TEMPLE WILL GO AS FAR AS WALKER TAKES THEM, AND THAT COULD BE FAR
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Quarterback P.J. Walker led Temple to a 37-7 upset of Vanderbilt, an SEC team that was 9-4 last season.By Fran Duffy
In a season that saw Temple lose each of their first six games and finish just 2-10, there was not too much to be excited about for the layman fan on North Broad Street.
If there’s one thing that gets fans going, however, it’s an athletic, strong armed freshman quarterback coming in and performing well in tough situations late in the season.
In just a handful of starts in 2013, the Elizabeth, NJ native P. J. Walker threw for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdown passes.
His arm strength was apparent early on, as he completed six touchdown passes of over thirty yards over his first three starts. Late in the season on the road against Southern Methodist University, Walker had what would have been a signature performance, starting the game with 16 straight completions and accounting for five total touchdowns (four passing, one rushing), but the defense could not come through when it counted as the Owls fell in crushing fashion. All in all, Walker finished the 2013 campaign starting the last seven games, throwing for over 200 yards in each of those contests and closing the season with a win over Memphis.
While that on-field success didn’t end in the amount of wins he would’ve liked, Walker took several opponents to the brink, including eventual conference champion Central Florida team that went on to win the Fiesta Bowl against a heavily favored Baylor squad. When the Owls hosted another conference power in Louisville, Walker came into the game midway through the second quarter and went toe to toe with future first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater, at times looking to have an even stronger arm than the All-American candidate. A year later, after his first year of spring practice and a full camp as the top dog in the quarterback room, Walker is learning to take the reigns of the offense. He spent nearly a week at the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana, working with his fellow signal calling-peers from the college level as well as quarterbacks from the National Football League.
Through camp, Walker has attempted to take the next step as a leader of a team that is chock full of freshmen and sophomores, and additional first-year talents in the form of junior college transfers. There are a fair amount of questions surrounding Walker. What receivers will step up to replace 2013 leading receiver Robbie Anderson?
Will any tight ends emerge as a pass catching threat? Will a young offensive line (lead by Rimington Trophy candidate Kyle Friend) grow up quickly to keep Walker upright?
Defensively, the secondary will have to greatly improve after recording a FBS-low three interceptions last season. Young players in the front seven will be counted on to take the next step as impact players.
Will Walker be able to elevate the talent around him? His development may be the key to Temple’s success in 2014 and beyond.
So far so good as Walker threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score as Temple forced seven turnovers to upset Vanderbilt 37-7 in a lightning-delayed game that ended Friday at 1:14 a.m. Central time.
Temple earned its first win over a Southeastern Conference team since beating Florida in 1938. The Owls spoiled the head coaching debut of Vanderbilt’s Derek Mason, the former Stanford defensive coordinator hired after James Franklin left for Penn State.
Temple had 13 takeaways all of last season while going 2-10, but the Owls continually forced Vanderbilt into miscues. All but 10 of Temple’s points came off turnovers. Temple picked off three passes to match its interception total from a year ago.
