Temple University Athletics
Family Matters
9.13.24 | Football
To build a football team, you often have to build a family. For a trio of Temple Owls, those roots started in Lakeland, Florida, nearly two decades ago.
Latrell Jean, Tyrell Jones, and Jamar Taylor, all Lakeland Florida natives, now playing football together in Philadelphia. They all have different recruitment stories, but have ended up together at Temple University. Latrell and Tyrell are brothers, and Jamar is their little cousin, and they have been playing football together since their little league days with the Lakeland Lumberjacks. From little league to elementary school, high school, and now college, they have been attached at the hip. Although Jamar is the little cousin, "Jamar is like our little brother, not even like a cousin, he is our little brother," stated both Tyrell and Latrell. Not only have they been playing football together, they have been inseparable at all family gatherings, cookouts, reunions etc. "Queen" their grandma is the "glue that holds all of their family together," Latrell stated.
Jamar committed to Temple right out of high school because he loved Temple on his visit. He saw the amount of opportunities at Temple and mentioned that it is important that he "works for his opportunities." Jamar committed to Temple while Latrell and Tyrell were playing football at Florida Atlantic University. Latrell entered the transfer portal, and quickly made it clear that he and Tyrell were a packaged deal. Where one goes, so does the other. Jamar knew that Latrell entered the transfer portal, and constantly was letting Tyrell and Latrell know how much he loved Temple in hopes that they would decide to commit to Temple and enjoy it just the same. Jamar reached out to head coach Stan Drayton and told him, "my cousin is in the portal and I know he'd bring a winning mentality to Temple, and I'd love to play with him here. I wanted Latrell to have the opportunity to see if he liked it as much as I liked it." Jamar said. After talking with Coach Drayton, Latrell was offered, and came for his visit. After the visit, it was time to make a decision. When it came to making a decision on where to commit, although Jamar is the little cousin, Latrell and Tyrell said, "Jamar definitely helped play a part in us making this decision."
They all mentioned how important it was to stick together because it runs in their blood and they've been extremely close since they were babies. Latrell and Tyrell said that knowing that Jamar was already committed to Temple, it was a lot easier for them to make the decision to go far from home and play together in Philadelphia. When talking about the transition from Florida to Philly, they mentioned the adjustment was so much easier for the three of them because they have each other and they're always together. "We have a piece of home here with us," Jamar said. While they play different positions, their relationship has helped strengthen the locker room. Their natural bond of being a defensive lineman, defensive back, and wide receiver has come easy to Latrell, Tyrell, and Jamar, respectively. Now, their friends on each unit are spending time with the other units. Jamar mentioned that although he loves being at Temple, it has been an adjustment going from the "big guy" in high school to coming to college and having to start from step one. He said that it is important to make sure he tells himself that now he has to be bigger, stronger, and faster. Just paying attention to those small details will help him become a better player and be more successful at Temple.
Jamar said that Ian Stewart has helped him the most to feel comfortable in his transition to Temple, Latrell said Coach Beckuith helped him with his transition, and Tyrell said Torey Richardson helped them feel most comfortable with his transition. Overall they feel so comfortable with their coaches and teammates at Temple.
Latrell earned a single-digit in his first season as an Owl, and he motivates Tyrell and Jamar every day. He mentions that although he carries that leadership mentality in the locker room, it's a little different with his little cousin and brother because he has high expectations for them, and he expects them to know how to carry themselves. That is something they put a lot of emphasis on, day in and day out.
