TU football grabs 18 letters of intent

Eighteen out of 24 is not bad, especially when it comes to signing players to play football for next year’s team.

Temple football received 18 national letters of intent Wednesday, the first day college football teams are allowed to sign new players to letters of intent.

Temple, coming off their second consecutive 4-7 season, has a lot of starters coming back next year, so most of the recruits will be brought in for depth at certain positions.

Overall, the Owls only lost one starter from last years’ struggling offense, and four defensive starters from a unit that held Temple in games this season.

Temple lost most of its secondary, with Chonn Lacey, Dante Coles, Phillip Shepard, and Brian West all having graduated. That brought the signing of four corner backs; Mike Holley (5-9, 165) from Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington D.C., Jonathan McPhee (5-11, 180) from St. Joeseph’s Regional High School in Paramus, N.J., David Reese (5-11, 170) from Milford Academy in Connecticut, and Gary Smith (5-11, 185) from Santa Rosa Junior College. Smith, 25, is expected to step in right away.

“We ran short late in the season, only dressing five for the last couple of games,” coach Bobby Wallace said of his defensive backs. “So getting depth there is a big help.”

Temple also looked to solidify an offensive line that had injury problems all of last season. Temple signed Tariq Sander (6-6, 280) from Central High School in Philadelphia, Elloit Seifert (6-8, 280) from Exert Senior High School in Reading, Pa., Joey Lippo (6-4, 295) from Dodge City Community College in Kansas, Leigh Denman (6-6, 300) from Roxbury High School in Succasunna, N.J., and Larry Bonczar (6-8, 290) from Wyoming Seminary Prep School in Kingston, Pa.

“We addressed some of our needs, especially on the offensive line where we were able to get some very tall kids.” Wallace said. “Some kids in that area will develop into some outstanding offensive lineman.”

Temple Football Signings