Four Owls earn NFL shot as undrafted free agents
The list of Temple players with a chance to play in the NFL doubled after the draft ended Saturday evening.
After a weekend in which a record four Owls were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, four more Temple players signed as undrafted free agents.
Offensive lineman Jovahn Fair signed with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Linebacker Sam Franklin agreed to terms with the Carolina
Panthers, who are coached by former Temple coach Matt Rhule. Defensive end Dana Levine signed with the New York Giants and wide receiver Isaiah Wright with the Washington Redskins.
They join center Matt Hennessey (Atlanta, third round), cornerback Harrison Hand (Minnesota, fifth round), and linebackers Shaun Bradley (Eagles, sixth round) and Chapelle Russell (Tampa Bay, seventh round) who were taken in the three-day draft.
Fair was the first Temple player to start in four bowl games. The 6-2, 315-pounder started in 42 of the 45 games in which he played in his career. He was a second-team All-AAC selection in 2018 and 2019 and played in the NFLPA Bowl along with Russell.
“Jovahn is one of those guys who I can see playing in the league for 10 years,” Temple head coach Rod Carey said. “If he gets with a situation that can bring him along, I think he’s a special player.”
Franklin played in 53 career games, tying him for the most in program history. He earned secondteam all-conference honors in 2019 and recorded
194 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in his career.
“I think the Panthers will find the same thing we did about Sam,” Carey said. “He can play three to five positions on defense and play them really, really well. His versatility will be something that teams will covet along with his personality and what a good teammate he is.”
Levine had a careerhigh 11 tackles for loss and
5.5 sacks last season. In
39 career games, the 6-4,
235-pound defensive end recorded 91 total tackles, 18.5 for loss, 11 sacks and four forced fumbles.
“Dana kept getting better and better as the course of the season went on,” Carey said. “I would expect that he will show the Giants that same improvement and make a mark on them as well.”
The versatile Wright had one of the most productive careers in Temple history. His 4,577 career allpurpose yards is fourth in program history since
1971. The 6-2, 220-pounder racked up 1,552 yards receiving, 552 yards rushing and a combined 2,473 yards in punt and kickoff returns in 50 games. He was the 2018 AAC Special Teams Player of the Year and earned first-team allconference and honorable mention All-America honors that year. He played in the East-West Shrine Game following his senior season.
“Isaiah is really explosive,” Carey said. “He can score a touchdown with the ball in his hands at any moment. I know that the Redskins will see that same thing that we saw in him. I look forward to watching him on Sundays.”