Temple University Athletics
Football Lands Five on the Senior Bowl Watch List
8.24.17 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Temple will be represented by five seniors on the 2017-18 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. The players on the list include cornerback Mike Jones, safety Sean Chandler, fullback Nick Sharga, offensive tackle Leon Johnson and wide receiver Keith Kirkwood.
Jones, a transfer from North Carolina Central, earned First Team All-MEAC honors in 2014 and 2016. As a punt returner, he led the MEAC with 22.0 yards per return and was one of only four players in the FCS with at least two punt return touchdowns. He was also second in the nation his sophomore year in punt returns with an average of 19.1 yards per return.
Chandler is a three-year letterwinner for Temple from 2014-16. He earned Second Team All- American Athletic Conference honors in 2016. His freshman year he recorded 65 tackles, the most amongst defensive backs and third on the team. He was also named to the Chuck Bednarik and Jim Thorpe Watch Lists. In 2017, Chandler has already been recognized for multiple award watch lists this season. He is recognized again for the Bednarik and Thorpe awards, as well as the Bronko Nagurski Watch List for the nation's best defensive player and the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Watch List for nation's best defensive player in character and performance.
Sharga, a freshman transfer from West Virginia Wesleyan, has lettered twice for the Owls from 2015-2016. During his sophomore year, he was awarded a single digit jersey (#4) for his display of toughness. He was named to the President's Honor Roll in 2014, 2015 and 2017. He was also named to the CoSIDA All-Academic district team and to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic team. Sharga was a two way player his sophomore year playing middle linebacker and solidified his starting spot as a fullback last year.
Johnson has served the team as a tackle on the offensive line since his freshman year. He made his collegiate debut against Vanderbilt in 2014 as a redshirt freshman. He helped the offensive line lead the FBS in time of possession improvement. Johnson was named to American Athletic Conference All-Academic team in 2015 and 2016. He also made the 2017 Athletic Director Honor Roll.
Kirkwood, a transfer from Hawaii, earned Academic All-Mountain West honors his freshman year. His senior year he was awarded the single digit jersey (#5) for his display of toughness. He was the first player to be awarded the number under head coach Geoff Collins, who also wore #5 in college. Kirkwood has earned American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honors from 2014-2016. He also was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in 2017. This year he has been named to the Wuerffel Award Watch List for academic, athletic and community service, as well as the Paul Hornung Award Watch List for most versatile player.
The Senior Bowl's 2018 Watch List includes more than 400 student athletes from nearly every level of college football. These are the players who we are looking to fill the 110 roster spots that form the North and South squads for the nation's premier all-star game. A player not on the initial list can be added to the watch list during the season and be invited to the 2018 game.
Jones, a transfer from North Carolina Central, earned First Team All-MEAC honors in 2014 and 2016. As a punt returner, he led the MEAC with 22.0 yards per return and was one of only four players in the FCS with at least two punt return touchdowns. He was also second in the nation his sophomore year in punt returns with an average of 19.1 yards per return.
Chandler is a three-year letterwinner for Temple from 2014-16. He earned Second Team All- American Athletic Conference honors in 2016. His freshman year he recorded 65 tackles, the most amongst defensive backs and third on the team. He was also named to the Chuck Bednarik and Jim Thorpe Watch Lists. In 2017, Chandler has already been recognized for multiple award watch lists this season. He is recognized again for the Bednarik and Thorpe awards, as well as the Bronko Nagurski Watch List for the nation's best defensive player and the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Watch List for nation's best defensive player in character and performance.
Sharga, a freshman transfer from West Virginia Wesleyan, has lettered twice for the Owls from 2015-2016. During his sophomore year, he was awarded a single digit jersey (#4) for his display of toughness. He was named to the President's Honor Roll in 2014, 2015 and 2017. He was also named to the CoSIDA All-Academic district team and to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic team. Sharga was a two way player his sophomore year playing middle linebacker and solidified his starting spot as a fullback last year.
Johnson has served the team as a tackle on the offensive line since his freshman year. He made his collegiate debut against Vanderbilt in 2014 as a redshirt freshman. He helped the offensive line lead the FBS in time of possession improvement. Johnson was named to American Athletic Conference All-Academic team in 2015 and 2016. He also made the 2017 Athletic Director Honor Roll.
Kirkwood, a transfer from Hawaii, earned Academic All-Mountain West honors his freshman year. His senior year he was awarded the single digit jersey (#5) for his display of toughness. He was the first player to be awarded the number under head coach Geoff Collins, who also wore #5 in college. Kirkwood has earned American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honors from 2014-2016. He also was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in 2017. This year he has been named to the Wuerffel Award Watch List for academic, athletic and community service, as well as the Paul Hornung Award Watch List for most versatile player.
The Senior Bowl's 2018 Watch List includes more than 400 student athletes from nearly every level of college football. These are the players who we are looking to fill the 110 roster spots that form the North and South squads for the nation's premier all-star game. A player not on the initial list can be added to the watch list during the season and be invited to the 2018 game.
Players Mentioned
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