Temple head coach Matt Rhule

By Fran Duffy

Going into year two under head coach Matt Rhule, there’s a lot of optimism surrounding the Temple Football program.

At the center of that optimism is one of the best kept secrets in the nation, quarterback P.J. Walker.

At the midway point of 2013, the Owls were winless, sporting losses to the likes of Idaho and Fordham (at home).

It was then that this young team turned the corner. The team lost four games by a combined 23 points, taking teams like Central Florida, Rutgers and Connecticut to the brink, and picked up wins over Army and Memphis to close out the year.

It was the play of a productive freshman class, led by Walker, and a renewed sense of confidence that helped improve their outlook heading into the offseason.

Walker, named to the preseason Maxwell Award Watch List, threw for more than 200 yards in all seven of his starts, showing a strong arm and athleticism to get out on the perimeter to make plays. Joining him in the backfield is senior Kenny Harper, one of the first recruits under former head coach Steve Addazio (now at Boston College).

Harper is joined by some talented underclassmen in sophomore Zaire Williams, junior Jamie Gilmore and redshirt freshman Bashir Lee. All in all this talented group should help shoulder the load from Walker, who will have to connect with some talented, but unproven, weapons in the receiving corps.

Out is last year’s leading receiver Robbie Anderson, who left the team in February. How will the team replace that production? The answer is, a number of different ways. There aren’t any proven stars, but depth could be the answer, as a number of upperclassmen have experience and some talented freshmen are on campus and looking to make an impact.

Jalen Fitzpatrick, John Christopher, and Khalif Herbin may be the names to watch on the outside and out of the slot. The offensive line, led by future pro Kyle Friend at center, will need to be more consistent in 2014 for the unit to take the next step.

Defensively, there’s a lot to improve on from last fall, but plenty to be optimistic about as well. Senior cornerback Anthony Robey leads a secondary that loses a number of starters from a secondary that was one of the least productive in the nation in 2013.

The good news? Reinforcements arrived this offseason in the form of seven additions on Signing Day, including junior college transfer Alex Wells, who should see early time at safety.

Other than Walker, the best player on the team may be linebacker Tyler Matakevitch, who led the country with 8.8 tackles a game a year ago. The true junior is the captain of the defense, and one of the best players at his position in college football.

Fellow linebacker Nate Smith is another intriguing talent, and the former New Jersey prep star is looking to turn in another strong season in 2014. Along the defensive line, the team will be relying on an improve pass rush thanks to some maneuvering of personnel.

Junior Matt Ioannidis will slide inside to defensive tackle on a fulltime basis, joining nose tackle Hershey Walton and Averee Robinson to form a solid interior.

The move opens up a spot off the edge for converted linebacker Sharif Finch and redshirt freshman Bryan Osei. Overall, the defense will count on the pass rush to get home and some of the new additions in the secondary to help boost a unit that got off to a very slow start in 2013.

The buzz from the improved second half continued into the recruiting season, as Temple pulled in commitments from 27 players in one of the most decorated classes in program history.

Some of those talented freshmen will take the field this fall, and provide Rhule and his staff with more depth as they hope to make a statement in a new-look All-American Conference this fall.

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