Coming off three consecutive 3-9 campaigns — the last two with head coach Stan Drayton at the helm — the Temple Owls are searching for their first winning season since 2019.
Looking to right the ship this year, who are the Owls’ top 10 returning players in 2024?
Temple Owls Top 10 Returning Players
10) Dante Atton, P
Dante Atton served as the Owls’ primary punter and holder as a true freshman last year, averaging 39.4 yards per attempt on 43 punts. The Australia native had three kicks go over 50 yards and 12 land inside the 20-yard line.
9) Joquez Smith, RB
While Maryland transfer Antwain Littleton will likely be the No. 1 back, Joquez Smith will be in the rotation getting carries off the bench. Smith finished second on the Owls last year with 325 yards rushing.
8) Ian Stewart, WR
It’s been a tough road for Ian Stewart since transferring from Michigan State in 2021, suffering consecutive injuries in 2022 and 2023 that significantly hampered his production.
Although he only has 14 catches for 132 yards and two scores in that time, Stewart is healthy and back for one final season in Philly.
7) Zae Baines, WR
Zae Baines started 10 games for the Owls last season, hauling in the fourth-most catches on the team with 36 for 442 yards and a score.
There will be a new body behind center delivering Baines his passes in 2024, but he is sure to see plenty of targets no matter who wins the competition.
6) Forrest Brock, QB
It’s far from a foregone conclusion who will take over behind center after EJ Warner transferred to Rice. Returner Forest Brock is in a three-way QB battle between Rutgers transfer Evan Smith and fellow returner Tyler Douglas, who didn’t play as a true freshman. It isn’t much experience, but Brock did appear in one game last season, going 7-for-15 for 60 yards and a pick.
Even if he doesn’t win the job, having a player familiar with the system, either starting or available for depth, is a benefit on a team that will be relying heavily on transfers. Drayton is expected to name a starter two weeks before the season.
5) Elijah Deravil, CB
Elijah Deravil has started nine games for the Owls over the last two seasons, registering 74 tackles, including 40 last season. He’ll have to fight for time against a plethora of transfers, but his experience will at least make him a valuable rotational piece.
4) Tra Thomas, DE
Starting nine games last season, Tra Thomas finished with 30 tackles, five for a loss, and three sacks last year. The 6’4″, 225-pound edge rusher is back for another season on a solid defensive line for Temple in 2024.
3) Luke Watson, OL
Listed at 6’5″, 300 pounds out of Delaware, Luke Watson started 11 games for the Owls as a true freshman in 2023, showing off his versatility by starting at tackle and guard. While the OL as a unit struggled, finishing last in the conference in rushing, Temple is returning its best young prospect from the group in Watson
2) Diwun Black, DE
A CFN preseason first-team All-AAC selection, Diwun Black returns to Philly after a solid 2023 campaign.
Black registered 29 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, and 3.5 sacks to pace the Temple front seven last year. Listed at 6’3″, 240 pounds, Black is a heat-seeking missile off the end for the Owls, placing just outside the No. 1 spot for the top 10 returners on the Temple Owls in 2024.
1) Dante Wright, WR
Dante Wright tops the list of best returning players for Temple after finishing second on the team in receptions with 39 catches for 507 yards and four touchdowns. After averaging 13 yards per catch last year, he was placed on the CFN Preseason All-AAC Second Team.
A Colorado State transfer, Wright enters the year with 160 career catches for 2,181 yards and 11 touchdowns, with 121 catches, 1,674 yards, and seven touchdowns with the Rams.
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