Temple University Athletics
Football’s Hennessy Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
4.24.20 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – The Atlanta Falcons selected Temple center Matt Hennessy (Bardonia, N.Y.) in the third round of the 2020 National Football League Draft on Friday evening. He was the 78th overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, the third selection for the Falcons and the first for Temple.
"Obviously we are super excited for Matt to be selected by Atlanta," said Temple head coach Rod Carey. "He's gonna be a good player in the league for a long time. He's a class act of a kid. Great family and relentless football player."
Hennessy finished his four year career at Temple playing in 38 games and earning national recognition for his performance in his redshirt junior season in 2019. He was the captain of an experienced offensive line and was awarded an honorary single digit in 2018. Hennessy was graded by Pro Football Focus as a top three center in the country his final season and was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. He was the only Group of Five center ever to be named a finalist for the award in this decade. Hennessy earned multiple All-America honors and first team all-conference honors before foregoing his final season in order to pursue the NFL. Hennessy shined at the Reese's Senior Bowl and at the NFL Combine.
Temple has now seen at least one Owls' player drafted into the NFL in five straight seasons (2016-2020) tying the second longest streak in school history. The longest streak is 11 season from 1979-90, and the other time Temple had players in the NFL Draft in five consecutive seasons was 1942-46. Temple has now had at least one player drafted in 10 straight decades dating back to the 1930s (the NFL Draft started in 1935). The 2010s tied the 1980s for most players drafted with 16.
Hennessy is the 75th Temple football player to be drafted into the NFL. He joins Robby Anderson (Carolina), Ryquell Armstead (Jacksonville), Sean Chandler (New York Giants), Dion Dawkins (Buffalo), Michael Dogbe (Arizona), Sharif Finch (Cincinnati), Nate Hairston (New York Jets), Matt Ioannidis (Washington), Keith Kirkwood (Carolina), Jacob Martin (Houston), Tyler Matakevich (Buffalo), Brandon McManus (Denver), Chris Myarick (Miami), Haason Reddick (Arizona), Jullian Taylor (San Francisco), Colin Thompson (Carolina), Phillip Walker (Carolina), Tahir Whitehead (Carolina), Rock Ya-Sin (Indianapolis), and Tavon Young (Baltimore) as former Owls currently active in the NFL.
The last 12 players who were drafted from Temple – dating back to Tahir Whitehead as the 138th selection in 2012 – remain active in the NFL. Entering the 2020 Draft, only eight schools – Michigan (19), Iowa (17), Wisconsin (17), Ohio State (16), Texas A&M (16), Clemson (15), Georgia (14), and Penn State (14) have a larger streak. Only two schools have a longer streak – ECU (2010) and Tulsa (2011) - but their number of players are, 4 and 1, respectively.
"Obviously we are super excited for Matt to be selected by Atlanta," said Temple head coach Rod Carey. "He's gonna be a good player in the league for a long time. He's a class act of a kid. Great family and relentless football player."
Hennessy finished his four year career at Temple playing in 38 games and earning national recognition for his performance in his redshirt junior season in 2019. He was the captain of an experienced offensive line and was awarded an honorary single digit in 2018. Hennessy was graded by Pro Football Focus as a top three center in the country his final season and was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. He was the only Group of Five center ever to be named a finalist for the award in this decade. Hennessy earned multiple All-America honors and first team all-conference honors before foregoing his final season in order to pursue the NFL. Hennessy shined at the Reese's Senior Bowl and at the NFL Combine.
Temple has now seen at least one Owls' player drafted into the NFL in five straight seasons (2016-2020) tying the second longest streak in school history. The longest streak is 11 season from 1979-90, and the other time Temple had players in the NFL Draft in five consecutive seasons was 1942-46. Temple has now had at least one player drafted in 10 straight decades dating back to the 1930s (the NFL Draft started in 1935). The 2010s tied the 1980s for most players drafted with 16.
Hennessy is the 75th Temple football player to be drafted into the NFL. He joins Robby Anderson (Carolina), Ryquell Armstead (Jacksonville), Sean Chandler (New York Giants), Dion Dawkins (Buffalo), Michael Dogbe (Arizona), Sharif Finch (Cincinnati), Nate Hairston (New York Jets), Matt Ioannidis (Washington), Keith Kirkwood (Carolina), Jacob Martin (Houston), Tyler Matakevich (Buffalo), Brandon McManus (Denver), Chris Myarick (Miami), Haason Reddick (Arizona), Jullian Taylor (San Francisco), Colin Thompson (Carolina), Phillip Walker (Carolina), Tahir Whitehead (Carolina), Rock Ya-Sin (Indianapolis), and Tavon Young (Baltimore) as former Owls currently active in the NFL.
The last 12 players who were drafted from Temple – dating back to Tahir Whitehead as the 138th selection in 2012 – remain active in the NFL. Entering the 2020 Draft, only eight schools – Michigan (19), Iowa (17), Wisconsin (17), Ohio State (16), Texas A&M (16), Clemson (15), Georgia (14), and Penn State (14) have a larger streak. Only two schools have a longer streak – ECU (2010) and Tulsa (2011) - but their number of players are, 4 and 1, respectively.
Players Mentioned
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RB
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DB
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OL
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DT
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DL
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DB
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OL
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DL
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WR
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DL
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LB
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PK/P
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TE
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DL
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DL
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TE
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QB
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LB
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CB
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DB
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