Temple University Athletics
Football's Jovahn Fair on his Journey from Akron and Success in Philly
10.19.18 | Football
PHILADELPHIA- The Temple Owls host #20 Cincinnati this weekend for their homecoming game. The Bearcats hail from the state of Ohio, the home state of Temple offensive lineman Jovahn Fair. Fair, the only player on Temple's roster from Ohio, grew up in Akron and nearly missed his opportunity to come out east to play for the Owls.
"Akron, Ohio, is a lot like Philly except a lot smaller and not as fast paced," stated Fair. "I started playing football with my friends, because I didn't really want to play competitively at first. Then I really started playing my freshman year of high school, got pretty good at it, and started loving it. I was originally committed to Ohio University, but then at my football banquet I got a phone call from a Temple coach. We kept in touch, I visited, then ended up flipping schools."
Akron's a six-and-a-half hour drive away, which Jovahn found appealing when looking at college and universities.
"I love it. Moving around and traveling was a very appealing part of making my decision on where to go to school."
Fair, who only ever took vacations in-state or to Florida to see family, now is enjoying playing football at Temple. His redshirt junior season has allowed him to reflect on his role on the team now as a mentor; one of the older guys.
"Coming in my freshman year we had great leaders in the program," says Fair. "When I first got here, I would just pick their brains and see what made them so successful. Now, I think it's the same too, with the older guys helping the younger guys. I think as a group our chemistry is great. We're like a brotherhood, we have each others back anytime we need something. We do activities together. Like recently we did rock climbing, stuff like that ,and eating together makes our raport really strong."
This season also allowed Fair to see how versatile he and his group of offensive lineman can be.
"It's great because guys get banged up all the time but you have confidence in a guy going to the right side from the left side. It just makes everyone else more comfortable and more confident with what we have to do, knowing there are no weak links when we move guys like that."
Jovahn loves how versatile his group is, but his favorite feeling on the field is truly a team moment.
"My favorite feeling is when we score a touchdown. Seeing a guy score and then going to the end zone to celebrate, that's my favorite feeling. Or putting an opponent on their back, because that's a great feeling since your like forcing someone to out of position. Or picking up a twist. The best feeling I've had so far this year was when Boston College sent a twist at us that [Matt] Hennessy and I picked up. We knew what to do on the fly, Jaelin [Robinson] opened up the left side and Ryquell [Armstead] broke it for a big gain."
Fair and the Temple Owls go up against Fair's home state Cincinnati Bearcats this week in front of a Homecoming crowd. KIckoff is set for Saturday at noon at Lincoln Financial Field.
