Temple University Athletics
More Temple Players Join Ranks of NFL
5.1.17 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - After a weekend in which the Temple Owls had three players drafted into the NFL (DL/LB Haason Reddick, Arizona Cardinals; OL Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills; and DB Nate Hairston, Indianapolis Colts), the roster of former Owls in the NFL continues to grow. By the end of the weekend (TE/DL Romond Deloatch, New York Giants; DL Praise Martin-Oguike, Miami Dolphins; RB Jahad Thomas, Dallas Cowboys; TE Colin Thompson, New York Giants; QB Phillip Walker, Indianapolis Colts; and LB Avery Williams, Houston Texans) had all signed free agent contracts.
"What a great weekend for Temple University," said head coach Geoff Collins. "Philadelphia was the epicenter of the football world and our city looked amazing to the millions of people who watched the draft. More important to me is that nine 2016 seniors, the legends of our program as I call them, found a home on NFL rosters. If they keep playing with the same high standard they did here at Temple, that Temple TUFF mentality, they will all have long careers in the NFL."
Deloatch was a four-year letterwinner for the Owls. As a wide receiver/tight end, he had 59 receptions for 643 yards and seven touchdowns during his career. In his redshirt senior season, Deloatch became a two-way player for the Owls adding the role of defensive end and notching 4.0 sacks with a fumble recovery for a touchdown. He played in 52 games during his time at Temple, more than any other Owl in school history.
Martin-Oguike was a three-year letterwinner and a two-time second-team all-conference selection as a defensive lineman. By the end of his career, he was second among active NCAA players in career forced fumbles (11). Martin-Oguike also finished with 19.0 sacks for his career which was good for fourth all-time at Temple. He played in 47 games and started in 28 throughout his illustrious career with the Owls.
Thomas was a three-year letterwinner and a team captain during his senior year. He was a two-time all-conference running back and scored 38 touchdowns over the last two seasons. In 2016, Thomas scored two touchdowns in nine out of his twelve games including his first six which was the longest streak in the nation last season and the longest streak in Owls' history. He left Temple third all-time in touchdowns (39), third in rushing touchdowns (30), sixth in rushing yards (2,599), and third in all-purpose yards (4,744).
Thompson was a three-year letterwinner for the Owls after transferring from the University of Florida in 2014. Last season, he was an honorable mention all-conference selection. Thompson was a huge part of a blocking scheme that helped the duo of Ryquell Armstead and Jahad Thomas each rush for over 900 yards and 13+ touchdowns. He played in 36 games (22 starts) and caught 19 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown during his time at Temple.
Walker was a four-year starting quarterback and team captain his senior year. He has set nearly every Temple career mark for a quarterback including attempts (1,458), completion (830), touchdown passes (74), passing yards (10,668) and wins by a starting quarterback (28). At the end of his career, he ranked seventh all-time among active NCAA players in total offense (11,100) and is Temple's only quarterback to throw for 10,000+ passing yards in his career. In the AAC Championship Game, he was named the Most Outstanding Player, throwing for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams was a three-year letterwinner and team captain during his senior year. Last season, he was a second-team all-conference selection and led the Owls with 66 tackles. Williams also led his team in tackles in three games this past season, the most by any Owl. A former running back and safety, Williams found a home at linebacker playing in 47 games and starting in 26 during his time at Temple.
That makes 18 Owls in the NFL, and 15 joining in just the last two seasons. These nine new pros join the following former Owls currently active in the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens – Tavon Young
Denver Broncos – Brandon McManus
Detroit Lions – Tahir Whitehead
Los Angeles Rams – Brandon Shippen
New York Jets – Robby Anderson, Muhammad Wilkerson
Pittsburgh Steelers – Kyle Friend, Tyler Matakevich
Washington Redskins – Matt Ioannidis
Draft Notes:
"What a great weekend for Temple University," said head coach Geoff Collins. "Philadelphia was the epicenter of the football world and our city looked amazing to the millions of people who watched the draft. More important to me is that nine 2016 seniors, the legends of our program as I call them, found a home on NFL rosters. If they keep playing with the same high standard they did here at Temple, that Temple TUFF mentality, they will all have long careers in the NFL."
Deloatch was a four-year letterwinner for the Owls. As a wide receiver/tight end, he had 59 receptions for 643 yards and seven touchdowns during his career. In his redshirt senior season, Deloatch became a two-way player for the Owls adding the role of defensive end and notching 4.0 sacks with a fumble recovery for a touchdown. He played in 52 games during his time at Temple, more than any other Owl in school history.
Martin-Oguike was a three-year letterwinner and a two-time second-team all-conference selection as a defensive lineman. By the end of his career, he was second among active NCAA players in career forced fumbles (11). Martin-Oguike also finished with 19.0 sacks for his career which was good for fourth all-time at Temple. He played in 47 games and started in 28 throughout his illustrious career with the Owls.
Thomas was a three-year letterwinner and a team captain during his senior year. He was a two-time all-conference running back and scored 38 touchdowns over the last two seasons. In 2016, Thomas scored two touchdowns in nine out of his twelve games including his first six which was the longest streak in the nation last season and the longest streak in Owls' history. He left Temple third all-time in touchdowns (39), third in rushing touchdowns (30), sixth in rushing yards (2,599), and third in all-purpose yards (4,744).
Thompson was a three-year letterwinner for the Owls after transferring from the University of Florida in 2014. Last season, he was an honorable mention all-conference selection. Thompson was a huge part of a blocking scheme that helped the duo of Ryquell Armstead and Jahad Thomas each rush for over 900 yards and 13+ touchdowns. He played in 36 games (22 starts) and caught 19 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown during his time at Temple.
Walker was a four-year starting quarterback and team captain his senior year. He has set nearly every Temple career mark for a quarterback including attempts (1,458), completion (830), touchdown passes (74), passing yards (10,668) and wins by a starting quarterback (28). At the end of his career, he ranked seventh all-time among active NCAA players in total offense (11,100) and is Temple's only quarterback to throw for 10,000+ passing yards in his career. In the AAC Championship Game, he was named the Most Outstanding Player, throwing for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams was a three-year letterwinner and team captain during his senior year. Last season, he was a second-team all-conference selection and led the Owls with 66 tackles. Williams also led his team in tackles in three games this past season, the most by any Owl. A former running back and safety, Williams found a home at linebacker playing in 47 games and starting in 26 during his time at Temple.
That makes 18 Owls in the NFL, and 15 joining in just the last two seasons. These nine new pros join the following former Owls currently active in the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens – Tavon Young
Denver Broncos – Brandon McManus
Detroit Lions – Tahir Whitehead
Los Angeles Rams – Brandon Shippen
New York Jets – Robby Anderson, Muhammad Wilkerson
Pittsburgh Steelers – Kyle Friend, Tyler Matakevich
Washington Redskins – Matt Ioannidis
Draft Notes:
- Temple had a school-best three players drafted in the same year for the seventh time. That also happened in 1946, 1975, 1980, 1987, 2012, and 2016. The nine players in one year to join the NFL is three shy of the 12 who were signed in 2012.
- Only 22 schools had more than Temple's three drafted players, all among the Power 5 schools. However, Temple had more players drafted than 38 Power 5 conference schools plus major independents BYU and Notre Dame.
- The American Athletic Conference had 15 players selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, fifth among all conferences, led by Temple, Houston and USF with three each. As the 13th overall selection, Reddick was the highest drafted American Athletic Conference player this year.
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