Temple University Athletics
Ajani Sheppard - 2026 Football Roster
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Jersey Number 13
Ajani Sheppard
- Position:
- Quarterback
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 230
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Bronx, N.Y.
- High School:
- Iona Prep
Ajani Sheppard's game-by-game stats
2026 (Redshirt Junior, Temple): Transferred to Temple in January ... is competing for the starting quarterback position with Jaxon Smolik ... split time at quarterback with Smolik during season-opening win vs Rhode Island ... it was his first game action at quarterback since 2023 while at Rutgers ... threw for a career-high 85 yards and rushed for a career-high 23 yards in the win ... rushed for his first career touchdown vs. Penn State ... replaced Jaxon Smolik following the first series at Toledo and had a career game logging highs in attempts (22), completions (12), yards (164), passing touchdowns (3) rushing yards (66) and total touchdowns (4) ... named an honorable mention for the American Conference Week 3 weekly football honors ... became the first Temple quarterback since Devin Scott in 1998 to throw two touchdown passes of at least 60 yards (67 and 78 vs. Army) in the same game ... led the Owls to a game winning touchdown drive at South Florida, capped off by a 34 yard touchdown run by Sheppard late in the fourth quarter ... was the first Temple player to lead the team in rushing and passing yards in a game since Evan Simon vs Utah State on 9/21/24 and it was the first time in a road game since P.J. Walker at Tulane on 12/6/14 ... is also the first Temple player to rush and throw for a touchdown in consecutive road games since Walker in 2014 ... threw his fourth 50+ yard touchdown pass of the season vs UConn and is the first Temple player to have at least four 50+ yard passing touchdowns in a season since P.J. Walker in 2016 ... ranks sixth in the American Conference in total offense and total offense per game along with fourth in passing efficiency and second in average passing yards per completion ... rushed for two touchdowns including a career-long 44 yard rush vs Charlotte ... is the first Temple QB to have multiple rushing touchdowns in a game since Quincy Patterson in 2023 vs Norfolk State.
2023 (Freshman, Rutgers): Played in one game ... completed both passing attempts for 23 yards and added a 10-yard carry in collegiate debut against Wagner.
High School: Played quarterback at Iona Prep for head coach Joe Spagnola … led the Gaels to a 9-3 record, a 6-1 mark in Catholic AAA league action and a NYCCHSFL AAA title game appearance as a senior in 2022 … finished senior season 150-of-242 for 2,393 yards and 21 touchdowns and added 142 carries for 1,291 yards and 11 scores on the ground … threw for 2,357 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 1,041 yards and 16 scores as a junior … CHSFL first team all-state Class AA Co-Player of the Year by the New York Sportswriters Association as a junior … No. 6 overall prospect in New York by ESPN … first Power 5 quarterback signee from Westchester County in 28 years.
Personal: Born Ajani Sheppard.
2026 (Redshirt Junior, Temple): Transferred to Temple in January ... is competing for the starting quarterback position with Jaxon Smolik ... split time at quarterback with Smolik during season-opening win vs Rhode Island ... it was his first game action at quarterback since 2023 while at Rutgers ... threw for a career-high 85 yards and rushed for a career-high 23 yards in the win ... rushed for his first career touchdown vs. Penn State ... replaced Jaxon Smolik following the first series at Toledo and had a career game logging highs in attempts (22), completions (12), yards (164), passing touchdowns (3) rushing yards (66) and total touchdowns (4) ... named an honorable mention for the American Conference Week 3 weekly football honors ... became the first Temple quarterback since Devin Scott in 1998 to throw two touchdown passes of at least 60 yards (67 and 78 vs. Army) in the same game ... led the Owls to a game winning touchdown drive at South Florida, capped off by a 34 yard touchdown run by Sheppard late in the fourth quarter ... was the first Temple player to lead the team in rushing and passing yards in a game since Evan Simon vs Utah State on 9/21/24 and it was the first time in a road game since P.J. Walker at Tulane on 12/6/14 ... is also the first Temple player to rush and throw for a touchdown in consecutive road games since Walker in 2014 ... threw his fourth 50+ yard touchdown pass of the season vs UConn and is the first Temple player to have at least four 50+ yard passing touchdowns in a season since P.J. Walker in 2016 ... ranks sixth in the American Conference in total offense and total offense per game along with fourth in passing efficiency and second in average passing yards per completion ... rushed for two touchdowns including a career-long 44 yard rush vs Charlotte ... is the first Temple QB to have multiple rushing touchdowns in a game since Quincy Patterson in 2023 vs Norfolk State.
2025 (Redshirt Sophomore, Washington State): Did not appear in a game.
2024 (Redshirt Freshman, Rutgers): Played in four games ... rushed three times for 24 yards ... contributed a 20-yard rush against Wisconsin ... took snaps versus Akron and Howard .2023 (Freshman, Rutgers): Played in one game ... completed both passing attempts for 23 yards and added a 10-yard carry in collegiate debut against Wagner.
High School: Played quarterback at Iona Prep for head coach Joe Spagnola … led the Gaels to a 9-3 record, a 6-1 mark in Catholic AAA league action and a NYCCHSFL AAA title game appearance as a senior in 2022 … finished senior season 150-of-242 for 2,393 yards and 21 touchdowns and added 142 carries for 1,291 yards and 11 scores on the ground … threw for 2,357 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 1,041 yards and 16 scores as a junior … CHSFL first team all-state Class AA Co-Player of the Year by the New York Sportswriters Association as a junior … No. 6 overall prospect in New York by ESPN … first Power 5 quarterback signee from Westchester County in 28 years.
Personal: Born Ajani Sheppard.
Thursday, October 22
Tuesday, October 20
Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 17
