With the early signing period looming, we spent some time talking to sources familiar with the recruitment of Temple's commitments and targets to get some updates on what lies ahead prior to the Dec. 19 Signing Day.
We'll have more coverage between now and then but as of today, this is where Temple's class stands.
Current Commits
MJ Griffin
The three-star cornerback is still solid in his commitment, despite some recent overtures from Iowa State. Temple coach Geoff Collins and defensive backs coach Nate Burton will visit Griffin in Michigan this week.
Zaylin Wood
Wood is still solid in his commitment but has also received some recent interest from Iowa State. Wood received an offer from ISU after committing to Temple during the summer. Collins and offensive line coach Chris Wiesehan will conduct in-home visits with Wood this week or next week.
Kwesi Evans
Evans is solid in his commitment and will host Adam DiMichele for an in-home visit today. Evans will take his official visit to Temple this weekend.
Thomas Joe-Kamara
Joe-Kamara has a few schools sniffing around him right now but we couldn't pinpoint exact programs. That being said, Joe-Kamara is expected to keep his commitment to Temple. He's taking an official visit to Temple this upcoming weekend.
Kennique Bonner-Steward
Bonner-Steward is firmly committed and plans to enroll in January as a midyear enrollee.
Jordan Magee
Magee will take an official visit to Temple this upcoming weekend. Magee is expected to play safety at Temple but will also play the Nickel role that DaeSean Winston currently plays.
Tenyeh Dixon
Dixon had a really good senior year, capped off by a game-winning interception against Ballou on Thanksgiving. Penn State is sniffing around Dixon and is expected to extend an official visit invitation to the cornerback. As of right now, however, Dixon is expected to stick with Temple.
Yvandy Rigby
Rigby, originally from Egg Harbor Township, played safety for Milford Academy this fall but is expected to start off as a linebacker for Temple. Rigby will take an official visit this upcoming weekend and enroll in January.
Wisdom Quarshie
Quarshie is solid in his commitment and will start off at Temple as a defensive lineman. He has the ability to shift to offensive lineman if that's determined to be a better fit.
Chris Fowx
Fowx will host Wiesehan tomorrow for an in-home visit and is firm in his commitment.
Jermaine Donaldson
Donaldson will start off as an offensive lineman for Temple. Donaldson originally committed to Temple over Nebraska and Boston College. Those schools are still lingering around but Donaldson will take an official visit to Temple this weekend and appears likely to stick to his commitment.
Nate Wyatt
Wyatt fits the mold of the under-recruited defensive back that Temple has had success with in the past. Wyatt will take his official visit to Temple this weekend.
Re'Mahn Davis
Davis played his high school ball in New York and his prep ball in New Jersey but is originally from California. That's where he's at now. Once Davis gets back to the east coast, he'll host Collins for an in-home visit.
Jacoby Sharpe
Sharpe broke his hand to cut his senior season short. That didn't stop him from picking up more recruiting interest, however, as a source I spoke with said Sharpe picked up new offers after committing to Temple. Despite that, Sharpe is expected to sign with Temple.
Josh Youngblood
Youngblood, who played quarterback at Berkeley Prep, is expected to be a difference maker at slot receiver for Temple. Youngblood recently took an unofficial visit to USF but is expected to sign with Temple.
Jamal Speaks
As you know, Speaks had residency issues that prevented him from seeing the field for Ballou until a couple games into the season. Unfortunately, those same issues may prevent Speaks from enrolling at Temple right away. A source I spoke with said Temple will likely sign Speaks but may stash him at a junior college or prep school.
Davis Divall
After finishing up his prep year, Divall will enroll at Temple as a midyear enrollee in January.
Kelvin Dean
Dean has been compared to Isaiah Wright in his ability to play a hybrid RB/slot role at the next level. The only school to watch out for here is Florida State, which does not seem likely at this point. I'd expect Dean to end up at Temple.
Josh Fuga
Fuga, who chose Temple over Wake Forest and Virginia, may end up being a steal for Temple. A source John spoke with a few weeks ago referred to him as a "beast" and a source I spoke with today referred to him as a smaller Freddie Booth-Lloyd in terms of his agility.
Edward Saydee
Saydee rushed for more than 1,400 yards this season but will likely be a defensive back at Temple. He'll take his official visit to Temple this weekend and is expected to sign with the Owls.
Victor Stoffel
The latest Swede to chose Temple, Stoffel is up to about 255 pounds and will enroll at Temple in January.
Simon Abedimungu
A source I spoke with today referred to Abedimungu as a raw athlete that could end up at defensive end or tight end at Temple.
Remaining Targets
Mohamed Toure
Toure has been committed to Rutgers for a while but recently took an official visit to Wisconsin and is still considering his options. Toure is expected to host a contingent of Temple coaches for an in-home visit today.
Mohammad Kamara
Kamara, the younger brother of former Temple LB Amara Kamara, will take his official visit to Temple the weekend of the 8th and will host Temple for an in-home visit the week after that. Sounds like it's still down to Temple or Rutgers for Kamara, who was hearing a little from Ohio State.
Trey Rucker
Rucker, a former Maryland commit, will host Temple for an in-home visit either this week or next week. Rucker almost committed to Temple over the summer before committing to Maryland so this may be something to watch. Wake Forest is also involved here.
De'Von Fox
Fox is currently committed to Kent State but seems very unlikely to end up there. He's currently considering schools like Temple and Cincinnati. Fox is currently scheduled to take an official visit to Temple this weekend. Fox is a little undersized but has legitimate speed and put up more than 1,200 receiving yards this season.
Ja'Quan Sheppard
Sheppard, a 3-star WR from Florida, is expected to make his decision tonight. Sheppard has offers from Temple, Kentucky, North Carolina State, USF, Cincinnati and other schools.
Summary
A source I spoke with today said that Temple will likely sign 25 players. I'm not sure if all 25 of those players will sign in December or if a few will wait until February. Right now, Temple has 22 committed players. As of right now, it sounds like Temple will be able to keep the vast majority, if not all, of its current players. That could change, of course, especially if Temple gets a late commitment from somebody like Toure or Rucker. With those remaining spots, a source I spoke with said that Temple ideally wants to add a combination of...
- Another wide receiver to add to Evans and Youngblood. This could be Fox, Sheppard or another player that we haven't heard about yet.
- Kamara/Toure/Rucker
- A junior college OL or DL. Don't have any specific names here yet.
- Either a JUCO RB or a grad transfer RB. I know this has been a hot topic on this board but I was able to confirm today that Temple is actively looking at the junior college ranks and the transfer market to help replace Ryquell Armstead. If Temple goes the fifth-year route, this may not manifest until after Signing Day ala Rodney Williams and Jimmy Hogan. Speaks likely prepping/going to junior college makes this even more important.
We'll have more coverage between now and then but as of today, this is where Temple's class stands.
Current Commits
MJ Griffin
The three-star cornerback is still solid in his commitment, despite some recent overtures from Iowa State. Temple coach Geoff Collins and defensive backs coach Nate Burton will visit Griffin in Michigan this week.
Zaylin Wood
Wood is still solid in his commitment but has also received some recent interest from Iowa State. Wood received an offer from ISU after committing to Temple during the summer. Collins and offensive line coach Chris Wiesehan will conduct in-home visits with Wood this week or next week.
Kwesi Evans
Evans is solid in his commitment and will host Adam DiMichele for an in-home visit today. Evans will take his official visit to Temple this weekend.
Thomas Joe-Kamara
Joe-Kamara has a few schools sniffing around him right now but we couldn't pinpoint exact programs. That being said, Joe-Kamara is expected to keep his commitment to Temple. He's taking an official visit to Temple this upcoming weekend.
Kennique Bonner-Steward
Bonner-Steward is firmly committed and plans to enroll in January as a midyear enrollee.
Jordan Magee
Magee will take an official visit to Temple this upcoming weekend. Magee is expected to play safety at Temple but will also play the Nickel role that DaeSean Winston currently plays.
Tenyeh Dixon
Dixon had a really good senior year, capped off by a game-winning interception against Ballou on Thanksgiving. Penn State is sniffing around Dixon and is expected to extend an official visit invitation to the cornerback. As of right now, however, Dixon is expected to stick with Temple.
Yvandy Rigby
Rigby, originally from Egg Harbor Township, played safety for Milford Academy this fall but is expected to start off as a linebacker for Temple. Rigby will take an official visit this upcoming weekend and enroll in January.
Wisdom Quarshie
Quarshie is solid in his commitment and will start off at Temple as a defensive lineman. He has the ability to shift to offensive lineman if that's determined to be a better fit.
Chris Fowx
Fowx will host Wiesehan tomorrow for an in-home visit and is firm in his commitment.
Jermaine Donaldson
Donaldson will start off as an offensive lineman for Temple. Donaldson originally committed to Temple over Nebraska and Boston College. Those schools are still lingering around but Donaldson will take an official visit to Temple this weekend and appears likely to stick to his commitment.
Nate Wyatt
Wyatt fits the mold of the under-recruited defensive back that Temple has had success with in the past. Wyatt will take his official visit to Temple this weekend.
Re'Mahn Davis
Davis played his high school ball in New York and his prep ball in New Jersey but is originally from California. That's where he's at now. Once Davis gets back to the east coast, he'll host Collins for an in-home visit.
Jacoby Sharpe
Sharpe broke his hand to cut his senior season short. That didn't stop him from picking up more recruiting interest, however, as a source I spoke with said Sharpe picked up new offers after committing to Temple. Despite that, Sharpe is expected to sign with Temple.
Josh Youngblood
Youngblood, who played quarterback at Berkeley Prep, is expected to be a difference maker at slot receiver for Temple. Youngblood recently took an unofficial visit to USF but is expected to sign with Temple.
Jamal Speaks
As you know, Speaks had residency issues that prevented him from seeing the field for Ballou until a couple games into the season. Unfortunately, those same issues may prevent Speaks from enrolling at Temple right away. A source I spoke with said Temple will likely sign Speaks but may stash him at a junior college or prep school.
Davis Divall
After finishing up his prep year, Divall will enroll at Temple as a midyear enrollee in January.
Kelvin Dean
Dean has been compared to Isaiah Wright in his ability to play a hybrid RB/slot role at the next level. The only school to watch out for here is Florida State, which does not seem likely at this point. I'd expect Dean to end up at Temple.
Josh Fuga
Fuga, who chose Temple over Wake Forest and Virginia, may end up being a steal for Temple. A source John spoke with a few weeks ago referred to him as a "beast" and a source I spoke with today referred to him as a smaller Freddie Booth-Lloyd in terms of his agility.
Edward Saydee
Saydee rushed for more than 1,400 yards this season but will likely be a defensive back at Temple. He'll take his official visit to Temple this weekend and is expected to sign with the Owls.
Victor Stoffel
The latest Swede to chose Temple, Stoffel is up to about 255 pounds and will enroll at Temple in January.
Simon Abedimungu
A source I spoke with today referred to Abedimungu as a raw athlete that could end up at defensive end or tight end at Temple.
Remaining Targets
Mohamed Toure
Toure has been committed to Rutgers for a while but recently took an official visit to Wisconsin and is still considering his options. Toure is expected to host a contingent of Temple coaches for an in-home visit today.
Mohammad Kamara
Kamara, the younger brother of former Temple LB Amara Kamara, will take his official visit to Temple the weekend of the 8th and will host Temple for an in-home visit the week after that. Sounds like it's still down to Temple or Rutgers for Kamara, who was hearing a little from Ohio State.
Trey Rucker
Rucker, a former Maryland commit, will host Temple for an in-home visit either this week or next week. Rucker almost committed to Temple over the summer before committing to Maryland so this may be something to watch. Wake Forest is also involved here.
De'Von Fox
Fox is currently committed to Kent State but seems very unlikely to end up there. He's currently considering schools like Temple and Cincinnati. Fox is currently scheduled to take an official visit to Temple this weekend. Fox is a little undersized but has legitimate speed and put up more than 1,200 receiving yards this season.
Ja'Quan Sheppard
Sheppard, a 3-star WR from Florida, is expected to make his decision tonight. Sheppard has offers from Temple, Kentucky, North Carolina State, USF, Cincinnati and other schools.
Summary
A source I spoke with today said that Temple will likely sign 25 players. I'm not sure if all 25 of those players will sign in December or if a few will wait until February. Right now, Temple has 22 committed players. As of right now, it sounds like Temple will be able to keep the vast majority, if not all, of its current players. That could change, of course, especially if Temple gets a late commitment from somebody like Toure or Rucker. With those remaining spots, a source I spoke with said that Temple ideally wants to add a combination of...
- Another wide receiver to add to Evans and Youngblood. This could be Fox, Sheppard or another player that we haven't heard about yet.
- Kamara/Toure/Rucker
- A junior college OL or DL. Don't have any specific names here yet.
- Either a JUCO RB or a grad transfer RB. I know this has been a hot topic on this board but I was able to confirm today that Temple is actively looking at the junior college ranks and the transfer market to help replace Ryquell Armstead. If Temple goes the fifth-year route, this may not manifest until after Signing Day ala Rodney Williams and Jimmy Hogan. Speaks likely prepping/going to junior college makes this even more important.
