mistakes,"
Coyer recognizes the benefit and relishes the opportunity to help Reilly and the offense grow.
"The more people that truly know what they're doing, the better we're going to be," Coyer said. "Coach tells us to master our playbook, to master the plays, to master your role, and as we develop with more people getting to that level, it can only be a great thing for the team."
As a true student of the game, one that just wants to absorb as much information about the game of football as possible, Coyer is enjoying the new position. Admittedly, though, he will miss the mind game of playing quarterback.
"I find myself missing it a little bit, that mind game," Coyer said, looking back. "That true chess game that you get as a quarterback. It's not the same as what you get as a tight end, you're more of a rook."
Although Coyer may find himself missing the quarterback position at times, the nation has not missed the opportunity to recognize him for his selfless move. In July, Coyer was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list, the award given out annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung.
"It's an honor to be named to a list like that," Coyer said about the honor. "First and foremost I hope that I can help the team win, but second, play a certain way that would honor that award."
"I'm just happy any time one of our players gets recognized for what they've done," Coach Rhule said of Coyer being named to the Hornung Award watch list. "How many people would be a bowl game MVP and come back to play another position like he did? I'm glad he gets the recognition that he did."
Despite the national honor, Coyer's position on the team really has not changed one bit. He is still the leader of the Owls' football team, regardless of whether he's lining up at quarterback or H-back. A true leader is what his Temple teammates see in him.
"He's a Temple Owl inside and out and he wants to win however he can," Reilly said. "Moving to tight end was his decision, and right now, it's paying off because he's out here making plays."
Coyer remains focused on winning football games, and after a forgettable 4-7 season a year ago, he looks to lead the Cherry and White back to their winning ways of previous seasons.
He has seen a lot of changes during his Temple career, having been through three coaches, three conferences, and now a position change from quarterback to H-back as a senior. Now, in their first season in the American Athletic Conference and their first season under head coach Matt Rhule, there is one change that Chris Coyer and his Temple teammates would love to see this season: victory in a bowl game return.
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