Temple Adds 23 Players on National Signing Day

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple Owls signed their second full recruiting class under head coach Stan Drayton today adding 23 student-athletes to the roster.

Drayton was named the Temple head coach on December 15, 2021, which was National Signing Day two years ago. He supplemented that class with several signees a few months later and added his first full class a year ago.

This time around, Drayton was able to add a mix of eight high school recruits and eight Junior College transfers. He supplemented that group with seven transfer portal players. Experience was an important factor as the class added three seniors, 10 juniors and two sophomores.

While seven came from Temple's footprint of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the DMV, Drayton also recruited hard in high school hotbeds such as California (four), Florida (one), Georgia (three), and Texas (one). There were also two international players - from (Germany and Sweden).

Improvement on each side of the ball was addressed with eight selections on the offense and 14 dedicated to the defense.

Name	Class.	Pos	Ht	Wt	Hometown	Previous School	Soc.
Sultan Badmus	Fr	DL	6-3	235	Bowie, MD	Bowie	NSD
Denzel Chavis	Fr	CB	6-0	180	Union City, NJ	Union City	NSD
Evan Dailey	Fr	OL	6-5	275	Gahanna, OH	Gahanna Lincoln	NSD
Daniel Evert	Fr	TE	6-5	235	Regensberg, Germany	Albrecht-Altdorfer Gym.	NSD
Bryson Goodwin	Fr	WR	6-2	180	Tampa, FL	Jesuit	NSD
Cameron Jones	Fr	DL	6-5	230	Lenardtown, MD	St. Mary's Ryken	NSD
Andreas Keaton	Sr	SAF	6-2	200	Powder Springs, GA	Western Carolina	NSD
Sekou Kromah	Jr	DL	6-3	280	East Orange, NJ	Monroe College	NSD
Dimonyai Lacey	R-Jr	DL	6-4	290	Bartlett, TN	NW Mississippi	NSD
Adrian Laing	Fr	CB	6-1	170	North Bergen, NJ	Paramus Catholic	NSD
Tyler Lepolo	Jr	LB	6-0	230	Oakley, CA	CC San Francisco	NSD
Jaylen Lewis	R-So	DB	6-0	180	Brownsville, TN	Arkansas	NSD
Linus Lindberg	Jr	OL	6-4	275	Karlskoga, Sweden	College of the Canyons	NSD
Adrian Maddox	Jr	DB	6-3	200	Conyers, GA	Alabama State	NSD
DeVonta Owens	Jr	CB	6-0	185	Tulsa, OK	NE Oklahoma A&M	NSD
Mausa Palu	Jr	OL	6-4	330	Valencia, CA	College of the Canyons	NSD
Torey Richardson	R-Sr	DB	6-1	185	Tomball, TX	UTEP	NSD
Evan Simon	R-Jr	QB	6-3	205	Mount Joy, PA	Rutgers	NSD
Tyler Stewart	Fr	WR	5-9	170	Gray, GA	Jones County	NSD
Katin Surprenant	R-Jr	LB	6-2	235	Upland, CA	Mt. San Antonio CC	NSD
Maddux Trujillo	Sr	K	6-1	160	Flowery Branch, GA	Austin Peay	NSD
Tyrei Washington	Jr	RB	5-10	210	Stockton, CA	CC San Francisco	NSD
Torren Wright	R-So	LB	6-3	220	Kannapolis, NC	NC State	NSD

At 7 p.m. join host Kevin Copp for Signing Day Live! to get a fresh look at the days events. The show will feature video highlights of the new Owls as well as interviews with head coach Stan Drayton, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf, defensive coordinator Everett Withers, and special teams coordinator Adam Scheier.

The 2024 Temple Owls season kicks off on Saturday, August 31, at Oklahoma with a game against the nationally-ranked Sooners.

The home slate will begin see the likes of Coastal Carolina (9/14), Utah State (9/21), Army, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, and Tulsa. Reserve your season tickets now by calling 215-204-TIXX.

Sultan Badmus
DL - 6-3 - 235
Freshman
Bowie, MD / Bowie
High School: Played linebacker and tight end at Bowie (Md.) High for head coach Augustus Parrish … as a senior, played 11 games, with 58 tackles (44 solo), 16.0 TFLs, and 14.0 sacks … also made one catch as a tight end for a 32-yard touchdown and served as teams kicker and punter … as a junior played 10 games, with 35 tackles (31 solos) and 4.0 sacks … during his sophomore season, appeared in 9 games, with 23 tackles (15 solos), 6.0 sacks, and one interception … Personal: Born Sultan Badmus in Landover, Md. … parents are Bola and Larry Badmus … lists T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons as his two favorite pro athletes … has two younger brothers, Ibukun and Ore … cybersecurity major.

Denzel Chavis
CB - 6-0 - 180
Freshman
Union City, NJ / Union City
High School: Played cornerback along with quarterback, running back and wide receiver for head coach Wilbur Valdez at Union City High … garnered all-state recognition as a senior … earned first-team All-Super Football Conference as a junior and senior … participated in track all four years and earned all-county recognition … Personal: Born Denzel Jeremiah Chavis in Hackensack, N.J. … parents are Marlyn Suero and William Chavis … older brothers Donovan Chavis and Dennis Montero, and younger sister Jaslene Almonte … list of favorites include: Bad Boys (movie), Squid Game (TV show), I Feel Like Going On: Life, Game, and Glory (book) … exercise science major.

Evan Dailey
OL - 6-5 - 275
Freshman
Gahanna, OH / Gahanna Lincoln
High School: Played offensive and defensive line at Gahanna Lincoln for head coach Bruce Ward … won the Ohio Capitol Conference as a junior and senior … didn't allow a sack in an undefeated senior season … named OCC first-team scholar-athlete … earned the Most Improved Player Award as a freshman … also competed in track and field as a freshman … four-year honor roll with a 4.0 GPA … Personal: Born Evan Richard Dailey in Columbus, Ohio … parents are Richard Dailey (father), Brittney Osterloh (step mother) and Katherine Barnett (mother) … father played college football at Capital University … has an older sister, Amaya, younger sister, Ashtyn, and a twin sister, Emma … list of favorites include: Eyes Wide Shut (movie), Muhammad Ali (professional athlete) … aspires to be a dentist.

Daniel Evert
TE - 6-5 - 235
Freshman
Regensberg, Germany / Albrecht-Altdorfer Gym.
High School: Attended Albrecht-Altdorfer Gymnasium in Regensberg, Bavaria, Germany … played wide receiver and tight end for head coach Josh Alaeze at NFL Academy … Personal: Born Daniel Evert in Cham, Bavaria … parents are Tatyana and Vladimir Evert … has two younger brothers, Kevin and Thomas … list of favorites include: Lion King (movie), The Mandalorian (Tv show), Harry Potter (books) … exercise and sports science major.

Bryson Goodwin
WR - 6-2 - 180
Freshman
Tampa, FL / Jesuit
High School: Played wide receiver at Jesuit High for head coach Matt Thompson … hauled in over 60 career passes … caught 18 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns as a senior while also making 23 tackles and one interception at cornerback … was the team's most valuable receiver as a junior with 27 catches for 513 yards and five scores … had 12 receptions for 136 yards and a TD as a sophomore … Personal: Born Bryson Scott Goodwin in Chicago … parents are Monica and Harold Goodwin … has two older sisters, Kylee and Miya … father and uncle played football at Michigan and uncle, Jonathan Goodwin, went on to become a Pro Bowl offensive lineman in the NFL (Jets, Saints, 49ers) … both grandfathers, and a pair of uncles, served in the military … list of favorites include: Spiderman (movie), SpongeBob (TV show), Jalen Ramsey (pro athlete) … business major.

Cameron Jones
DL - 6-5 - 230
Freshman
Lenardtown, MD / St. Mary's Ryken
High School: Played defensive line at St. Mary's Ryken for head coach Gary Wynn … earned honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore, improved to second-team as a junior and first-team honors as a senior … team bounced back from an 0-5 start to win seven straight games and the 2023 WCAC Metro title … lettered twice in basketball … Personal: Born Cameron Amare Jones in Dover, Del. … mother is Tameka Nugent … father, Cameron Jones, played football at Delaware State … has a younger sister, Kamdyn Jones … grandmother, Patti Davis, served in the military … list of favorites include: The Wayans Bros. (TV show), Friday After Next (movie), Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles (pro athlete and team) … business major.

Andreas Keaton
SAF - 6-2 - 200
Senior
Powder Springs, GA / Hillgrove / Western Carolina
College: Played three seasons at Western Carolina where he was the school leader in tackles in each of the last two seasons … 2023 (Junior): Selected first-team preseason All-Southern Conference …led the Catamounts in tackles with 67 (43 solos) … 2022 (Sophomore): Named second-team All-Southern Conference by the league's head coaches … started all 11 games and led the Catamounts with 72 tackles including 47 solo stops and two interceptions with 45 return yards ... his 6.5 tackles per game ranked 12th in the SoCon … recorded at least four tackles in all 11 games with seven-or-more tackles six times … had interceptions in consecutive games against Samford and VMI … recorded a season-high nine tackles at Furman … was a second-team preseason All-Southern Conference selection …tabbed second-team preseason All-SoCon by Phil Steele ... named to the 2022-23 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll … 2021 (Freshman): Named the 2021 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year by the league's head coaches ... was also selected to the SoCon All-Freshman defensive team ... was a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award given to the nation's top freshman, finishing tied for 17th in the final voting ... was also a fourth-team All-SoCon selection by Phil Steele … started all 11 games ... finished sixth on the team with 45 total tackles, including 29 solo stops ... finished tied for sixth in the SoCon with a team-best three interceptions ... recorded tackles in all 11 games on the season including a career-high eight in his debut against Eastern Kentucky, adding his first career interception ... tallied two interceptions with a pair of tackles against Samford ... High School: Three-year letterwinner at Hillgrove High where he played 7A football ... recognized on the 2021 All-Metro High School Football Defense Team and 2020 All-Region Team 7A Second Team ... finished his prep career with eight interceptions – three returned for touchdowns – with 37 pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and two forced including one for a touchdown … amassed 248 career tackles and three quarterback sacks … was named the Defensive Player of the Game and Team Captain numerous times as a prep … in December 2019, he received the Atlanta Falcons/Georgia Power "Power Player Award" … In November 2019, was recognized as the Q99.7 Atlanta Radio Station Player of the Week ... in October 2019, received the Otters Chicken Athlete of the Week Award ... selected to be a member of the Hillgrove High School Football Leadership Program … also played basketball and ran track as a prep … Personal: Born Andreas Gregory Keaton in Kennesaw, Ga. … parents are Wyoka and Andre Keaton … has a younger sister Madison … list of favorites include: Stomp the Yard (movie), Martin (TV show), Diary of a Wimpy Kid (book) … health and physical education major.

Sekou Kromah
DL - 6-3 - 280
Junior
East Orange, NJ / East Orange / Monroe College
College: Played defensive line at Monroe College in New Rochelle, N.Y. … his 20.0 career TFL were the most in program history while his 2023 total gave him the eighth most in the NJCAA … played 11 games in 2023 and collected 38 tackles (23 solos), 15.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery … in 2022, appeared in eight games, and amassed 13 tackles (7 solos), 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks … High School: Played defensive line, offensive line, tight end and long snapper at East Orange (N.J.) Campus High … had 90 tackles and 9.0 sacks as a senior as his team went 13-0 … Personal: Born Sekou Kromah in Bronx, N.Y. … mother is Asata Dukuly … younger sister, Mariam … list of favorites include: Percy Jackson (book), Green Lantern (movie), Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams (pro athlete and team) … civil engineering major.

Dimonyai Lacey

Dimonyai Lacey
DL - 6-4 - 290
Redshirt Junior
Bartlett, TN / Eufuala (AL) / NW Mississippi
JUCO: Played defensive tackle at Northwest Mississippi CC after two years at Murray State … played in 10 games with 15 tackles and 3.5 sacks … played six games in 2021-22 and collected five tackles, including 1.0 sack … High School: Played defensive end, tight end and wide receiver at Eufuala (Ala.) High for head coach Ed Rigby … earned all-conference recognition as a junior and senior … made 22 tackles, including 3.0 TFLs, and 2.0 sacks, as a senior … also lettered in basketball … Personal: Born Dimonyai Trajon Lacey in Augusta, Ga. … parents are Natasha and Michael Pittman … grandmother, Caroline Lacey, served in the military … cousin, Emmanual Stevenson, Jr., currently plays college tight end for Arkansas State...another relative, Steve McLendon, played college football for Troy and spent 13 years in the NFL (Steelers, Jets, Buccaneers) ... list of favorites include: Straight Outta Compton (movie), Power (TV show), Green Bay Packers (pro team) … social work major.

Adrian Laing
CB - 6-1 - 170
Freshman
North Bergen, NJ / Paramus Catholic
High School: Played cornerback and wide receiver at Paramus (N.J.) Catholic for head coach Greg Russo … collected 61 tackles (52 solos), 3.0 TFLs, and one interception as a senior … earned first-team all-county and all-league as a junior when he picked four passes to go with 43 tackles (34 solos), and 2.0 TFLs … also lettered three times in track … Personal: Born Adrian Laing in North Bergen, N.J. … parents are Janet Laing (mother) and Jose Perez (stepfather) … has two younger brothers, Justin Laing and Maximus Perez … list of favorites include: Power (TV show), Without Remorse (movie), Jalen Ramsey (pro athlete) … accounting major.

Jaylen Lewis
DB - 6-0 - 180
Redshirt Sophomore
Brownsville, TN / Haywood / Arkansas
College: Played two seasons at Arkansas … redshirted during his first season in 2022, playing in three games and making one tackle … made his collegiate debut at Mississippi State (Oct. 8) on special teams … also played at BYU the following week … saw his most action of the season on defense in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl win over Kansas, making his lone tackle of the season … played just one game, and recorded two tackles, in 2023 ... High School: Played both defensive back and wide receiver at Haywood High for head coach Chris Smith … was a consensus three-star prospect according to 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … recorded 31 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown as a senior … also caught 51 passes for 977 yards and 14 touchdowns, rushed 15 times for 88 yards, had two kick returns for 105 yards, and nine punt returns for 145 yards … helped lead Haywood to a state semifinal playoff appearance and a 13-1 record … as a junior in 2020, logged 56 total tackles with 4.0 tackles for loss and seven interceptions … was named to the All-West Tennessee defensive first team and helped Haywood to a 10-4 record, reaching the state title game … also lettered in basketball and track … Personal: Born Jaylen Termell Lewis in Stanton, Tenn. … parents are Steven Lewis and La'quita Bailey … has a brother, Steven, and two sisters, Jorden and Tietiyana … list of favorites include: Stomp the Yard (movie), House of Payne and Good Times (TV shows),Tennessee Titans (pro team) … sports management major.

Linus Lindberg
OL - 6-4 - 275
Junior
Karlskoga, Sweden / Celsiusskolan / College of the Canyons
JUCO: Played two seasons at College of the Canyons for head coach Ted Iacenda … played defensive tackle as a freshman and was moved to offensive tackle as a sophomore … High School: Attended Celsiusskolan Uppsala Sweden … played extensively on the defensive line … Personal: Born Linus Karl Allan Lindberg in Karlskoga, Sweden … parents are Asa Gustavsson and Ulf Lindberg … list of favorites include: The Dark Night (movie), Breaking Bad (TV show), Meditations (book), Baltimore Ravens (pro team) … kinesiology major.

Adrian Maddox
DB - 6-3 - 200
Junior
Conyers, GA / Heritage / Alabama State
College: Played two seasons at Alabama State … as a true freshman in 2022, was a Jerry Rice Award Finalist and All-SWAC nominee … played in 10 games with 49 tackles (25 solo), 6.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, and two interceptions … recorded eight tackles and an interception in his collegiate debut against Howard in the MEAC-SWAC challenge … with his INT against Howard, became the youngest to intercept a pass in a collegiate game … had nine tackles against Alabama A&M … his second career INT came at UCLA … had 1.5 sacks against Jackson State … entered 2023 on many preseason watch lists: HBCU All-Defense, Phil Steele All-SWAC, Aeneas Williams Watch list … played in 11 games, with 41 tackles, (26 solo), 3.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, and two forced fumbles … High School: Played at Heritage High in Conyers, Ga. ... named region 6-AAA defensive player of the year ... first-team All-State at wide receiver ... had 700 receiving yards and five interceptions … Personal: Born Adrian Maddox … computer science major.

DeVonte Owens

DeVonta Owens
CB - 6-0 - 185
Junior
Tulsa, OK / Bixby / NE Oklahoma A&M
JUCO: Played 2023 season at Northeast Oklahoma A&M … earned honorable mention all-conference honors after he recorded 38 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, and three interceptions … played nine games in 2022 for Garden City CC recording eight tackles … High School: Played cornerback at Bixby (Okla.) High for head coach Loren Montgomery … was a three-year letterwinner for a team that was 23-0 during his junior and senior seasons … also lettered three times in basketball … Personal: Born DeVonta Darren Owens in Tulsa, Okla. … mother is Sherry Persley … has two brothers, Deonta and Demario, and one sister, Deonna … list of favorites include: Snowfall (TV show), How High (movie) … business major.

Mausa Palu
OL - 6-4 - 330
Junior
Valencia, CA / Bishop Alemany / College of the Canyons
JUCO: Played two seasons at College of the Canyons for head coach Ted Iacenda … earned first-team all-conference in both 2022-23 … High School: Played offensive line at Bishop Alemany for head coach Casey Clausen … earned first-team All-California Conference as a sophomore … also wrestled and participated in track … Personal: Born Samiuela Mausa Palu in Santa Clara, Calif. … mother is Tevita Palu … has an older brother, Dave, and sister, Vuki … list of favorites include: The Office (TV show), Life (movie), Jason Kelce (professional athlete) … business major.

Torey Richardson
DB - 6-1 - 185
Redshirt Senior
Tomball, TX / Tomball Memorial / UTEP
College: Spent the 2021-23 seasons at UTEP for head coach Dana Dimel … 2023 (Redshirt Junior): Played 12 games collecting 33 tackles (23 solos), 3.0 TFLs, 0.5 sacks and one forced fumble … 2022 (Junior): Missed the entire season due to injury … 2021 (Sophomore): Played in all 13 games, making two starts at cornerback … credited with 26 tackles (20 solo), 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack and an interception … led the team with eight pass breakups … recorded season-best four stops (all solo) against Rice … had game-sealing INT vs. UTEP in the final minutes … recorded first career sack, along with a career-best 2.0 TFLs, vs. Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl … JUCO: Played the 2019-20 season (2021 Spring due to COVID) at Blinn CC … had 20 tackles in six games in 2021, including a season-high six stops against Navarro … in 2019, played in three games, tallying one tackle at Houston … High School: Played quarterback as a freshman and then was a three-time letterwinner as a cornerback at Tomball Memorial for head coach Sam Parker … had six interceptions over his final two seasons … also lettered in basketball … Personal: Born Torey Scott Richardson in Houston, Texas … mother is Darlene Richardson … has two older siblings, brother Kenneth Henderson, and sister Brandy Specks … list of favorites include: Friday After Next (movie), Martin (TV show), The Great Gatsby (book), Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors (pro athlete and team) … continuing studies major.

Evan Simon
QB - 6-3 - 205
Redshirt Junior
Mount Joy, PA / Manheim Central / Rutgers
College: Spent four seasons at Rutgers making two starts … ended his Rutgers career with 952 passing yards and five touchdowns … 2023 (Junior): Spent most of the season as the primary backup at quarterback … threw for 30 yards and a touchdown in season debut at Wisconsin (10/7) … 2022 (Sophomore): Played in nine games with two starts at quarterback ... completed 79-of-137 attempts (57.7 percent) ... led the team with 777 passing yards and threw four touchdown passes ... made first start at Temple (9/17) and completed nine passes in the win ... completed all five attempts against No. 11 Penn State ... recorded 10 completions with a touchdown pass at No. 3 Ohio State ... went 28-for-49 passing for a season-high 300 yards and a touchdown against Iowa (9/24) ... 2021 (Freshman): Played in six games and went 16-for-28 passing (57.1 percent) for 145 yards ... made collegiate debut in the win over Delaware (9/18) … completed all five passing attempts for 27 yards against No. 11 Ohio State ... led two touchdown drives and completed seven passes for 86 yards overall against Maryland (11/27) ... appeared in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl versus No. 20 Wake Forest (12/31) ... 2020 (Freshman): Did not see game action … High School: Started at quarterback for head coach Dave Hahn at Manheim Central ... threw for over 2,500 yards in each of his three high school seasons ... completed 154 passes for 2,625 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior ... also ran for 930 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns ... collected Class 4-6A Mr. PA Football award for the 2019 season ... earned first-team Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Two All-Star honors on defense and a second team selection on offense ... guided Barons to three-straight Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Two and District Three Class 5A titles ... passed for 2,756 yards and 30 touchdowns, while rushing for 662 yards and 12 scores ... first-team All-USA Pennsylvania by USA Today in 2018 ... three-time all-state selection ... named Eastern PA Football Co-Player of the Year in 2018 ... sixth-best recruit in Pennsylvania by Rivals ... rated the 12th-best recruit in the state and 38th pro-style quarterback in the country by 247Sports … Personal: Born Evan Michael Simon in Manheim, Pa. … parents are Michelle and Chris Simon … the youngest of three – sister, Hannah, brother, Tyler … list of favorites include: Step Brothers (movie), Kirk Cousins (pro athlete), Philadelphia Eagles (professional team) … communication/labor and employment relations major.

Tyler Stewart
WR - 5-9 - 170
Freshman
Gray, GA / Jones County
High School: Played wide receiver and running back at Jones County High for head coach Mike Chastain … as a senior, recorded 1,265 receiving yards on 59 catches after posting 1,275 receiving yards as a junior … had 24 catches for 305 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore … also lettered all four years in track … was the state runnerup and broke the school record in the 4x100 three times … Personal: Born Tyler De'kel Stewart in Gray, Ga. … parents are Demetrius White and Kai Stewart … brothers Jontavis, Kase, Kai DeVonte, and sister, Jasmine … brother Jontavis Robertson plays football at Duke … clinical psychology major.

Katin Surprenant
LB - 6-2 - 235
Redshirt Junior
Upland, CA / Upland / Mt. San Antonio CC
JUCO: Spent a year as a walk-on at Colorado in 2021 before transferring to Mt. San Antonio Community College where he played for coach Bob Jastrab … team went 19-2 … 2023 (Redshirt Sophomore): Earned first-team JUCO All-America and first-team all-conference honors … played in 11 games with 45 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and a sack … 2022 (Redshirt Freshman): Earned second team all-conference and most valuable linebacker … led the team with 44 tackles and added 4.0 TFLs and a sack … High School: Played linebacker and fullback at Upland High for head coach Darryl Thomas … as a senior, had 32 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, one interception and one fumble recovery … as a junior earned second-team all-league, collecting 36 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles … also lettered twice in baseball … earned Honor Roll all four years … Personal: Born Katin Jamison Surprenant in Upland, Calif. … parents are Jamie and Justin Surprenant … father played football at Azuza Pacific … has a younger brother, Aspen, and two younger sisters, Hudson and Talon … grandfather, Bob Simpson, served in the military … list of favorites include: Fast and the Furious (movies), Last Chance U (TV show), Green Bay Packers (pro team), Fred Warner and Luke Keuchly (professional athletes) … kinesiology major.

Maddux Trujillo
K - 6-1 - 160
Senior
Flowery Branch, GA / Flowery Branch / Austin Peay
College: Played three seasons at Austin Peay as the primary placekicker … connected on 38 of 53 field goal attempts and 128 PATs … 2023 (Junior): Earned second-team All-UAC while scoring 87 points on 13 field goals and 48 PATs … was 3-3 on FGs vs. Utah Tech earning him UAC Special Teams Player of the Week … named 2023 UAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and UAC All-Academic Team … 2022 (Sophomore): An All-ASUN Conference selection, he played in all 11 games as the Govs placekicker … was a perfect 9-of-9 on PATs against Presbyterian – marking the second-most PATs made and attempted in a single game in program history … made both field goal attempts against Mississippi Valley State, connecting from 36 and 30 yards while also going 5-for-5 on PATs – his 11 points scored are tied for the eighth-best single-game total by a kicker in program history … drilled a program-record-tying 55-yard field goal as time expired in the first half against Jacksonville State … the 55-yard field goal was the sixth-longest in the FCS during the 2022 season, the longest made field goal in ASUN Conference history, and tied Brian Yarbrough's APSU record, which was set in 1983 against Western Kentucky … finished the season 44-of-45 on PATs – the second-most PATs made and attempted in a single season in program history … went 11-of-20 on field goal attempts; his 11 made field goals are tied for the fifth-best season in APSU history and his 20 attempts are tied for the third most in a season … scored 77 points, the 10th-best single-season total in program history … CSC Academic All-District … OVC Academic Medal of Honor and OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll … 2021 (Freshman): A second-team All-OVC and All-Newcomer team selection for the Governors in his freshman campaign … saw action in 10 of the Governors 11 games … began his collegiate career with back-to-back perfect outings, nailing his first-career field goal from 26 yards out and going a perfect 3-for-3 on PATs at Chattanooga … had a season-best 45-yard field goal against Morehead State … holds the program record with a made field goal in eight-consecutive games where he attempted a kick … tied the Austin Peay record with 14 made field goals (Tom McMillian, 1987) … finished with the second-best scoring mark by a kicker in program history with 78 points … OVC Academic Medal of Honor and OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll ... High School: Was a kicker and kickoff specialist under Ben Hall at Flowery Branch High … went 6-of-8 on field goals and 48-of-50 on extra points as a senior … had 32 touchbacks on kickoffs … also lettered three times in golf and once in soccer for the Falcons … earned Honor Roll all four years … Personal: Born Maddux Chase Trujillo in Flowery Branch, Ga. … parents are Cassie Barrett (mother), Wes Barrett (step father), Dr. Manny Trujillo Jr. (father) and Betsy Trujillo (step mother) … has four younger siblings: sister Kensi, and brothers Brady, Jax, and Knox … father, Manny, played soccer at Gardner-Webb (2000-03) … grandfather, Chuck Barrett served in the Marines, and uncle, Chase Sturm, served in the Navy … list of favorites include: Suits (Tv show), Space Jam (movie), Relentless by Tim Grove (book), Tiger Woods (pro athlete) … finance major.

Torren Wright
LB - 6-3 - 220
Redshirt Sophomore
Kannapolis, NC / A.L. Brown / N.C. State
College: Played two seasons at North Carolina State for head coach Dave Doeren … redshirted in 2022 and earned Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year … played in two games in 2023, registering two tackles … High School: Played outside linebacker and wide receiver at A.L. Brown in Kannapolis, N.C. for head coach Mike Newsome … as a senior, finished with 116 tackles (71 solos), 13.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks and three interceptions … also caught three passes for 33 yards and one TD … selected to the 2021 Carolina Bowl … as a junior, earned all-conference and all-state as the team finished 6-2, including a perfect 6-0 mark in the conference, and the NC 3AA state playoffs … as a sophomore, tallied 84 tackles (54 solos), 12.0 TFLs, and 3.0 sacks … finished 8-4 and reached the second round of the NC 3AA state playoffs … Personal: Born Torren Wright in Ypsilanti, Mich. … parents are Tonai and Percy Wright … has three older sisters, Aryanna, Zaria, and Amaya … cousin M.J. Griffin is a former safety for the Temple Owls … uncle Aaron Bailey played wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts (1994-98) … list of favorites include: Boondocks (TV show), 48 Laws of Power (book), Planet of the Apes (movie series), Micah Parsons (pro athlete) … business communications major.

Temple University Athletics

Temple Adds 23 Players on National Signing Day

Players Mentioned

Chris Smith

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