From the Bayou to the City of Brotherly Love:

Antonio Jones and Kajiya Hollawayne are two of the newest additions to the nest this season, but they are in somewhat familiar surroundings. They were previously teammates at Grambling State University where they played for Tyron Carrier, Temple's wide receivers coach who joined the Owl's this season. The duo has made a noticeable impact for Temple's offense. Their journey to this point hasn't just been solely about football—it's involved perseverance, taking advantage of opportunities, and cherishing formed bonds despite the circumstances.

Antonio Jones, redshirt junior wide receiver, scored his first touchdown in the Cherry and White during Temple's 45-29 victory over Utah State. After suffering a fibula injury during the 2023 Bayou Classic between Grambling State University and Southern University, the Georgia native has something to prove. In 2023, Jones recorded 43 receptions for 598 yards and two touchdowns, and now, he's showcasing his resilience and talent on 10th and Diamond, with 15 receptions for 136 yards and one touchdown this season. Jones saw Temple as a place for growth. "There are more resources here, it's a bigger football program, which gives me a chance to show what I can really do," he said. For Antonio, following Carrier to Temple felt right, like after the decision was made there were no second-thoughts or regrets. When asked about Jones's injury and how he was recovering, Carrier responded with "I know him personally, you know?" he laughed, "I had him at Grambling. I'm not really too concerned about anything with Antonio, I know what Antonio can do."

Redshirt junior wide receiver, Kajiya Hollawayne, is no stranger to the city. After playing alongside Antonio Jones at Grambling during 2022, where he recorded five5 receptions for 32 yards, the California native then transferred to Riverside City College, a junior college in California, to develop his skills more before transitioning to the FBS. This season Hollawayne has recorded four receptions for 42 yards, and is still chasing that first touchdown as an Owl. For Kajiya, following Carrier was a no-brainer. "Coach Carrier and I had a good relationship when I was at Grambling, so when he offered me to play for Temple, I couldn't turn that down," he explained. He saw Temple as an opportunity to take himself out of his comfort zone in order to grow as an athlete. "Louisiana was tough, and financially, I wasn't in the best position. Temple was the best option for me," he added. Despite the adversity, Hollawayne stayed grounded and continued to work toward his dream. "Kajiya is just an all-around football player. His IQ level, his speed, he could even play quarterback if you needed him to," said Coach Carrier.

Tyron Carrier, Temple's wide receivers coach, brings a lot of experience and success to the program from his playing days at the University of Houston. Carrier holds the NCAA record with seven kickoff returns for touchdowns and set another NCAA record by making two or more receptions in all 53 of his career games. His impressive career earned him All-American honors and two All-Conference USA selections, showcasing the expertise he now imparts to his players at Temple. After playing, he served as a graduate assistant at Baylor University in 2015, before landing his first coaching job for the West Virginia University. He held the position from 2016 to 2019, and was named the Football Scoop's Receivers Coach of the year in 2018. He then coached at the University of Houston from 2019 to 2021, before transitioning to Texas A&M-Commerce in 2021. He then coached at Grambling in 2023, before coming to Temple in February of 2024.

Both Hollawayne and Jones credit their smooth transition to North Broad to Carrier, who has symbolized a feeling of comfort for the duo. "Coach hasn't changed at all, he's still the same funny and cool dude he was when I met him at Grambling." Kalija said. Jones added, "He's just a great coach on and off the field. His energy is contagious." Following Carrier to the nest was more than just a career decision, it was about trust. Both players have created a strong bond with Carrier during their shared time at Grambling. The way he coaches, which is very influential on both a personal and athletic level, has given them the confidence they need to be Temple TUFF. Playing in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) has been a bit tougher to adjust to in terms of competition. "At Grambling, we played mostly HBCU colleges and universities, so the competition wasn't as competitive. The AAC is different, everyone is more technical and precise," Hollawayne said. "The game is different, all of the teams here are more experienced than what we were used to," Jones added.

Even though the level of competition was turned up a notch, both players are still unphased. For Kajiya, the biggest improvement since getting to Temple has been his tendencies to pick up the plays faster. "Temple has taught me how to both, study film and learn the plays faster," he said. On the other hand, Antonio is appreciative of the discipline and structure of the football program. "It's more so like a business here. Like we have a point system that holds everyone accountable," he explained. The relationships between the wide receiver group at Temple has also made this process a bit easier for the pair. "We're all close, just like how it was at Grambling," Hollawayne noted. Jones spoke a bit on the culture that Carrier is creating in the wide receiver room. "There's no jealousy or envy here. Coach is making sure there's enough food on everybody's plate," he shared. As Carrier says, "control the controllables." He wants all his receivers to focus on what's in their power, and take it play by play.

Looking ahead, both players have set amazing goals for themselves and the team. Hollawayne really isn't too focused on himself at the moment, he just wants the team to win and eventually make it to a bowl game in December. But Jones has more personal goals of at least 50 receptions with 500 yards. Jones wants to be named First Team All-Conference, and become the player that the team depends on. "I want to give my all to every play, every game, and I want to catch the rock in crucial moments," he said. As we enter the second-half of the season, the duo is chasing both academic and football success. Hollawayne hopes to graduate next fall, and make it to a conference championship, while Jones is chasing after a single-digit jersey and a 4.0 GPA. This chapter of the story is called "the comeback," and they're just getting started.

Temple University Athletics

From the Bayou to the City of Brotherly Love:

Players Mentioned

Kajiya Hollawayne

Antonio Jones

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