Temple University Athletics
Fair Honored as Single-Digit Owl
8.17.19 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Following today's practice, the Temple Football team announced that graduate offensive lineman, Jovahn Fair, was awarded the honor of becoming a single-digit player. Although recognized by Temple's honored tradition, the Akron, Ohio, native will continue to wear jersey number 70 as the NCAA prohibits offensive linemen from wearing numbers other than 50-79.
"For me it's being acknowledged by my peers and knowing I'm doing the right things," said Fair when asked what being a single-digit player at Temple means. "They think highly enough of me that I should be one of the nine toughest guys on the team. As a leader, by example and vocally, I think it's a huge honor and something I take a lot of pride in."
"I just tried to work hard and hope that it happened, and luckily it has."
Fair has been the Owls starting left guard since opening day of 2016, earning 30 starts during that time (missed seven games in 2017 due to injury). He joined the 2019 Outland Trophy preseason Watch List this summer. Fair has helped Temple to three bowl games and can become the first player in school history to start in four bowl games. He has been a steadying influence for a team that has seen three different leading rushers [Jahad Thomas (953 in 2016), David Hood (638 in 2017), and Ryquell Armstead (1,098 in 2018)] and three different leading passers [P.J. Walker (3,295 in 2016), Logan Marchi (1,658 in 2017), and Anthony Russo (2,563 in 2018)] from 2016-18.
When asked which former Temple offensive linemen he tried to emulate said, "The few who I model myself after and hope to follow in their footsteps someday, are Dion Dawkins, Kyle Friend and Shahbaz Ahmed. Those are there great leaders who I followed through my time at Temple."
Fair joins fellow offensive linemate Matt Hennessy, as well as WR Branden Mack (1), WR/RS Isaiah Wright (2), LB Chapelle Russell (3), LB Sam Franklin (4) and LB Shaun Bradley (5), as Temple's 2019 single-digit players thus far. Another vote is expected at the end of camp.
"For me it's being acknowledged by my peers and knowing I'm doing the right things," said Fair when asked what being a single-digit player at Temple means. "They think highly enough of me that I should be one of the nine toughest guys on the team. As a leader, by example and vocally, I think it's a huge honor and something I take a lot of pride in."
"I just tried to work hard and hope that it happened, and luckily it has."
Fair has been the Owls starting left guard since opening day of 2016, earning 30 starts during that time (missed seven games in 2017 due to injury). He joined the 2019 Outland Trophy preseason Watch List this summer. Fair has helped Temple to three bowl games and can become the first player in school history to start in four bowl games. He has been a steadying influence for a team that has seen three different leading rushers [Jahad Thomas (953 in 2016), David Hood (638 in 2017), and Ryquell Armstead (1,098 in 2018)] and three different leading passers [P.J. Walker (3,295 in 2016), Logan Marchi (1,658 in 2017), and Anthony Russo (2,563 in 2018)] from 2016-18.
When asked which former Temple offensive linemen he tried to emulate said, "The few who I model myself after and hope to follow in their footsteps someday, are Dion Dawkins, Kyle Friend and Shahbaz Ahmed. Those are there great leaders who I followed through my time at Temple."
Fair joins fellow offensive linemate Matt Hennessy, as well as WR Branden Mack (1), WR/RS Isaiah Wright (2), LB Chapelle Russell (3), LB Sam Franklin (4) and LB Shaun Bradley (5), as Temple's 2019 single-digit players thus far. Another vote is expected at the end of camp.
Players Mentioned
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