Unfinished Business: 2016 Temple Football

Unfinished business.

That's the mindset of the 2016 Temple Owls.

The goals were clearly stated in 2015 by fourth year head coach Matt Rhule. Contend for a conference championship, play in a bowl game, and finished the season as a ranked team.

While those goals were achieved, the expectations have changed. Temple tied a school record with 10 wins and had a couple of chances to add to that. No longer will it be acceptable to play in the postseason. Temple football now expects not only to compete in, but to win a bowl game and a conference championship.

In the past, many viewed Temple as a stepping stone for head coaches – once they had success on North Broad Street, it was assumed they would leave for greener pastures. Rhule was faced with that opportunity last offseason being pursued by other schools with head coaching vacancies. However, his love for Temple and the city of Philadelphia, and the reciprocated respect and commitment between he and the University's administration, kept the coaching staff pretty well intact. That stability has never been more important.

First, the program needs to identify its new on-field leadership. Gone are three-time captains Tyler Matakevich and Kyle Friend, and two-time captain Matt Ioannidis. The defense is losing at least three players who appear headed to the NFL – Matakevich, Ioannidis and Tavon Young.

While the loss of such a very talented senior class is difficult, they left a legacy of hard work and brotherhood that the remaining players have the opportunity to build upon.

This group of three-time letter winners – QB P.J. Walker, LB Jarred Alwan, OL Dion Dawkins, WR Romond Deloatch, DL Avery Ellis, DL Sharif Finch, LB Stephaun Marshall, OL Brendan McGowan, DL Haason Reddick, DL Averee Robinson – and all-conference performers – CB Sean Chandler and RB Jahad Thomas – will be expected to lead Temple to its best season ever, including back-to-back bowl game appearances for the first time in school history.

The talent level continues to improve with bigger, stronger, faster players being recruited and developed. Last year, 15 of 18 recruits redshirted and learned football from the coaching staff while being trained under the watchful eye of Jeremy Scott and his strength and conditioning staff.

Temple has four non-conference games to kickoff the season before beginning defense of its American Athletic Conference East Division crown. Temple will have to get used to playing with a target on its back as 10 of the 12 opponents have lost to the Owls in their most recent meeting. Of the 2016 opponents, only USF looks to extend a winning streak against the Owls (Temple will face Stony Brook for the first time).

Eleven is an important number for the Owls this year. P.J. Walker, who wears #11, will continue re-writing the school's record book. He already has the career marks in pass completions and touchdowns, and is well within reach of the record for passing yards. But the most important #11 for the Owls this season will be the elusive 11th win.

Spring Prospectus

Unfinished Business: 2016 Temple Football

Players Mentioned

Jarred Alwan

Sean Chandler

Dion Dawkins

Romond Deloatch

Avery Ellis

Sharif Finch

Kyle Friend

Matt Ioannidis

Stephaun Marshall

Tyler Matakevich

Brendan McGowan

Haason Reddick

Averee Robinson

Jahad Thomas

Phillip Walker

Tavon Young

Temple University Athletics