Temple University Athletics
Football Adds Three to 2020 Recruiting Class
2.5.20 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Temple Football head coach Rod Carey added three transfers to his 2020 recruiting class. Two – Michael Niese and Manny Walker – are graduate transfers and will be eligible to play immediately. The other is Kwantel Raines who transferred from West Virginia and has already enrolled in classes at Temple.
They join the following players who were signed to the Class of 2020 in December:
Nick Bags (New Jersey), Zae Baines (Roanoke, Va.), Trey Blair (Havertown, Pa.), Nazir Burnett (Harrisburg, Pa.), Dyshier Clary (East Camden, N.J.), Sam Davis (Rock Creek, Ohio), James Della Pesca (River Vale, N.J.), Matt Duncan (Summerville, S.C.), Daiyaan Hawkins (West Philadelphia, Pa.), Muheem McCargo (Camden, N.J.), Demerick Morris (Chicago, Ill.), Alex Odom (Swedesboro, N.J.), Darius Pittman (Gulfport, Miss.), Bryce Thoman (Harrisburg, Pa.), Chevez Trask (Chicago, Ill.), Darian Varner (Norfolk, Va.), Garrett Williams (Suffolk, Va.), Kobe Wilson (Snellville, Ga.), D.J. Woodbury (Burlington City, N.J.), and Miles Zeitek (Germany).
Bags, Blair, Burnett, Davis, McCargo, Raines, Varner, Wilson, and Zietek were mid-year enrollees and began classes at Temple in January.
The Owls have now signed five transfers to the Class of 2020, including four from Power Five schools. Raines (West Virginia) and Walker (Wake Forest) join Burnett, transferring from Georgia Tech, and Pittman, a graduate transfer TE from Purdue.
Michael Niese
2020 (Graduate): Transferred to Temple in February with one season of eligibility remaining … 2019 (Redshirt Junior): Preseason first team All-Pioneer Football League … played in all 11 games … lettered … 2018 (Redshirt Sophomore): Started all 11 games for the Flyers … named Honorable Mention All-Pioneer Football League … 2017 (Redshirt Freshman): Started five games and appeared in 10 games … recorded one tackle on the season … member of the 2017 PFL Academic Honor Roll … 2016 (Freshman): Named a member of the 2016 PFL Academic Honor Roll … redshirted … High School: Lettered three years at St. Louis University playing offensive and defensive line for head coach Gary Kornfeld … the team posted an 8-3 record his junior and senior seasons … named All-MCC on defense in 2014 and All-MCC on offense in 2015 … three-time Academic All-Missouri … football team captain and was a member of the state championship water polo teams as a junior and senior … Personal: Born Michael Henry Niese in St. Louis … son of John and Shelia Niese … has a sister Mary Beth (26) and two brothers David (32) and Daniel (30) … list of favorites include: The Godfather (movie), Seinfeld (TV show), classic rock (music), Chris Long (athlete), Australia (place in the world) … graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Dayton in December 2019 … working towards his master's in engineering management at Temple.
Kwantel Raines
2020 (Redshirt Sophomore): Transferred to Temple in January … 2019 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in six games for the Mountaineers … totaled nine tackles and a forced fumble … 2018 (Freshman): Appeared in one game and had a tackle against #25 Texas Tech … redshirted … High School: Played defensive back and running back at Aliquippa High for head coach Mike Smijnanc … helped team to a 12-1 season, a 6-0 conference mark and a #3 ranking in the state … Quips made their 10th straight appearance in the WPIAL championship game … 3A Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Trib 25 All-Star Team … two-time All-Beaver Valley Conference first-team selection … nominated for the US Army All-American Bowl … collected three interceptions in a win over South Park … forced six turnovers in the first two playoff games of 2017 … was the team leader of one of the best defenses statistic-wise in the WPIAL, allowing just one touchdown in the regular season … Personal: Born Kwantel Raines in Pittsburgh, Pa. … son of Michael Raines … one of six children … human development and community engagement major.
Manny Walker
2020 (Graduate): Transferred to Temple in February with one season of eligibility remaining … 2019 (Redshirt Junior): Appeared in 11 games in his final season at Wake Forest … had seven tackles, one TFL, and an interception against Syracuse … 2018 (Redshirt Sophomore): Earned his first letter by playing in 12 games ... made his college debut in the season-opener at Tulane (8/30) ... logged a season-high 37 snaps against Rice (9/29) ... collected three tackles vs. Towson, Rice and Syracuse ... had two tackles for loss vs. the Orange ... added sacks against Towson and Syracuse ... was on the field for 243 plays on the season ... finished the year with 12 tackles including four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks … 2017 (Redshirt Freshman): Did not see action after suffering injury in preseason camp ... returned to practice late in the season … 2016 (Freshman): Redshirted … High School: Team captain at Lake Marion High under head coach Chris Carter ... named to the USA Today High School Sports American Family Insurance ALL-USA South Carolina Football Team ... led the state of South Carolina with 27.0 sacks in 2015 ... a consensus three-star recruit and the No. 1 defensive end in South Carolina ... ranked among the top 15 players in the state by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN ... first team all-state by the High School Sports Report .... defensive Player of the Year by the Orangeburg Times & Democrat ... had 93 tackles including 83 solo stops as a senior ... recorded 74 tackles and 13 sacks as a junior in 2014 ... helped the Gators to a 9-4 record as a senior and a berth in the Lower State Championship game ... ran the 100 meter hurdles in track and placed second in the state in the high jump as a junior … Personal: Born Emmanuel I'Sel Walker in Columbia, S.C. … goes by Manny … grandson of Mattie and Morris Watson … has one brother Terrell Watson (38) … has five sisters Latonya Watson (36), Latoria Watson (36), Ishanna Walker (35), Tiesha Pierre (33), and Myesha Walker (31) … cousin Davondre Robinson played at ECU … list of favorites include: Walking Dead (TV show), Patriots (NFL team), Japan (place in the world), Roll of Thunder (book) … earned his degree in communications at Wake Forest in December 2019.
| Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | Cl | Hometown / High School / Recent School |
| Michael Niese | OL | 6-5 | 275 | Gr | Chesterfield, Mo. / St. Louis Univ. HS / Dayton |
| Kwantel Raines | SAF | 6-3 | 200 | r-So | Aliqippa, Pa. / Aliqippa / West Virginia |
| Manny Walker | DE | 6-4 | 250 | Gr | Holly Hill, S.C. / Lake Marion / Wake Forest |
They join the following players who were signed to the Class of 2020 in December:
Nick Bags (New Jersey), Zae Baines (Roanoke, Va.), Trey Blair (Havertown, Pa.), Nazir Burnett (Harrisburg, Pa.), Dyshier Clary (East Camden, N.J.), Sam Davis (Rock Creek, Ohio), James Della Pesca (River Vale, N.J.), Matt Duncan (Summerville, S.C.), Daiyaan Hawkins (West Philadelphia, Pa.), Muheem McCargo (Camden, N.J.), Demerick Morris (Chicago, Ill.), Alex Odom (Swedesboro, N.J.), Darius Pittman (Gulfport, Miss.), Bryce Thoman (Harrisburg, Pa.), Chevez Trask (Chicago, Ill.), Darian Varner (Norfolk, Va.), Garrett Williams (Suffolk, Va.), Kobe Wilson (Snellville, Ga.), D.J. Woodbury (Burlington City, N.J.), and Miles Zeitek (Germany).
Bags, Blair, Burnett, Davis, McCargo, Raines, Varner, Wilson, and Zietek were mid-year enrollees and began classes at Temple in January.
The Owls have now signed five transfers to the Class of 2020, including four from Power Five schools. Raines (West Virginia) and Walker (Wake Forest) join Burnett, transferring from Georgia Tech, and Pittman, a graduate transfer TE from Purdue.
Michael Niese
2020 (Graduate): Transferred to Temple in February with one season of eligibility remaining … 2019 (Redshirt Junior): Preseason first team All-Pioneer Football League … played in all 11 games … lettered … 2018 (Redshirt Sophomore): Started all 11 games for the Flyers … named Honorable Mention All-Pioneer Football League … 2017 (Redshirt Freshman): Started five games and appeared in 10 games … recorded one tackle on the season … member of the 2017 PFL Academic Honor Roll … 2016 (Freshman): Named a member of the 2016 PFL Academic Honor Roll … redshirted … High School: Lettered three years at St. Louis University playing offensive and defensive line for head coach Gary Kornfeld … the team posted an 8-3 record his junior and senior seasons … named All-MCC on defense in 2014 and All-MCC on offense in 2015 … three-time Academic All-Missouri … football team captain and was a member of the state championship water polo teams as a junior and senior … Personal: Born Michael Henry Niese in St. Louis … son of John and Shelia Niese … has a sister Mary Beth (26) and two brothers David (32) and Daniel (30) … list of favorites include: The Godfather (movie), Seinfeld (TV show), classic rock (music), Chris Long (athlete), Australia (place in the world) … graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Dayton in December 2019 … working towards his master's in engineering management at Temple.
Kwantel Raines
2020 (Redshirt Sophomore): Transferred to Temple in January … 2019 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in six games for the Mountaineers … totaled nine tackles and a forced fumble … 2018 (Freshman): Appeared in one game and had a tackle against #25 Texas Tech … redshirted … High School: Played defensive back and running back at Aliquippa High for head coach Mike Smijnanc … helped team to a 12-1 season, a 6-0 conference mark and a #3 ranking in the state … Quips made their 10th straight appearance in the WPIAL championship game … 3A Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Trib 25 All-Star Team … two-time All-Beaver Valley Conference first-team selection … nominated for the US Army All-American Bowl … collected three interceptions in a win over South Park … forced six turnovers in the first two playoff games of 2017 … was the team leader of one of the best defenses statistic-wise in the WPIAL, allowing just one touchdown in the regular season … Personal: Born Kwantel Raines in Pittsburgh, Pa. … son of Michael Raines … one of six children … human development and community engagement major.
Manny Walker
2020 (Graduate): Transferred to Temple in February with one season of eligibility remaining … 2019 (Redshirt Junior): Appeared in 11 games in his final season at Wake Forest … had seven tackles, one TFL, and an interception against Syracuse … 2018 (Redshirt Sophomore): Earned his first letter by playing in 12 games ... made his college debut in the season-opener at Tulane (8/30) ... logged a season-high 37 snaps against Rice (9/29) ... collected three tackles vs. Towson, Rice and Syracuse ... had two tackles for loss vs. the Orange ... added sacks against Towson and Syracuse ... was on the field for 243 plays on the season ... finished the year with 12 tackles including four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks … 2017 (Redshirt Freshman): Did not see action after suffering injury in preseason camp ... returned to practice late in the season … 2016 (Freshman): Redshirted … High School: Team captain at Lake Marion High under head coach Chris Carter ... named to the USA Today High School Sports American Family Insurance ALL-USA South Carolina Football Team ... led the state of South Carolina with 27.0 sacks in 2015 ... a consensus three-star recruit and the No. 1 defensive end in South Carolina ... ranked among the top 15 players in the state by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN ... first team all-state by the High School Sports Report .... defensive Player of the Year by the Orangeburg Times & Democrat ... had 93 tackles including 83 solo stops as a senior ... recorded 74 tackles and 13 sacks as a junior in 2014 ... helped the Gators to a 9-4 record as a senior and a berth in the Lower State Championship game ... ran the 100 meter hurdles in track and placed second in the state in the high jump as a junior … Personal: Born Emmanuel I'Sel Walker in Columbia, S.C. … goes by Manny … grandson of Mattie and Morris Watson … has one brother Terrell Watson (38) … has five sisters Latonya Watson (36), Latoria Watson (36), Ishanna Walker (35), Tiesha Pierre (33), and Myesha Walker (31) … cousin Davondre Robinson played at ECU … list of favorites include: Walking Dead (TV show), Patriots (NFL team), Japan (place in the world), Roll of Thunder (book) … earned his degree in communications at Wake Forest in December 2019.
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