Five transfers highlight Owls’ class
Temple’s 2021 recruiting class is a mix of 12 high school seniors and five transfers, four from Power Five schools. Of the 12 high school recruits who signed letters of intent Wednesday, five hail from the Owls’ backyard.
Atop the local list is Malik Cooper, part of three straight PIAA Class 6A state championship teams at St. Joseph’s Prep.
The 5-9, 175-pound wide receiver did it all for the Hawklets as a senior. He caught 22 passes for 407 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned a punt and a kickoff for scores and averaged 47 yards on three kickoff returns and 17.8 yards on four punt returns, according to Ed “Huck” Palmer, who tracks Catholic League stats for Eastern Pa. Football.
Cooper had a huge day in Prep’s
62-13 victory over Central York in the state final. He caught five passes for
114 yards, including a 79-yard score, returned three punts for 66 yards and a TD and threw a touchdown pass.
Temple’s other local recruits are defensive backs Andrew Garwo of Conwell-Egan and Corey Palmer from Camden, and defensive linemen Balansama Kamara from Central and Jordan Laudato of West Chester Hen
derson.
The transfers are receiver Amad Anderson (Purdue), running back Ra’Von Bonner (Illinois), quarterback D’Wan Mathis (Georgia), defensive back Keyshawn Paul (Connecticut) and defensive lineman Willie Rodgers III (Washington State).
Paul is the most familiar with Temple. He played against the Owls while at Connecticut in 2018 and 2019. He had 36 tackles in 12 games for the Huskies in 2019. Connecticut play football this season due to COVID-19.
Rodgers is the most accomplished of the group. He appeared in 34 games over four seasons for Washington State. He totaled 53 tackles including 13.5 for loss and eight sacks.
Bonner played in 29 games for the Illini and rushed for 822 yards and
10 touchdowns. He opted out for the
2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.
Mathis spent two seasons with Georgia and saw limited action in four games this season, starting the season-opening win over Arkansas.
Anderson saw action in 17 games at Purdue, and totaled 36 receptions for 362 yards. He played five games this season before entering the transfer portal. He had 31 catches for 343 yards and three touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2019.
The Owls are coming off a 1-6 season under coach Rod Carey, its first losing season since 2013. Temple lost its final five games and opens the
2021 campaign Sept. 4 at Rutgers.