The Temple Owls Are Producing Some Serious NFL Talent
Courtesy of dbking/flickr
In the last five years, Temple has watched nine players make the jump to the next level. The team saw three young men drafted last year, the highest total in a single season since 1987.
The coaching staff stepped up its recruiting and turned the program around. Here is a list of all the players on NFL rosters as of Sunday:
Undrafted Free Agents
- Andre Neblette (DT): Signed as undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers 2009; started 12 games his rookie season but recently got suspended for four games for violating the leagues substance abuse policy
- Adrian Robinson (LB): Signed as undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009; inactive last week against the Eagles but made the team after a difficult training camp battle
- Rod Streater (WR): Signed as undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders 2010; has eight receptions on the year
Fifth Round
- Tahir Whitead (LB): 2012 by the Detriot Lions; forced two fumbles in the team’s first four games.
Fourth Round
- Evan Rodriguez (FB): 2012 by the Chicago Bears; after catching 35 balls for close to 500 yards at tight end in his senior season, the Bears have moved him to fullback where he has started two games
Third Round
- Terrance Knighton (DE): 2009 by the Jacksonville Jaguars; a productive part of the defensive line for Jacksonville. Knighton has registered 118 career tackles with 6.5 sacks in his four years of work
- Bernard Pierce (RB): 2012 by the Baltimore Ravens; Temple’s all-time leading rusher now backs up superstar Ray Rice
Second Round
- Jaiquawn Jarrett (S): 2011 by the Philadelphia Eagles; a starter for his hometown Eagles last season but lost his position in 2012 to Nate Allen
First Round
- Muhammed Wilkerson (DT): 2011 by the New York Jets; has started the majority of the games for the Jets in his first two seasons; 49 career tackles to go along with three sacks
