Temple University Athletics
2021 Spring Football Practice Blog
4.23.21 | Football
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We will schedule interviews for 2-3 players following each practice and post a daily blog with highlights from the practices. In addition, Coach Rod Carey will be available each week; coordinators Mike Uremovich and Jeff Knowles will be available once towards the beginning of spring ball and once again towards the end; and each position coach will also be scheduled for an interview.
On Thursday, April 29, Temple will premiere the Spring Football Showcase presented by Temple Health, a one-hour broadcast with exclusive player and coach interviews as well as practice footage from the spring. The broadcast will begin at 7:00 p.m. on the Temple Athletics YouTube Channel.
Temple enters the 2021 spring with nine incoming transfers – nearly all from Power 5 schools. Running backs Ra'Von Bonner (Illinois) and Iverson Clement (Florida), quarterback D'Wan Mathis (Georgia) and wide receiver Amad Anderson Jr. (Purdue) will bolster an offense that returns a group of offensive linemen who have a total of 127 collegiate starts under their belt. Only seven FBS teams in the country have more experience.
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On the defensive side, the line is revamped with the additions of Xach Gill (UNC), Lancine Turay (UNC) and Will Rodgers (Washington State). The backend also added cornerbacks Keyshawn Paul (UConn) and Cameron Ruiz (Northwestern – although Ruiz will not join the team until this summer).
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These top recruits join a team that also returns four single-digit players – wide receivers Randle Jones and Jadan Blue, linebacker William Kwenkeu and safety Amir Tyler. Jones, Kwenkeu and Tyler took advantage of the COVID-19 rule that permitted 2020 players an extra year of eligibility and now enter their sixth season in Cherry & White.
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The 2021 season will kickoff on Saturday, September 4, when the Owls travel to Rutgers to take on the Scarlet Knights.
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Monday, April 5
The 2021 Temple Owls took the field for the first time today with the first of 15 spring practices. COVID-19 played a role in the disappointing 2020 season and while the pandemic isn't over, practice is beginning to look like it had in the past. One of the easiest differences to see is the return of the student managers to help the equipment and athletic training departments.
There were also a number of new faces in helmets and jerseys as Temple made good use of the transfer portal this winter. In all, there were eight new Owls, who have previously played FBS football, donning the Cherry & White for the first time.
There will always be focus on the quarterback position and one of those new faces, D'Wan Mathis from the University of Georgia, shared first-team reps with redshirt sophomore Re-al Mitchell. Each had a chance to work with the first-team offensive line and all the experienced skill position players.
The team spent plenty of time working on individual position drills and had a few periods of full team practice and special teams' units. It was encouraging to see the team sprinting from drill-to-drill as the practice was very efficient. Rod Carey shared that he was pleased with the effort but was disappointed in the practice itself which means that there is plenty of work to get done this spring. It helps now that the coaching staff remains intact from a year ago something that hasn't happened at Temple in over a decade.
The play of the day came from Kwantel Raines. The redshirt sophomore, who was forced to miss the 2020 season after transferring from West Virginia, stepped in front of an errant pass and raced 60-yards for a score.
Tuesday, April 6
The Cherry & White brought the energy today, putting on a show in front of former Temple Owls Shaun Bradley and Chapelle Russell at practice. The Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars players, respectively, observed the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills where SAF Jalen Ware jumped a route for an interception.
While the offense had its moments, the day was won by the defense with a few impressive series. The best series of the day for the unit included a sack by DE Travon King as well as a pass deflection from CB Freddie Johnson. Newly-converted cornerback Jeremy Jennings got in on the action as well, having a pass breakup of his own.
Thursday, April 8
After a day off on Wednesday, the Owls picked up right where they left off today with a high-intensity and high-energy practice. RB Ra'Von Bonner has proven to be a welcome addition at practice, breaking off a few plays for chunk gains in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.
Looking at the special teams unit, left kicker Gavin Dionisio got in his first practice, converting a few field goals. Not to be outdone, Rory Bell knocked in a few 30-yard field goals of his own with the longest from just outside 40-yards.
The play of the day went to Randle Jones as the veteran wide receiver hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from QB D'Wan Mathis in 7-on-7 drills.
Friday, April 9
With a day off tomorrow, the Owls ended the first week of spring practice with a lot of energy. For fun, offensive and defensive linemen squared off in 1-on-1 passing drills where OL Wisdom Quarshie caught a slant pass for a touchdown, while DE Manny Walker tried his hand as a shutdown corner.
Towards the end of practice, the play of the day came from a 45-yard swing pass from QB Re-al Mitchell to RB Iverson Clement which set the tone for an eventful 11-on-11 drill. Shortly after, WR Jose Barbon caught a touchdown pass in the back of the endzone from QB D'Wan Mathis. From there, the defense took over, as stops from linebackers Jordan Magee and Audley Isaacs and SAF DeJuan Dandridge got the defense in a rhythm, stifling the offense on consecutive drives.
Sunday, April 11
The Owls were back at it in full pads after an off day on Saturday. A wet field, overcast sky, and threat of rain, couldn't dampen the high-energy that was on display once again.Â
All three phases had their moment to shine. Rory Bell was 5-for-5 on field goals in the initial period. Each attempt was incrementally longer and topped out with a 45-yarder that had distance to spare to end that segment of practice.
In a later segment, the defense thwarted an offensive series when on three consecutive plays Audley Isaacs made an interception, Alex Odom got his hands up during a blitz and batted the ball down, and Dyshier Clary recorded a sack. Not to be outdone, the offense scored on explosive plays when D'Wan Mathis dropped a 31-yard strike to Randle Jones and Kyle Dobbins broke off a 61-yard TD run.
Monday, April 12
The Cherry & White showed out today, even though the sun did not, in what was a dreary, overcast day once again.
"Iron sharpens iron." That was the theme of the day as the offensive and defensive units battled with both sides providing some sparks throughout the day.
On the offensive side, QB Matt Duncan connected with WR Jordan Smith on a beautifully thrown 30-yard pass down the sideline. However, the play of the day went to CB Ty Mason as the junior hauled in an acrobatic interception on a deep ball, halting an offensive possession.
Wednesday, April 14
In the early segment of practice, safeties Amir Tyler and Jalen Ware kicked things off with interceptions in 7-on-7 drills. Shortly thereafter, the offensive unit responded with a few big plays of their own, one being a 30-yard pitch-and-catch from QB Re-al Mitchell to WR Amad Anderson Jr.
However, the real show happened in the final 11-on-11 portion when a 75-yard deep ball from QB D'Wan Mathis to WR Nazir Burnett won the day for the offense. But not so fast, as a few plays later CB Elijah Clark snagged an interception and ran it back 100 yards for a defensive score.
Thursday, April 15
The Owls held their first scrimmage of the spring campaign today, giving players the chance to really showcase their talents in a game-like scenario.
Wide receivers De'Von Fox and Jordan Smith made the most of their opportunities as Fox made a key downfield block on a swing pass to RB Kyle Dobbins, caught a touchdown pass, and moved the chains multiple times on end-arounds. Smith caught a pair of touchdown passes from QB D'Wan Mathis, the last one being a great catch in the back corner of the endzone.
The defense was able to create plenty of game-changing plays of their own as LB William Kwenkeu recorded a scoop-and-score touchdown.
Saturday, April 17
The Owls resumed practice on Saturday and made the most of their time on the field. Most of the drills were contested and spirited with players shining on offense, defense and special teams.
Junior transfer cornerback Keyshawn Paul recovered in time to knockdown a back-shoulder pass intended for Randle Jones. However, the play of the day came on offense as Amad Anderson Jr. caught a 35-yard touchdown with both hands around the defender. Jadan Blue later made a nice grab of a pass in the end zone beating double coverage.
The kickoff return unit should receive a jolt of energy as three players not on the team a year ago – Anderson, Iverson Clement, and Jeremy Jennings – worked with last year's holdovers at the returner position.
Sunday, April 18
The Cherry & White hit the gridiron once again today on what was a beautiful, sunny day.
The Owls got a lot of work done in individual drills before moving to 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills in the later segments. In 7-on-7, WR Randle Jones made an acrobatic catch in the corner of the endzone from a strike from QB D'Wan Mathis. The play of the day occurred in the same segment of practice as QB Re-al Mitchell threw a deep 40-yard touchdown pass to TE David Martin-Robinson in the middle of the field.
On the defensive side, CB Nate Wyatt and SAF Jalen Ware made multiple pass breakups in 1-on-1 drills.
Tuesday, April 20
Cornerback Freddie Johnson and safety DaeSean Winston made a few defensive stops with pass breakups. On the other end, wide receivers Zae Baines and Randle Jones hauled in a couple of deep touchdown passes. The play of the day came in a showdown of sixth year players, when a 38-yard contested ball in the end zone was wrestled away from Johnson by Jones.
Wednesday, April 21
In the early segment of practice, SAF Chauncey Moore hauled in a juggling interception, while CB Nate Wyatt had a few pass breakups in 1-on-1 drills. Shortly after, WR Kadas Reams made an over-the-shoulder catch on a deep pass from QB Re-al Mitchell. In the later segment of practice, WR Randle Jones managed to keep his feet inbounds while making a great sideline catch to move the chains. The play of the day came when RB Kyle Dobbins made an ankle-breaking juke on his way to a 20-yard run.
Thursday, April 22
Today's howling winds weren't enough to stop the Owls from continuing to strengthen the foundation for the upcoming season. The Cherry & White made a point of emphasis today to focus on the fundamentals and the basics of football. Both the offense and the defense had their day in the sun cold! The play of the day, however, came when WR Zae Baines fully extended to pluck a ball from the air.
Friday, April 23
Situational football was the message of the day on the final installment of spring practice. Both the offense and the defense worked on the little things that win football games.Â
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Over the course duration of the spring, the team had taken a physical and explosive demeanor, evidence of the type of play the coaches expect this season.
Players Mentioned
