Temple University Athletics
Phil Steele Publications Release Its Annual Preseason Honors
6.11.26 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Phil Steele Publications released its 2026 Preseason All-America and All-American Conference teams today. In all, eight Temple Football players received recognition.
Senior punter Dante Atton was one of five players earning first-team all-conference honors. He also garnered fourth team All-America support. The Melbourne, Australia, native is coming off his best season. In 2025 he was a Ray Guy Award Semifinalist after averaging 42.2 on 62 punts. He had just one touchback while forcing 37 fair catches and had a 41.7-yard net punting average.
Joining Atton on the first-team all-conference team were wide receiver JoJo Bermudez, tight end Peter Clarke and offensive linemen Eric King and Giakoby Hills. A redshirt senior, Bermudez also garnered second team accolades for his work as a punt returner. Last season, his first at Temple, he hauled in 38 passes for 500 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 15.0-yards on 10 punt returns. A senior from London, England, Clarke opened eyes in 2025 when he led the Owls with six touchdown receptions on 30 catches for 483 yards. King and Hills held down the left side of the Temple offensive line as the tandem grew from week-to-week. King, a redshirt junior, is entering his third season as the starting left guard. Hills, a redshirt sophomore, stepped into the left tackle position due to an injury last August and has not looked back, solidifying the Owls' offensive line.
Curly Ordonez joins Bermudez as a second-team all-conference player. The senior linebacker led the Owls in tackles a year ago with 66 stops. He also notched 7.0 tackles-for-loss and added one forced fumble.
Two additions form the transfer portal earned their way onto the fourth-team all-conference team. Philadelphia native, Sam Brown returns home after four seasons as a running back at Rutgers. Senior edge linebacker Jaylon Joseph makes the jump to FBS football after a stellar career at Lafayette where he was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award given to the best FCS freshman.
Temple opens the 2026 season on September 5, when the Owls take on the Rhode Island Rams at Lincoln Financial Field. To purchase tickets for any game, go to owlstix.com or call the ticket office at 215-204-8499.
Senior punter Dante Atton was one of five players earning first-team all-conference honors. He also garnered fourth team All-America support. The Melbourne, Australia, native is coming off his best season. In 2025 he was a Ray Guy Award Semifinalist after averaging 42.2 on 62 punts. He had just one touchback while forcing 37 fair catches and had a 41.7-yard net punting average.
Joining Atton on the first-team all-conference team were wide receiver JoJo Bermudez, tight end Peter Clarke and offensive linemen Eric King and Giakoby Hills. A redshirt senior, Bermudez also garnered second team accolades for his work as a punt returner. Last season, his first at Temple, he hauled in 38 passes for 500 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 15.0-yards on 10 punt returns. A senior from London, England, Clarke opened eyes in 2025 when he led the Owls with six touchdown receptions on 30 catches for 483 yards. King and Hills held down the left side of the Temple offensive line as the tandem grew from week-to-week. King, a redshirt junior, is entering his third season as the starting left guard. Hills, a redshirt sophomore, stepped into the left tackle position due to an injury last August and has not looked back, solidifying the Owls' offensive line.
Curly Ordonez joins Bermudez as a second-team all-conference player. The senior linebacker led the Owls in tackles a year ago with 66 stops. He also notched 7.0 tackles-for-loss and added one forced fumble.
Two additions form the transfer portal earned their way onto the fourth-team all-conference team. Philadelphia native, Sam Brown returns home after four seasons as a running back at Rutgers. Senior edge linebacker Jaylon Joseph makes the jump to FBS football after a stellar career at Lafayette where he was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award given to the best FCS freshman.
Temple opens the 2026 season on September 5, when the Owls take on the Rhode Island Rams at Lincoln Financial Field. To purchase tickets for any game, go to owlstix.com or call the ticket office at 215-204-8499.
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