Four More Owls Realize Goal of Playing in the NFL

PHILADELPHIA – Following the 2026 NFL Draft, four Temple football players were given the opportunity to take the next steps in pursuing their dreams of playing in the NFL. Edge rusher Cam'Ron Stewart signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings, while long snapper Isaiah Hayse (Baltimore Ravens), wide receiver Kajiya Hollawayne (Kansas City Chiefs), and quarterback Evan Simon (New York Giants) were invited to participate in rookie camps.

Isaiah Hayse transferred to Temple for the 2025 season as a graduate student. Throughout the season he took 118 snaps on special teams, distributing perfect snaps on each of those reps. In a week seven win over Charlotte, Hayse was named special teams player of the game. Hayes was a vital part in the procedural success for punter Dante Atton and kicker Carl Hardin throughout the 2025 season. Atton finished the season as one of the nation's best punters as he was named a semi-finalist for the Ray Guy Award. Hardin went 11-14 on field goals in 2025 and 40-40 on point after attempts. Both achievements relied on the consistency and ability of Hayse.

Kajiya Hollawayne contributed at wide receiver since joining the Owls in 2024. The converted quarterback started all 12 games for the Owls in 2025 finishing with 39 catches for 489 yards and tied for a team-leading six receiving touchdowns. Against Navy last season, Hollawayne finished with a career-high 146 receiving yards. In a one-point overtime win over Tulsa, the wide out finished the day with a career-high 10 receptions and a career-high three receiving touchdowns.

Evan Simon was the unequivocal leader of the 2025 Temple Owls. He was selected to wear a single-digit which is one of the highest honors for a Temple Football player as those are given to those who lead on and off the field at the highest level. Simon was named to the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year watchlist as well as the Manning Award watch list and the Davey O'Brien 2025 QB Class. Simon finished his redshirt senior season going 189-313 for 2,097 yards and 27 total touchdowns. His 25 passing scores broke the Temple single-season passing touchdown record previously set by E.J. Warner. The opening game of the 2025 season was one of the biggest in Simon's career as a tied the single-game passing touchdown record with six in route to a 42-10 win over UMass in the opening game of the K.C. Keeler era.

Cam'Ron Stewart thrived in the new defensive scheme thanks to defensive coordinator Brian L. Smith. The Pennsylvania native finished the season with five sacks, 32 tackles, and 10.5 tackles for loss, all being career-highs. Stewart had one of his best games as an Owl in a dominating 55-7 victory over Howard in week two. He finished the afternoon with a career-high three tackles for loss and a career-high two sacks on the day to help Temple get the win.

This gives Temple 16 active players participating in NFL camps this summer (the numbers include all players who earned their degree from Temple such as Braswell and Ebiketie). Temple's 16 NFL players would be the most among non-Power 4 schools.

Hayse, Hollawayne, Simon, and Stewart join the following former 12 Owls currently in the NFL:

Buffalo Bills – Dion Dawkins, Sam Franklin, Maddux Trujillo
Dallas Cowboys - Matt Hennessy
Detroit Lions – Michael Niese, Rock Ya-Sin
Green Bay Packers - Brandon McManus
Jacksonville Jaguars – Christian Braswell
Philadelphia Eagles – Arnold Ebiketie
Tennessee Titans – Jacob Martin, David Martin-Robinson
Washington Commanders – Jordan Magee

Free Agents who were active NFL players in 2025 but have not signed yet for the 2026 season are – Robbie Chosen (Commanders), Keith Kirkwood (Ravens), Chris Myarick (Dolphins), Haason Reddick (Buccaneers), Kenny Yeboah (Lions)

Draft Notes:

This is the 11th straight year that Temple has sent at least one player to the NFL. That ties the longest streak in school history – Temple sent players to the NFL in every year from 1979-89.