I'll have a full story out in the morning or afternoon, but here are a few takeaways from Sunday's practice. Again, as a disclaimer, reporters are only permitted to watch the final 15-20 minutes of practice.
Soon after practice opened up, director of football operations Scott Wallace yelled out for the third team units to hit the field. The drill was a red zone scrimmage, where the offense started with the ball at the 12-yard line. The offense was given four downs to score. The third team offense included true freshman quarterback Todd Centeio. The Dwyer (Fla.) High School product evaded pressure and scrambled into the end zone. He also remained calm in the pocket and hit sophomore receiver Randle Jones for a touchdown.
Next up was the second team group, led by Logan Marchi. He did not attempt any deep passes in the open portion of practice. On one play, Marchi utilized a two running back set and tossed the ball to sophomore receiver Isaiah Wright for a 10-yard gain. No turnovers from Marchi in the open portion, but also nothing that particularly stood out.
Frank Nutile worked with what appeared to be the first team group, which included junior tailback Ryquell Armstead and redshirt senior receiver Keith Kirkwood. Nutile tossed a touchdown pass to Wright. However, Nutile also threw an interception into the hands of sophomore linebacker Sam Franklin.
The first team defense consisted of the following group:
Defensive line (from left to right) Quincy Roche, Dan Archibong, Michael Dogbe and one player I was unable to identify (he had his jersey rolled up as a crop top).
Linebackers: William Kwenkeu, Todd Jones (middle linebacker), Sam Franklin
Safety: Delvon Randall, Sean Chandler
Cornerback: Mike Jones, Artrel Foster
It's important to note that the coaches mix in different players with the first team. Although Jones was the MIKE linebacker during that particular time, sophomore Shaun Bradley is still the favorite to start at that spot. Redshirt junior Jared Folks, who split time as a starter with then-senior Jarred Alwan last season, worked with the second team defense. Folks missed the entire spring with an undisclosed injury. Veterans like Sharif Finch and Jacob Martin could end up as Temple's two starting defensive ends, although Roche's name continues to come up amongst the coaches.
Anthony Russo only received roughly three or four snaps in the open portion. Those snaps took place while I was on the other end of the field, watching Centeio.
Freshman receiver Jadan Blue came up with three touchdown catches - two from Centeio and one from Nutile - during the portion of practice open to reporters. Geoff Collins brought Blue up during Temple's media day last week. While the Owls have a deep receiving corps - led by redshirt junior Ventell Bryant and seniors Adonis Jennings and Kirkwood - Blue looks like he could push for early playing time. While talking with reporters after Sunday's practice, Collins also brought up receiver L.J. Holder, linebacker Audley Isaacs and defensive back Christian Braswell as freshmen who have impressed early in camp.
Braswell, a late addition to Temple's 2017 recruiting class from Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington D.C., also received some praise from his veteran teammates. Mike Jones, a graduate transfer cornerback, along with redshirt senior Artrel Foster both spoke highly of Braswell.
And a few injury notes ... OT Leon Johnson and WR Ventell Bryant did not participate in Sunday's practice. Johnson did not play during the spring and Collins admitted that he has been "limited" at the start of preseason camp. Johnson, who was in uniform, did complete boxing exercises on the sideline with strength coach David Feeley. Bryant was also in uniform and participating in activities on the sideline ... "We don't talk about (injuries)," Collins said when asked about the status of redshirt freshman running back Tyliek Raynor, was seen on crutches during Friday's practice ... Redshirt sophomore linebacker Chapelle Russell, who's recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November against Tulane, participated in Sunday's practice. Russell told reporters after Friday's practice that he's "95 percent" healthy and expects to be ready for Temple's Sept. 2 season opener against Notre Dame. However, Russell was noticeably in pain as he lightly jogged off the field. He's still wearing a knee brace. It looked like Russell is still in the process of recovering from the injury.
Soon after practice opened up, director of football operations Scott Wallace yelled out for the third team units to hit the field. The drill was a red zone scrimmage, where the offense started with the ball at the 12-yard line. The offense was given four downs to score. The third team offense included true freshman quarterback Todd Centeio. The Dwyer (Fla.) High School product evaded pressure and scrambled into the end zone. He also remained calm in the pocket and hit sophomore receiver Randle Jones for a touchdown.
Next up was the second team group, led by Logan Marchi. He did not attempt any deep passes in the open portion of practice. On one play, Marchi utilized a two running back set and tossed the ball to sophomore receiver Isaiah Wright for a 10-yard gain. No turnovers from Marchi in the open portion, but also nothing that particularly stood out.
Frank Nutile worked with what appeared to be the first team group, which included junior tailback Ryquell Armstead and redshirt senior receiver Keith Kirkwood. Nutile tossed a touchdown pass to Wright. However, Nutile also threw an interception into the hands of sophomore linebacker Sam Franklin.
The first team defense consisted of the following group:
Defensive line (from left to right) Quincy Roche, Dan Archibong, Michael Dogbe and one player I was unable to identify (he had his jersey rolled up as a crop top).
Linebackers: William Kwenkeu, Todd Jones (middle linebacker), Sam Franklin
Safety: Delvon Randall, Sean Chandler
Cornerback: Mike Jones, Artrel Foster
It's important to note that the coaches mix in different players with the first team. Although Jones was the MIKE linebacker during that particular time, sophomore Shaun Bradley is still the favorite to start at that spot. Redshirt junior Jared Folks, who split time as a starter with then-senior Jarred Alwan last season, worked with the second team defense. Folks missed the entire spring with an undisclosed injury. Veterans like Sharif Finch and Jacob Martin could end up as Temple's two starting defensive ends, although Roche's name continues to come up amongst the coaches.
Anthony Russo only received roughly three or four snaps in the open portion. Those snaps took place while I was on the other end of the field, watching Centeio.
Freshman receiver Jadan Blue came up with three touchdown catches - two from Centeio and one from Nutile - during the portion of practice open to reporters. Geoff Collins brought Blue up during Temple's media day last week. While the Owls have a deep receiving corps - led by redshirt junior Ventell Bryant and seniors Adonis Jennings and Kirkwood - Blue looks like he could push for early playing time. While talking with reporters after Sunday's practice, Collins also brought up receiver L.J. Holder, linebacker Audley Isaacs and defensive back Christian Braswell as freshmen who have impressed early in camp.
Braswell, a late addition to Temple's 2017 recruiting class from Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington D.C., also received some praise from his veteran teammates. Mike Jones, a graduate transfer cornerback, along with redshirt senior Artrel Foster both spoke highly of Braswell.
And a few injury notes ... OT Leon Johnson and WR Ventell Bryant did not participate in Sunday's practice. Johnson did not play during the spring and Collins admitted that he has been "limited" at the start of preseason camp. Johnson, who was in uniform, did complete boxing exercises on the sideline with strength coach David Feeley. Bryant was also in uniform and participating in activities on the sideline ... "We don't talk about (injuries)," Collins said when asked about the status of redshirt freshman running back Tyliek Raynor, was seen on crutches during Friday's practice ... Redshirt sophomore linebacker Chapelle Russell, who's recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November against Tulane, participated in Sunday's practice. Russell told reporters after Friday's practice that he's "95 percent" healthy and expects to be ready for Temple's Sept. 2 season opener against Notre Dame. However, Russell was noticeably in pain as he lightly jogged off the field. He's still wearing a knee brace. It looked like Russell is still in the process of recovering from the injury.
