Temple University Athletics

2025 Spring Practice Blog
4.10.25 | Football
This space will serve as a daily blog, highlighting the top plays from each practice and providing access to all media availability video links.
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Tuesday, March 11
The Owls opened spring ball on Tuesday afternoon, holding the first of their 15 allotted practices on a warm March day. Temple spent a large portion of the practice in individual position drills before transitioning to team periods.
In the 7-on-7 portion of practice, wide receiver Antonio Jones made the play of the day, securing a bullet pass from quarterback Patrick Keller up the seam for a large gain. Sophomore Jamar Taylor Jr. added a 20-yard reception, also delivered from Keller.
During 11-on-11 drills, both sides of the ball had impressive moments, though the defense gained the early edge. Defensive backs Zyil Powell and Omar Ibrahim started this, shooting through gaps on back-to-back plays to make stops for short gains. Sophomore defensive lineman Sultan Badmus then recorded a would-be sack, while transfer cornerback Jaylen Castleberry added a pass break-up on a deep shot.Â
The offense responded with some big plays of its own, starting with transfer running back Jay Ducker, who found openings on consecutive runs for significant gains. Fellow running back Johnny Martin followed suit with a quick burst, breaking free for a 20-yard rush. Wide receiver Xavier Irvin then turned a short pass into a 15-yard gain, making a sharp cut to evade multiple defenders. The defense ended on a high, however, as freshman cornerback Devontae Ward-Grant sealed practice with a leaping interception.
Thursday, March 13
The Owls continued spring ball on Thursday afternoon at Edberg-Olson Hall.
During 7-on-7 drills, wide receivers Antonio Jones and Kian Johnson each hauled in crossing routes for 15-yard gains.
The majority of the highlights came during the 40 minutes of 11-on-11 play. Defensive lineman Sultan Badmus continued his strong start to the spring, recording two sacks in the opening plays. Fifth-year senior Ben Osueke then hauled in an interception—the first of three for the Owls' defense. Redshirt freshman Adrian Laing accounted for the other two, including a pick-six.
Offensive highlights included quarterback Evan Simon threading the needle between defenders to find tight end Daniel Evert for a 25-yard gain.Wide receiver Kajiya Hollawayne ran a sharp comeback route that picked up 20 yards, while running back Darius Morant showed quickness on a 20-yard run. The best catch of the day came from wide receiver Xavier Bryan-Boothe, who secured a contested grab against two defenders on the second-to-last play of practice.
Saturday, March 15
Temple's third practice was the first in shoulder pads, making it the Owls' most physical day of spring practice yet.
Both sides of the ball delivered standout plays during the first 11-on-11 period of the day. Quarterback Evan Simon connected with wide receiver Xavier Irvin for a 45-yard deep ball—the offense's most explosive play of the day. Running backs Joquez Smith and Darius Morant followed with 20-yard runs, while fellow back Jordan Miller added a 15-yard reception from quarterback Anthony Chiccitt. On defense, linebackers London Hall and Aiden Britton each recorded a tackle for loss, and cornerback Devontae Ward-Grant showcased his strength with an impressive pass breakup.
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In 7-on-7, Simon placed a perfect pass to wide receiver Kian Johnson for a 35-yard gain. Meanwhile, on the other side of the field during inside run drills, defensive end Cam'Ron Stewart wreaked havoc with multiple tackles for loss.
During the final team drills of the day, the defense took control, starting with outside linebacker Tyrese Whitaker breaking through the line for a three-yard loss. Safety Ihsim Smith-Marsette followed with a pass breakup in one-on-one coverage before outside linebacker Willy Love delivered the defensive play of the day—an interception that had the entire defensive sideline fired up.
The Owls will return to practice on Tuesday to kick off the second week of spring ball.
Tuesday, March 18
The Owls took the field under yet another sunny sky on Tuesday afternoon for the fourth practice of the spring,
During 7-on-7 drills, tight end Reese Clark hauled in a 20-yard pass across the middle from quarterback Anthony Chiccitt. Clark later would cap off practice with an impressive one-handed catch. On the defensive side, safety Javier Morton showed off his strength breaking up a pass by ripping the ball out of the receiver's hands.
During team periods, the offense opened with multiple explosive plays. Quarterback Patrick Keller connected with wide receiver Xavier Bryan-Boothe on a deep ball for a 40-yard gain, then found Kian Johnson for another 40-yard completion. Quarterback Evan Simon also impressed, highlighted by a perfectly placed 30-yard pass to wide receiver Antonio Jones.
On defense, linebacker Reggie Jones recorded an early sack, while defensive tackle Aaron Beckwith racked up multiple run stops for no gain.
Thursday, March 20
Temple continued spring practices on Thursday at Edberg-Olson Hall.
In 7-on-7 action, wide receiver Kajiya Hollawayne showcased his athleticism with a leaping 10-yard grab. He followed it up shortly after with a 15-yard catch on a sharp comeback route. On the defensive side, cornerback Denzel Chavis made a strong play in one-on-one coverage, making a stop for no gain.
During team drills, the defense flew around the field making impact plays. Defensive tackle Sekou Kromah and defensive end Cam'Ron Stewart teamed up for a run stop behind the line, while linebacker Reggie Jones added a tackle for loss. The defensive front remained active in the pass game as well, with multiple passes tipped at the line of scrimmage. Eventually, one deflection landed in the hands of linebacker Eric Stuart, who took the interception back for a touchdown.
The offense had its share of big plays, with the most impressive coming from tight end Landon Morris. He hauled in a pass up the seam from quarterback Evan Simon, made a move on the defender, and took it to the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown. Other highlights included quarterback Anthony Chiccitt scrambling for a pair of 10-yard gains and tight end Ryder Kusch picking up 15 yards on a catch-and-run.
Saturday, March 22
Temple took the field in full pads for Saturday's practice, which featured the first live tackling of the spring.
The intensity was evident from the start, as the first special teams period of the day was highly competitive. Running back Jordan Miller set the tone with a massive block on punt coverage, firing up the entire team.
The intensity carried over into the first and only live tackling team period of practice. Linebacker Tyrese Whitaker set the tone early, slicing through the offensive line for a sack, followed by cornerback Devontae Ward-Grant making an impressive open-field tackle.
Offensively, the tight ends were heavily involved from the start. Quarterback Evan Simon connected with the group on three consecutive plays, beginning with a 15-yard gain by Daniel Evert. Landon Morris and Ryder Kusch followed with receptions, helping the offense move the chains three times. To cap off the period, running back Jay Ducker made a sharp cut to evade a defender, breaking free for a 20-yard gain.
Saturday also featured the first 1-on-1 drills between wide receivers and defensive backs. Receiver John Adams delivered the play of the day, showcasing sharp route running before hauling in a 45-yard deep ball from quarterback Evan Simon. Shortly after, quarterback Patrick Keller connected with Kajiya Hollawayne on a perfectly placed over-the-shoulder throw for a 35-yard gain.
The final period of practice saw several standout defensive plays. Linebacker Willy Love intercepted a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and just a few plays later, safety Zyil Powell jumped a route for another interception. Defensive tackle Sekou Kromah added a sack before the offense closed practice on a high note with a 25-yard gain by wide receiver Antonio Jones, thanks to a series of well-executed blocks on the outside.
Tuesday, March 25
Tuesday marked the start of the third week of spring practice for the Owls.
In 7-on-7, safety Javier Morton set the tone early with a big hit on running back Jay Ducker, who impressively held on to the ball for a short gain. Quarterback Evan Simon then connected with wide receivers Antonio Jones and Kajiya Hollawayne for 20-yard gains to close out the period.
Meanwhile, inside run drills took place on the other end of the field. Defensive end Brandon Enarusai shed a block to record a tackle-for-loss, followed shortly by linebacker Jordan Montgomery and defensive lineman Yamael Wiggins teaming up for another TFL.
During team periods, the defense continued to stand out. Linebacker Tyrese Whitaker set the tone early, bursting through the line to register a tackle for no gain on the first play. Shortly after, linebacker Willy Love delivered a strong open-field hit, and defensive tackle Joseph Auzenne added a sack. Offensively, the highlight of the day came when wide receiver Kian Johnson turned a slant from Simon into a 45-yard touchdown.
Thursday, March 27
Temple continued practice on Thursday afternoon, welcoming many former players back to practice following the team's Pro Day earlier in the day.
During the 7-on-7 period, linebacker Katin Surprenant broke up a pass over the middle, while safety Zyil Powell snagged an interception off a deflection. On offense, quarterback Patrick Keller connected with wide receiver Kian Johnson on a 25-yard rollout pass, followed by quarterback Anthony Chiccitt finding wide receiver John Adams for a 20-yard completion.
Quarterback Evan Simon and wide receiver Xavier Irvin opened full team drills with a 25-yard connection on a comeback route. Running backs Jay Ducker and Joquez Smith followed with back-to-back 20-yard runs. The highlight of the day offensively came when Simon launched a deep ball to Irvin for a 40-yard completion.
The defense also made multiple impact plays over the course of team drills, highlighted by linebacker Ty Davis making a diving interception. Defensive linemen Sultan Badmus and Sekou Kromah each notched a sack, while linebacker Curly Ordonez recorded a tackle-for-loss on an outside sweep.
Saturday, March 29
The Owls returned to full pads for the second time this spring on Saturday, practicing under perfect weather in North Philadelphia.
Practice included 1-on-1 drills between wide receivers and defensive backs, showcasing standout plays from both position groups. On offense, receiver Cole Sprague made a toe-tapping catch over his defender, while quarterback Tyler Douglas connected with Tyler Stewart on a deep pass over the middle. The defense responded with two interceptions, courtesy of Ben Osueke and Brandon Taylor.
The team spent most of practice in 11-on-11 drills, featuring an extended live tackling period. Tight end Ryder Kusch stood out with multiple catches, including a leaping 20-yard grab through a defender. Quarterback Tyler Douglas also impressed, keeping the ball for a 10-yard rushing touchdown before converting a simulated two-point attempt on the next play.
The defense was flying around the field all day, led by linebacker London Hall, who delivered multiple big hits in the open field. Defensive tackle Demerick Morris clogged the run game with multiple stops, while defensive end Jordan Montgomery added two would-be sacks.
Tuesday, April 1
Temple continued practice on Tuesday, kicking off the penultimate week of spring ball.
The defense came up with multiple interceptions during 7-on-7 drills, starting with safety Zyil Powell, who hauled in a deflected pass. Cornerback Denzel Chavis followed shortly after with an interception in the end zone. On offense, quarterback Tyler Douglas impressed, connecting with tight end Reese Clark for a 15-yard gain before finding running back Darius Morant for a touchdown.
In the first team period of practice, wide receiver Preston Everhart made an impressive sideline grab, reaching out for a fingertip catch to secure a first down. Douglas then connected with wide receiver Kian Johnson over the middle, with Johnson breaking free before being pushed out of bounds after a 30-yard gain. Linebacker Tyrese Whitaker lowered his shoulder on multiple occasions, stifling the run game throughout the period.
The second team period of practice focused on red zone work. Running back Joquez Smith opened it with a 20-yard rushing touchdown, followed by quarterback Evan Simon finding wide receiver Tyler Stewart in the back of the end zone for a six-yard score. The play of the day came from Simon, who delivered a perfectly placed pass on a wheel route to tight end Ryder Kusch for a 20-yard touchdown. On defense, linebacker Jordan Montgomery batted down a pass, and safety Avery Powell capped off practice with an interception in the end zone.
Thursday, April 3
The Cherry & White returned to practice Thursday afternoon, as the team welcomed back former members of the Temple football family in Robbie Chosen, Eric Lofton and Darryl Shine.
Both sides of the ball had standout moments throughout the duration of practice, with the defense getting constant pressure in the backfield and disrupting the offensive rhythm. Sekou Kromah provided the first big spark of the day for the defense during the first team period. The defensive tackle quickly got into the backfield in the quarterback's face, forcing a rushed throw and an incomplete pass. The offense would gain momentum, however, as quarterback Tyler Douglas would connect with tight end Daniel Evert for a 20-yard gain down the sideline. Douglas completed the pass rolling to his right on the run.
The defense remained stout during the second 11-on-11 period of practice. Safety Zyil Powell read a screen pass beautifully and would blow up the play in the backfield. The redshirt sophomore broke up the pass at the point of attack. Quarterback Evan Simon showed his accuracy throughout practice. Simon would find Reese Clark down the field with a pass fading towards the boundary. Clark would control his body and make the tough grab for a 15-yard gain.
The final team period of the afternoon had explosive moments for both the offense and defense. Simon would connect with receiver John Adams for perhaps the play of the day. With the defense in off-ball coverage, Adams beat his defender with a double move to get wide open down field for a 45-yard touchdown pass from Simon. Linebacker Tyrese Whitaker and defensive tackle Demerick Morris stifled the offense's running game to end the day, as the duo stormed into the backfield for a loss of yardage by the running back.
Saturday, April 5
With just a week remaining until the Cherry & White Spring Game, the Owls spent the majority of a rain-filled Saturday morning scrimmaging.
The offense came out firing, with quarterback Evan Simon connecting twice with wide receiver Xavier Irvin for 20-yard gains. Antonio Jones then showed off his agility, breaking multiple tackles on a 15-yard sweep. The first portion of practice was capped by a 25-yard touchdown strike from Simon to tight end Ryder Kusch.
Despite the offense's early success, the defense also had standout plays. Safety Zyil Powell stopped a potential big gain with a tackle-for-loss in the backfield, and shortly after, cornerback Adrian Laing came down with an interception.
These defensive moments carried into the second half of practice, where the unit forced three consecutive three-and-outs. Defensive tackle Joseph Auzenne and outside linebacker Tyrese Whitaker each recorded a tackle-for-loss, while safety Ihsim Smith-Marsette came away with an interception as the rain began to fall harder.
The offense closed out the day strong, as Darius Morant punched in a 5-yard touchdown and Anthony Chiccitt connected with Jamar Taylor Jr. on a toe-tapping grab for a first down.
Tuesday, April 7
Temple kicked off its final week of spring practices on a windy Tuesday afternoon at Edberg-Olson Hall.
During 7-on-7 drills, quarterback Patrick Keller tossed touchdown passes on back-to-back plays. First on a 25-yard strike to wide receiver Tyler Stewart, followed by a 10-yard score to running back Darius Morant. The defense then responded, as safety Louis Frye jumped a route at the goal line to haul in an interception.
The team spent one period in full-team drills, which began with running back Jay Ducker showing off his elusiveness on a first-down run. Quarterback Evan Simon followed with a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kajiya Hollawayne, then found tight end Ryder Kusch in the end zone for a toe-tapping score.
Linebacker Curly Ordonez made a standout play on defense, staying disciplined on an option and making an open-field tackle for no gain. Cornerback Adrian Laing then added a red zone interception in the final moments of practice.
Thursday, April 10
The Owls held their final practice before the Cherry & White Spring Game on Thursday, as the team prepares to welcome back a large group of former players this weekend for both the spring game and Friday's Alumni Golf Outing.
During 7-on-7, safety Avery Powell cut across a route to record a pass breakup. The offense responded and took control for the rest of the period. Quarterback Tyler Douglas connected with tight end Daniel Evert for a 20-yard gain, then followed it up with a perfectly placed fade to wide receiver Jamar Taylor Jr. for 25 yards. Wide receiver John Adams capped off the stretch with an acrobatic catch from Evan Simon, tipping the ball to himself for a first down reception.
In full team drills, the Simon-to-Adams connection continued with a 25-yard sideline grab. On the defensive side, lineman Sekou Kromah recorded a sack after beating his man off the line. Wide receiver Jamar Taylor Jr. delivered the most impressive performance of the period, starting with the play of the day—a leaping 20-yard catch over a defender. He followed it up by hauling in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Douglas, beating the coverage over the top.
This concludes the 2025 Spring Practice Blog. Temple will wrap up spring ball with the Cherry & White Spring Game on Saturday, April 12 at 2 p.m. Admission is free, and gates will open one hour prior to kickoff at 1 p.m.
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Date | Media Availability |
3/11/25 | K.C. Keeler |
3/13/25 | Tyler Walker |
3/15/25 | Brian L. Smith |
3/18/25 | K.C. Keeler, Brian Ginn, Rick Brown, Dante Atton, Carl Hardin |
3/20/25 | Henry Baker, Ben Osueke, Omar Ibrahim |
3/22/25 | Al Johnson, Grayson Mains, Kevin Terry |
3/25/25 | K.C. Keeler, Evan Simon, Anthony Chiccitt |
3/27/25 | Cedric Calhoun, Sultan Badmus, Allan Haye, Sekou Kromah, Demerick Morris |
3/29/25 | Andrew Pierce, Joquez Smith |
4/1/25 | K.C. Keeler, Louis Frye, Avery Powell |
4/3/25 | Keith Dudzinski, Katin Surprenant, Ty Davis |
4/5/25 | Chris Raitano, Eric Stuart, Tyrese Whitaker |
4/8/25 | K.C. Keeler, Kajiya Hollawayne, Tyler Stewart |
4/10/25 | Chris Zarkoskie, Peter Clarke |
4/12/25 | K.C. Keeler, selected players |