Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Michael Glasgow
Getting to Know: Ra'Von Bonner
1.20.21 | Football
Joining the Owls from the University of Illinois is senior running back Ra'Von Bonner. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native played three seasons for the Fighting Illini. Prior to opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, he accumulated 822 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over three seasons and was the Illini's second leading rusher in 2018.
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Bonner had a breakout performance in 2018 against Iowa with 96 rushing yards on 21 carries. He will be a major contributor to the Owls backfield in 2021.
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In Cincinnati, Bonner was a three-time letter winner at Sycamore High School and accumulated 80 rushing touchdowns which was the 17th most in Ohio high school football history. In addition to his accolades on the gridiron, Bonner was part of a State Championship 4x100m relay on the track.
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Bonner's arrival at Temple is not completely full of new faces, as he reunites with his former running back's coach from Illinois, Thad Ward, who is now the Owls' wide receivers coach. "Coach Ward is tough, but truly he cares about his players and I realize that more and more as I get older" said Bonner, "he is an incredible teacher of the game."
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Moving to Philadelphia is exciting for Bonner. "I just like how there is always something going on, and that fits well with me because I like being busy" he explained.
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With a new location comes a new opportunity, and that is exactly what Bonner sees here at Temple. "I believed in the opportunity that Temple was providing" he said. "Nothing is going to be handed to me, but they are giving me the chance to go out there and compete."
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Of course a new opportunity comes with individual goals, but Bonner wants to focus on the team goals and to do whatever he can to contribute to that larger goal, which as he said is "an American Conference Championship."
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Bonner is excited for the challenge that a championship run poses, even if it means dethroning his hometown Cincinnati Bearcats, the 2020 AAC Champions.
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Bonner had a breakout performance in 2018 against Iowa with 96 rushing yards on 21 carries. He will be a major contributor to the Owls backfield in 2021.
Â
In Cincinnati, Bonner was a three-time letter winner at Sycamore High School and accumulated 80 rushing touchdowns which was the 17th most in Ohio high school football history. In addition to his accolades on the gridiron, Bonner was part of a State Championship 4x100m relay on the track.
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Bonner's arrival at Temple is not completely full of new faces, as he reunites with his former running back's coach from Illinois, Thad Ward, who is now the Owls' wide receivers coach. "Coach Ward is tough, but truly he cares about his players and I realize that more and more as I get older" said Bonner, "he is an incredible teacher of the game."
Â
Moving to Philadelphia is exciting for Bonner. "I just like how there is always something going on, and that fits well with me because I like being busy" he explained.
Â
With a new location comes a new opportunity, and that is exactly what Bonner sees here at Temple. "I believed in the opportunity that Temple was providing" he said. "Nothing is going to be handed to me, but they are giving me the chance to go out there and compete."
Â
Of course a new opportunity comes with individual goals, but Bonner wants to focus on the team goals and to do whatever he can to contribute to that larger goal, which as he said is "an American Conference Championship."
Â
Bonner is excited for the challenge that a championship run poses, even if it means dethroning his hometown Cincinnati Bearcats, the 2020 AAC Champions.
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