Temple University Athletics
Football’s Harrison Hand Drafted by the Vikings
4.25.20 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – The Minnesota Vikings selected Temple cornerback Harrison Hand Cherry Hill, N.J.) in the fifth round of the 2020 National Football League Draft on Saturday afternoon. He was the 169th overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, the eighth selection for the Vikings and the second for Temple. On Friday, center Matt Hennessy was selected by Atlanta in the third round.
Temple has had multiple players drafted for the fifth straight year – the only school outside the Power 5 to do that.
"Only had Harrison for the one year," said Temple head coach Rod Carey. "Came back home and obviously performed at a really high level for us and would expect that he will be doing the same on Sundays."
Hand began his collegiate football career at Baylor under former Temple coaches Matt Rhule. Following two impressive seasons for the Bears, Hand elected to transfer to Temple for what would be his third and final season. Hand quickly earned the starting cornerback spot and played in 12 games as an Owl. He registered 59 tackles, three interceptions, eight PBUs, and a forced fumble in 2019. Over his three-year career, Hand played in 34 games and tallied 114 tackles, 19 PBUs, and four interceptions. Hand opted to enter the draft instead of coming back for his senior season.
Temple has now produced at least one NFL-caliber defensive back in each of the past five years – Hand, Rock Ya-Sin (Indianapolis, 2019), Sean Chandler (NY Giants, 2018), Nate Hairston (Indianapolis, 2017), and Tavon Young (Baltimore, 2016).
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.
Hand is the 76th 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), Hennessy, 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.
Temple has had multiple players drafted for the fifth straight year – the only school outside the Power 5 to do that.
"Only had Harrison for the one year," said Temple head coach Rod Carey. "Came back home and obviously performed at a really high level for us and would expect that he will be doing the same on Sundays."
Hand began his collegiate football career at Baylor under former Temple coaches Matt Rhule. Following two impressive seasons for the Bears, Hand elected to transfer to Temple for what would be his third and final season. Hand quickly earned the starting cornerback spot and played in 12 games as an Owl. He registered 59 tackles, three interceptions, eight PBUs, and a forced fumble in 2019. Over his three-year career, Hand played in 34 games and tallied 114 tackles, 19 PBUs, and four interceptions. Hand opted to enter the draft instead of coming back for his senior season.
Temple has now produced at least one NFL-caliber defensive back in each of the past five years – Hand, Rock Ya-Sin (Indianapolis, 2019), Sean Chandler (NY Giants, 2018), Nate Hairston (Indianapolis, 2017), and Tavon Young (Baltimore, 2016).
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.
Hand is the 76th 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), Hennessy, 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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