Temple University Athletics
Football's Roche Named AAC Defensive Player of the Year; Seven Owls Earn All-AAC Honors
12.4.19 | Football
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -Â Seven Temple Football players were selected to the American Athletic Conference All-Conference Teams. Four Owls - DE Quincy Roche, OL Matt Hennessy, LB Shaun Bradley, and DT Ifeanyi Maijeh- made the first team. Three Owls- LB Sam Franklin, WR Jadan Blue, and OL Jovahn Fair - made the second team. Roche was named Defensive Player of the Year of the American Athletic Conference.
Roche, a redshirt junior from Randallstown, Md., was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year. He accumulated 44 tackles, a conference-leading 18.0 TFLs and 13.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. Roche was a force on the edge all season, including an outstanding four game stretch to finish the season. In the final four games, Roche had 10 sacks and 13.0 TFLs.
Pro Football Focus grades Roche at a 93.5 which ranks second best in the FBS (to Ohio State's Chase Young). He also led the country in QB pressures with 67.
Bradley, a senior from Mt. Holly, N.J., was the team's leading tackler this season and followed up last year's first team all-conference performance with another one this season. Bradley had 80 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, three PBUs, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble this season. He was the vocal leader of the best red zone defense in the conference.
Hennessy, a graduate from Bardonia, N.Y., anchored the middle of the offensive line that led the way for an offense that averaged 27.4 points per game. Hennessy was graded by Pro Football Focus as the best center in FBS allowing just four QB pressures all season.
Maijeh, a redshirt sophomore from Far Rockaway, N.Y., jumped onto the scene this season after earning the starting defensive tackle spot in camp. Maijeh registered 50 tackles, 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 11 games played. Maijeh had at least half a sack in the first six games this season. Among interior linemen, Maijeh was tied for third in FBS and first in the conference with 6.5 sacks.
Blue, a redshirt sophomore from Randallstown, Md., has rewritten the Temple record books in his breakout season. Blue is the single-season leader in receptions (87) and receiving yards (975) in Temple history. Blue had 100+ yards receiving in five games this season and hauled in 10+ catches in four games. He has the chance to be Temple's first 1,000 yard receiver ever when the Owls play in a bowl game.
Fair, a graduate student from Akron, Ohio, has been a consistent leader on the offensive line starting every game at left guard the past two seasons. Fair was also selected to the second team all-conference last season and helped pave the way for Temple rush for 1,706 yards this season and 15 touchdowns this season. He can become the first Temple player to start in four bowl games.
Franklin, a senior from Crystal River, Fla., was a dynamic playmaker all season for Temple. He registered 61 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, a sack, an interception, two PBUs, and two fumble recoveries this season. He scored twice this season; once on a fumble recovery and once on a pick six on Senior Day.
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Roche, a redshirt junior from Randallstown, Md., was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year. He accumulated 44 tackles, a conference-leading 18.0 TFLs and 13.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. Roche was a force on the edge all season, including an outstanding four game stretch to finish the season. In the final four games, Roche had 10 sacks and 13.0 TFLs.
Pro Football Focus grades Roche at a 93.5 which ranks second best in the FBS (to Ohio State's Chase Young). He also led the country in QB pressures with 67.
Bradley, a senior from Mt. Holly, N.J., was the team's leading tackler this season and followed up last year's first team all-conference performance with another one this season. Bradley had 80 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, three PBUs, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble this season. He was the vocal leader of the best red zone defense in the conference.
Hennessy, a graduate from Bardonia, N.Y., anchored the middle of the offensive line that led the way for an offense that averaged 27.4 points per game. Hennessy was graded by Pro Football Focus as the best center in FBS allowing just four QB pressures all season.
Maijeh, a redshirt sophomore from Far Rockaway, N.Y., jumped onto the scene this season after earning the starting defensive tackle spot in camp. Maijeh registered 50 tackles, 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 11 games played. Maijeh had at least half a sack in the first six games this season. Among interior linemen, Maijeh was tied for third in FBS and first in the conference with 6.5 sacks.
Blue, a redshirt sophomore from Randallstown, Md., has rewritten the Temple record books in his breakout season. Blue is the single-season leader in receptions (87) and receiving yards (975) in Temple history. Blue had 100+ yards receiving in five games this season and hauled in 10+ catches in four games. He has the chance to be Temple's first 1,000 yard receiver ever when the Owls play in a bowl game.
Fair, a graduate student from Akron, Ohio, has been a consistent leader on the offensive line starting every game at left guard the past two seasons. Fair was also selected to the second team all-conference last season and helped pave the way for Temple rush for 1,706 yards this season and 15 touchdowns this season. He can become the first Temple player to start in four bowl games.
Franklin, a senior from Crystal River, Fla., was a dynamic playmaker all season for Temple. He registered 61 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, a sack, an interception, two PBUs, and two fumble recoveries this season. He scored twice this season; once on a fumble recovery and once on a pick six on Senior Day.
Players Mentioned
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