New Temple coach K.C. Keeler has made the first set of additions to his football roster through the transfer portal and the high school recruiting circuit, the program announced Monday.
Fourteen players will join the program for spring practice after the Owls lost a handful of key contributors to graduation and the transfer portal. Keeler addressed the Owls’ deficiencies at running back and defensive back through the transfer portal and landed a new quarterback to compete with last year’s starter, Evan Simon.
The Owls’ biggest departures this offseason include linebacker D.J. Woodbury Jr., safety Andreas Keaton, linebacker Tra Thomas, and wide receiver Dante Wright. They also lost longtime starting defensive lineman Demerick Morris, who transferred to Oklahoma State in December.
Here is a look at the new players and what roles they might play during Keeler’s first year leading the Owls:
Anthony Chiccitt, QB, Robert Morris
Chiccitt spent the last two seasons as Robert Morris’ starting quarterback. He threw for 2,500 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions last season and had a career-best 16 touchdown passes in 2023.
A native of Bethel Park, Pa., Chiccitt likely will compete with Simon for the starting nod and could provide depth at the position after last season’s backup, Forrest Brock, left the program.
For now, Tyler Douglas and Patrick Keller will join Simon and Chiccitt. Chiccitt and Simon will be in their last year of eligibility in 2025.
Jayvant Brown, LB, Kentucky
Brown spent the last two seasons in the SEC and likely will play a key part in replacing first-team all-conference linebacker Tyquan King, who transferred to Connecticut.
With the Wildcats, Brown scarcely played, but he recorded seven tackles as a freshman in 2023 and one tackle last year. He is a former three-star recruit from Deerfield Beach, Fla., who had offers from Alabama, Michigan State, Texas, and Ohio State, among others.
Temple also is losing Woodbury, a team captain who graduates in May. King and Woodbury became one of the best interior linebacker duos in the American Athletic Conference — and Brown has a clear path to assuming most of the available playing time. He joins a linebacker room with Delaware transferTy Davis (Lenape) and Monmouth transfer Willy Love (Camden Eastside), along with returners Eric Stuart, Katin Surprenant, and Tyree Alualu.
Jay Ducker, RB, Sam Houston State
Ducker followed Keeler from the Bearkats to the Owls this offseason and likely will be the team’s main option in the backfield early on. He rushed for 745 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
Ducker also was named the Mid-American Conference freshman of the year in 2021 at Northern Illinois, where he rushed for 1,184 yards and three touchdowns. He also spent two seasons at Memphis before landing at Sam Houston State in 2024.
Temple is returning its most efficient runner, Terrez Worthy, after he entered and then pulled out of the transfer portal. Ducker and Worthy will share the backfield with returning junior Joquez Smith and two newcomers, incoming freshman DeCarlos Young and Johnny Martin (Stony Brook).
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Avery Powell, CB, Missouri State
Powell was a key contributor at Missouri State, which will make the jump from FCS to FBS in 2025. He appeared in every game during the last two seasons and had his best season in 2023, when he recorded 50 tackles.
Temple is losing its most productive defensive back, Jamel Johnson, who transferred to NC State. Powell will have the opportunity to earn substantial playing time alongside fellow newcomers Jaylen Castelberry (Youngstown State) and Omar Ibrahim (Hampton).
Best of the rest
Temple beefed up its defensive line depth after it lost a number of key contributors from 2024 by landing Massachusetts transfer Aaron Beckwith, a former three-star recruit. His best season came in 2023 when he recorded 20 tackles for the Minutemen.
The Owls also landed three-star cornerback Jett White from Edison High School in Los Angeles. White previously was committed to the Southern Cal and Maryland but followed new cornerbacks coach Henry Baker to Temple.
Temple also landed junior linebacker Damien Ordonez from Independence Community College in Kansas, tight end Ryder Kuschfrom the Hun School in Princeton, and cornerback Devontae Ward-Grant from Evans High School in Orlando.
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