06.14.26
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Commits so far: A Big City Feel

Ethan Dempsey from Charlotte Rolesville (N.C.) will be joining the Owls in 2027.

Coaches like to talk about getting the right fit and that includes everything from game plans to starter to recruits.

A fit is looking like part of the plan for Temple in the high school recruiting department as the Owls picked up the New York City championship game MVP (Ameir Morrow) last year and the D.C. Championship game MVP this year (Jakari Graham).

Temple recruit Jakari Graham makes three one-hand catches in the same game.

Not surprising that both found Philadelphia a good fit because they thrived in big city environments before and there is a belief–at least among the Temple coaching staff–that they can thrive here, too.

Graham isn’t the only big-city player Temple has added as Temple got added Camden pass rusher Amara Dolleh (6-5, 230), DeMatha Catholic (also D.C) offensive tackle Kevin Nesbittt (6-6, 320) and Charlotte, N.C. wide receiver Ethan Dempsey (6-3, 198).

Others–with the possible exception of edge rusher Caleb Saint Fleur (6-2, 230)–are country bumpkins by comparison. Saint Fleur is from Hollywood, Fla., which for all intents and purposes is Miami.

Pleasantville (N.J.) RB Ta’kiesse Barnes is the only three-star recruit for the Owls so far.

That’s 11 so far in an expected class of 25. The Owls have way more offers out that available scholarships so it is incumbent on those being recruited to accept the offers as soon as possible or risk holding the bag or going to lesser G5 or even FCS schools.

Temple is taking a developmental approach to its high school recruits, building a team the old-fashioned way–getting the skill position players a chance to play right away, while putting the linemen in a lock box with the idea being getting them in the weight room and a redshirt year to adjust to college without being force-fed into a starting job, like Stan Drayton was forced to do with Luke Watson.

If there is any concern so far, only one–Pleasantville (N.J.) running back Ta’kliesse Barnes–has a three-star rating. That will probably mean Temple won’t get the No. 1 recruiting class in the American Conference this year unless it hits on a lot of stars in the remaining 14 offers. That doesn’t mean it won’t be a good class but it does mean the public perception of it won’t be as high.

All that matters is what the future Owls do between the white lines starting in 2027.

For the best recruiting news, follow Owlsdaily.com. Here is that site’s list of current Temple recruits:

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