The 2018 Temple Owls football team represented Temple University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls were led by second-year head coach Geoff Collins during the regular season and played their home games at Lincoln Financial Field. They are members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 8–5, 7–1 in AAC play to finish in 2nd place in the East Division. They were invited to play in the Independence Bowl, where they lost to Duke.
On December 7, 2018, head coach Geoff Collins left for the head coaching job at Georgia Tech. Tight ends coach Ed Foley led the Owls in the Independence Bowl. On December 13, the Owls initially named Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz as their new head coach. However, on December 30, Diaz went back to Miami to become their new head coach following Mark Richt's sudden retirement.
Preseason
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Rimington TrophyMatt HennessyCSoChuck Bednarik AwardDelvon RandallSSRMaxwell AwardFrank NutileQBSRDoak Walker AwardRyquell ArmsteadRBJRJohn Mackey AwardKenny YeboahTESOJim Thorpe AwardDelvon RandallSSRBronko Nagurski TrophyDelvon RandallSSRPaul Hornung AwardIsaiah WrightWR/KRJRWuerffel TrophyFrank NutileQBSRRay Guy AwardConnor BowlerPFR
AAC media poll The AAC media poll was released on July 24, 2018, with the Owls predicted to finish in third place in the AAC East Division.
Media poll (East) 1 UCF 175 (25) 2 USF 140 (5) 3 Temple 132 4 Cincinnati 91 5 UConn 51 6 East Carolina 41
Schedule
Personnel
Coaching staff Geoff CollinsHead coach 2017Ed FoleyAssistant head coach/Tight ends/Special Teams 2008Jim PanagosAssistant head coach/defensive line/Run Game Coordinator2017Dave PatenaudeOffensive coordinator/quarterbacks 2017Andrew ThackerDefensive coordinator/linebackers 2017Tony LucasRunning backs 2017Stan HixonWide receivers 2017Chris Wiesehanoffensive line/Run Game Coordinator2014Nate BurtonDefensive backs 2018Adam DiMicheleRecruiting Coordinator/Offensive assistant2014Larry KnightOutside linebackers2017Tim ConnerOffensive Analyst2017Tom PajicSenior Offensive Analyst2017Jason SemoreSenior Defensive Analyst2018Reggie GarrettDirector of Player Personnel2016Ronell WilliamsDefensive Analyst2017David FeeleyHead Strength & Conditioning Coach2017
Roster
2018 recruiting class
Game summaries
Villanova
Buffalo
At Maryland
Tulsa
At Boston College
East Carolina
At Navy
Cincinnati
At UCF
At Houston
Doak Walker Award candidate Ryquell Armstead, playing on a sore ankle and missing part of the game to have his hand x-rayed, tied a career-best with 210 yards rushing and became the first college player in two years with six rushing touchdowns in a game. He was named conference offensive player of the week, and college offensive player of the week by three groups. This moved him from seventh to third on the AAC's all-time rushing touchdown list with 33, and from seventh to fifth on the rushing yards list with 2,692. On Temple's lists, he also passed Jahad Thomas for touchdowns, 100+ yard games, and career yards—also passing Anthony Anderson and Matt Brown in the latter category—to reach third, tied for fourth with Matt Brown, and fourth respectively all-time.
South Florida
At UConn
Vs. Duke–Independence Bowl
Awards and honors
National awards The Sporting News All-American Team Isaiah Wright - Returner
Conference awards American Athletic Conference Players of the Year The American - Special Teams Player of the Year Isaiah Wright
American Athletic Conference All-Conference Team First Team Ryquell Armstead, RB Shaun Bradley, LB Michael Dogbe, DT Delvon Randall, S Rock Ya-Sin, CB Isaiah Wright, KR
Second Team Ventell Bryant, WR Jovahn Fair, OL
NFL players NFL Draft Combine One Temple player was invited to participate in the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
# Name POS HT WT Hands 40 Bench Press Vert Jump Broad Jump 3 Cone Drill 20-yd Shuttle Ref#6 Rock Ya-Sin CB 6'0"192 lbs9 7/8"4.511839.5129.07.314.31 #7 Ryquell Armstead RB 5'11"220 lbs9 1/8"4.452230.0114.07.024.29 † Top performer
2019 NFL draft Following the season, the following members of the Temple football team were selected in the 2019 NFL draft. 2 34 Rock Ya-Sin CB Indianapolis Colts 5 140 Ryquell Armstead RB Jacksonville Jaguars 7 249 Michael Dogbe DE Arizona Cardinals
In addition to the draft selections above, the following Temple players signed NFL contracts after the draft.
# Name POS HT WT NFL club Ref#1Ventell BryantWR6-3 200 lbs Cincinnati Bengals #2Delvon RandallDB6-1 215 lbs Philadelphia Eagles #4Rob RitrovatoFB6-2 240 lbs New York Giants #77Jaelin RobinsonOL 6-6 325 lbs Atlanta Falcons #85Chris MyarickTE 6-5 250 lbs Miami Dolphins
References