Montel Aaron, We Hardly Knew Ye

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When Montel Aaron committed to Temple in the middle of October, he was just what Temple football needed—a mobile quarterback who could succeed P.J. Walker as the maestro of the read option offense.

Things change, people change, programs change and the parting of Aaron and Temple is a trade that will help both ball clubs. Very rarely does Temple get its No. 1 recruiting target, and this year the Owls got their No. 1 guy when quarterback Anthony Russo committed to the Owls. (It happened just once before, when Temple recruited Parade Magazine All-American first-team quarterback Kevin Harvey.) Having both Aaron and Russo around in the same recruiting class would have been an uncomfortable dynamic. It would have fostered great competition, but one guy would have eventually won it and I’m fairly certain after watching film of both that Russo would have been that guy.

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Montel Aaron’s statement

Russo was the No. 1 guy all along and, with former Matt Ryan coach Glenn Thomas now the Temple OC, look for the Matt Ryan and Anthony Russo comparisons to commence in a couple of years. Already, Trent Dilfer’s nickname for Russo is Ryan.

For Aaron to make it all the way across the country and to find himself in a strange town under those circumstances would have been a tough thing, especially if he wants to play quarterback in the NFL. Aaron’s decommit from Temple was as classy as they come and, wherever he winds up, he will have a fan for the next four years in me.

My guess it will be in Hawaii for former Temple OC Nick Rolovich, the head coach of the Rainbow Warriors. (Rolovich was Temple OC for one day, accepting the job, then reconsidering the next day to stay with Nevada.)  When Aaron and Rolovich get together, they will at least have something in common.

I hope that Temple fans never become Rutgers’ fans and badmouth every kid who becomes a decommit. The qualities that originally attracted Temple to him still exist. Montel Aaron, we hardly knew ye, but best of luck to you.

Tomorrow: Groundhog Day And Temple Stadium

Wednesday: The 5 Best Things About This Class