Five questions heading into Temple’s football spring practice

A later-than-usual spring practice due to COVID-19 will begin Monday for Temple, and the Owls, like many teams in college football, will have a drastically new look.

Temple is coming a 1-6 season in which it was hit hard by injuries and players out due to health and safety protocols,

Before last season, the Owls had earned a school-record five straight bowl bids and had been a competitive team in the American Athletic Conference. Now they will look to reestablish that identity in the third season under coach Rod Carey.

It’s anticipated that transfers will be able to play without sitting out a year for the first time, and that has caused an overflow in the transfer portal. (The NCAA hasn’t made this official yet, but is expected to.). In addition, players who competed last year didn’t have it count against their eligibility; for instance, a redshirt freshman last year would be a redshirt freshman again this season.

Temple has had plenty of players coming from and going to the transfer portal, which is one reason why this spring practice is crucial. Here are some of the main questions that Carey and his staff will face.

In a surprising move, Anthony Russo, who had started 26 games over the past three seasons, decided to transfer to Michigan State.

Now the position is expected to be wide-open.

Trad Beatty, who started two games when Russo was injured last season, won’t be playing football as he pursues graduate school.

Redshirt sophomore Re-al Mitchell, who transferred before last season from Iowa State, saw action in three games. A dual threat, he completed 26 of 52 passes for 238 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed for 114 yards (3.4 average).

Walk-on Kamal Gray started one game when the injury bug hit the position, and fellow freshman Matt Duncan also returns.

Also on the roster is redshirt freshman Mariano Valenti, a transfer from Carey’s former school, Northern Illinois; T.J. Pergine, a sophomore walk-on and transfer from Millersville, and senior walk-on Matthew Vitale.

That said, the person who has created the most buzz is redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound dual-threat transfer who started the first game of the season last year for Georgia. Before the game ended, he was on the bench.

Either way, he has the ability to open Temple’s season at Rutgers as the starter, and his progress will be the top single story during spring football.

Receiver is still solid, led by redshirt junior Jadan Blue, who became Temple’s first 1,000-yard receiver in 2019 but was slowed down by injury last season, and graduate receiver Randle Jones.

A huge upgrade in the transfer portal was at running back, with sophomore Iverson Clement, a former local star at Rancocas Valley who played sparingly at Florida; and senior Ra’Von Bonner, who rushed for 822 yards in three years at Illinois. Former walk-on and graduate student Tayvon Ruley rushed for 306 yards (4.2 avg.) last season for the Owls. There are several other young backs who will compete for reps.

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That would be safety, headed up by one of the team leaders, redshirt senior Amir Tyler. In addition, junior Jalen Ware returns after starting six of the seven games; he also played cornerback.

Freshman Alex Odom, from Kingsway Regional, started the final three games at safety and made an impact. Junior DaeSean Winston, who opted not to play last season due to COVID-19, is back and will be among the other strong candidates in the mix. Redshirt freshman M.J. Griffin, played in six games and recorded 22 tackles. Redshirt sophomore Chauncey Moore made two starts.

There are several, but since both starting cornerbacks, Christian Braswell and Linwood Crump, hit the transfer portal, that is the place to start. The Owls are hoping that junior Keyshawn Paul, a transfer from UConn, can make an immediate impact. Graduate student Freddie Johnson, who began his career as a receiver, saw ample action in the secondary and should challenge for a starting spot. Redshirt sophomore Elijah Clark appeared in five games and started the finale against East Carolina. He will vie for time. Junior speedster Jeremy Jennings of Downingtown East opted out last season due to COVID but is moving from receiver to corner, so his transition will be watched closely. Redshirt junior Ty Mason also returns after opting out due to COVID. Cameron Ruiz, a redshirt junior transfer from Northwestern, won’t attend spring practice since he will enroll in the summer, but he is a candidate.

There are plenty of questions on both the offensive and defensive lines. Temple must replace its top three defensive linemen, Dan Archibong, who decided to apply for the NFL draft, Ifeanyi Maijeh (now at Rutgers) and Arnold Ebiketie (now at Penn State).

Three expected impact newcomers are senior defensive end Will Rodgers, a transfer from Washington State and two North Carolina transfers junior tackle Xach Gill and sophomore defensive end Lancine Turay.

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The offensive line is more experienced, led by senior C.J. Perez, who started all seven games. Junior Adam Klein, who has made 26 career starts at either tackle or guard, was hampered by injury but should be one of the leaders.

Pos, Name, Grade, New School

QB Anthony Russo, Grad, Michigan State

DT Khris Banks, R-Soph, Boston College

LB Isaiah Graham Mobley, Grad, Boston College

DE Ifeanyi Maijeh, R-Jr., Rutgers

CB Linwood Crump, Grad, Colorado State

PK Will Mobley, R-Jr, Minnesota

OL Vincent Picozzi, Grad, Colorado State

DE Arnold Ebiketie, R-Jr, Penn State

OT David Nwaogwugwu, R-Soph, Rutgers

TE Aaron Jarman, R-Soph, (grad transfer ECU)

OL Griffin Sestilli, R-Jr

CB Christian Braswell grad

Players bypassing their final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft

Dan Archibong DT

Branden Mack WR

Amad Anderson, WR, 5-11, 175, r-Soph, Staten Island, N.Y. / Purdue

Ra’Von Bonner, RB, 5-11, 215, Sr, Cincinnati / Illinois

Iverson Clement, 6-0, 200, Soph, RB, Mount Holly, N.J./Florida

Xach Gill, 6-5, 290, Jr., DL, Wake Forest, N.C./North Carolina

D’Wan Mathis, QB, 6-6, 205, r-Fr, Oak Park, Mich. / Georgia

Keyshawn Paul, CB, 5-11, 175, Jr, Miami / UConn

Willie Rodgers III, DL, 6-4, 255, Sr, Saginaw, Mich. / Washington State

Cameron Ruiz, 5-11, 180, R-Jr., CB, Lake Villa, Ill./Northwestern*

Lancine Turay, 6-6, 280, Soph, DE, Newark, N.J./North Carolina

*Will enroll in the summer