OwlScoop.com - The Scoop

While it was important for head coach Adam Fisher to replenish his roster with nine transfers and an incoming freshman, maintaining some continuity on the roster with a player like rising sophomore guard Cam Wallace was important, too. Wallace, a former start at the Westtown School, played in just 19 games as a true freshman and averaged 2.1 points per game, but a full college offseason in the weight room and a month of workouts with his new teammates have him feeling more confident heading into his sophomore season on North Broad Street. Wallace talked about all of that and much more on this week’s podcast, which also includes part of our interview with class of 2027 Temple verbal commit Jackson Pritts, a 5-star recruit and the nation’s sixth-ranked kicker according to Kohl’s kicking camps. Intro: 0:00 – 2:48 Cam Wallace joins the show: 2:48 – 22:30 5-star kicker Jackson Pritts on why he chose Temple: 22:30 – 29:00 * Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements. 

What’s in a name? Temple forward Sir Issac Herron had plenty to say about that on this week’s episode of The Scoop. The 6-foot-10 forward who joined the Owls via the transfer portal from Louisiana Tech talked about the origins of his name, recovering from two injuries, and why he feels better than he ever has as he attempts to build upon last season and improve coach Adam Fisher’s frontcourt. Herron had some high praise for fellow Temple big man Christian Beam and forwards Edwin Suarez and Baboucarr Njie, and we’ll tell you why you should keep your eyes peeled for another Temple football verbal commitment this week. Intro: 0:00 – 4:32 Sir Issac Herron joins the show: 4:32 – 48:35 A football verbal is on the way: 48:35 – 50:01 Mailbag: 50:01- end

Temple women’s basketball coach Diane Richardson joined us on The Scoop this week for a deep dive into a roster that includes an even mix of six returnees and six newcomers as the Owls head into the 2026-27 season. Why did Kaylah Turner, Tristen Taylor and Saniyah Craig decide to come back? What could the additions of players like Penn State transfer Shayla Smith and JUCO All-American Myla Benton mean to the Owls’ depth? How is forward Anastasia Bulanova recovering from the knee injury that kept her out last season? Richardson answered all those questions – and many more – on this week’s podcast, including some tidbits about future nonconference schedules that may or may not include Dawn Staley and South Carolina. We’ll also tell you why you shouldn’t be worried about three recent Temple football decommits, provide some context about the return of men’s hoops center Mohamed Keita, and tell you how head coach Adam Fisher might look to use his last roster spot. Intro: 0:00 – 4:57 Diane Richardson talks about revamping her roster: 4:47 – 33:44 Mohamed Keita is back: 33:44 – 37:06 Why the football flips aren’t cause for alarm: 37:06 – 47:51 Mailbag: 47:51 – end * Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements. 

Temple’s backcourt is comprised of two point guards head coach Adam Fisher and his staff nearly got prior to last season before circling back and landing them this time around. Former USC guard Jordan Marsh, who joined us earlier this month on The Scoop, is one of them. The other, former Indiana point guard Deuce Drake, sat down for an interview with us this week to talk about his well-traveled basketball journey that has taken him from Michigan’s Ferndale High School through four college stops and finally to North Broad Street, where he is healthy again after the turf-toe and stress fracture injuries that kept him off the court last season in the Big Ten. Drake averaged 11.1 points per game and shot nearly 40% from three-point range two seasons ago at Drexel and believes he can surpass those numbers this season en route to having Temple playing meaningful games in March. Intro: 0:00 – 3:28 Deuce Drake interview: 3:28 - end

Temple literally got a courtside view of what Baboucarr Njie could do when the former UTSA wing guard dropped a career-high 25 points on the Owls back in January and added 10 rebounds for a double-double. And now that Njie has signed with Temple out of the transfer portal, head coach Adam Fisher and his staff can gameplan with the 6-foot-6, 185-pound junior instead of having to prepare to play against him. Njie joined us on The Scoop this week to talk about why he signed with Temple and why he believes his versatility, athleticism and shot-blocking ability will be an asset for the Owls this season. We also have more Temple football recruiting updates for you and will tell you why Peter Clarke should be considered one of the best tight ends in the program’s history.  Intro: 0:00 – 3:28 Temple loses one, gains two more football commits:  3:28 – 7:36 EA Sports thinks Peter Clarke is pretty good: 7:36 – 10:47 Baboucarr Njie joins The Scoop: 10:47 – 35:09 Mailbag: 35:09 – end *Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements.

K.C. Keeler’s 2027 recruiting class is starting to round into shape after another successful official visit weekend, and we’ll get you caught up on the latest verbal commitments. And on the basketball front, you’ll hear our 1-on-1 interview with Christian Beam, the 7-foot-1 transfer center who just might give coach Adam Fisher the interior presence he’s been missing in his three previous seasons at Temple.  Intro: 0:00 – 9:45 Temple is up to 13 2027 football verbal commits: 9:45 – 13:45 Christian Beam joins the show: 13:45 – 36:52 Mailbag: 36:52 – end

Last week on The Scoop, Temple head coach Adam Fisher talked about why he was excited to bring USC transfer Jordan Marsh to Temple. This week, you’ll hear from Marsh himself in our 1-on-1 interview with the rising senior point guard. After averaging 18.8 points per game at UNC Asheville two seasons ago, Marsh entered the portal and nearly committed to Temple after a visit with the Owls before USC swooped in at the last minute to sign him. When Marsh hit the portal again after this season, he said he didn’t need to think twice about where he wanted to go. “I knew exactly where I wanted to be,” Marsh said of Temple. In addition to hearing from Marsh, you’ll also hear from Keegan Gray-Wyckoff, one of three class of 2027 football players who have announced their verbal commitments to Temple over the past week, and there’s a lot more past, present and future football and hoops talk in the mailbag, too. Intro: 0:00 – 2:19 The scoop on Temple’s three newest football verbals: 2:20 – 10:29 Jordan Marsh knew he would end up at Temple: 10:29 – 29:42 Mailbag: 29:42 – end ** Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements.

Tyler Matakevich told us he was “speechless” when he found out he was included on the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. The former Temple linebacker, consensus All-American and NFL veteran talked on this week’s show about what the honor meant to him and why he’s looking forward to coming back to watch the Owls take on Penn State this fall. You’ll also hear Temple men’s basketball coach Adam Fisher talk about why he was excited to land USC transfer Jordan Marsh out of the portal, and former OwlScoop staff reporter Declan Landis dropped in this week to reprise his role as a trivia czar and ace producer.   Intro: 0:00 – 12:55 Declan Landis reprises ‘On (or around) this date’: 12:55 – 17:39 Adam Fisher talks about reeling in Jordan Marsh: 17:39 – 21:47 Tyler Matakevich talks about making the CFB Hall of Fame ballot: 21:47 – 35:39 Mailbag: 35:39 – end

Edwin Suarez Jr. arrived eight years ago in Reading with a dream of playing basketball in America and not knowing the language. Now, after stops at Muhlenberg High School, Arizona Western Junior College and Weber State, the 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward has transferred to Temple with the hope of providing some defense and rebounding to Adam Fisher’s frontcourt. You’ll heart part of our interview with him on this week’s podcast, along with a way-too-early educated guess at the Owls’ starting five and a hint of what’s to come with Temple football’s June recruiting. Intro: 0:00 – 5:28 Edwin Suarez Jr. explains why he signed with Temple: 5:28 – 16:46 Why fans shouldn’t overreact to the Cam Scott news: 16:46 – 21:42 Owls add 7-1 center Christian Beam: 21:42 – 25:49 June will bring more football verbals to Temple: 25:49 – 30:46 Mailbag: 30:46 – end ** Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements.

After a career that spanned stints in the NFL, XFL and the CFL, former Temple quarterback PJ Walker announced his retirement earlier this month at the age of 31. The Owls’ all-time leading passer joined us on the podcast this week to reminisce about his time on North Broad Street with former head coach Matt Rhule, who later became his NFL head coach with the Carolina Panthers. Walker shared stories about the 2015 win over Penn State,the last-minute drive down at UCF that saved Temple’s season and vaulted the Owls to a 2016 American Conference championship, and the bonds he built with teammates like Jahad Thomas, Robby Anderson and Tyler Matakevich. And during his time with the Indianapolis Colts, Walker played for an offensive coordinator named Nick Sirianni. How does Walker view the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning but oft-criticized head coach? Find out on this week’s episode of The Scoop. Intro: 0:00 – 10:22 P.J. Walker joins The Scoop: 10:22 – 53:00 Football recruiting, roster updates: 53:00 – 55:02 Mailbag: 55:02 – end * Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements. 

Pleasantville High School running back Ta’kiesse Barnes, Temple’s first football verbal commitment from the 2027 class, talked to us about why he chose the Owls, and we’ll give you a hint about who could be next when the program hosts official visitors in June. We talked about why College Football Playoff expansion sounds better in theory but not great in practice, and it looks like Adam Fisher and his Temple men’s basketball staff are going to need to be creative in adding more size to their roster. We also paid tribute to several of our past interns thanks to a mailbag question from one of our loyal listeners. Intro: 0:00 – 10:10 Ta’kiesse Barnes talks Temple. Who’s next?: 10:10 – 14:10 Is College Football Playoff expansion a good thing?: 14:10 – 20:42 When is the next big addition coming to Adam Fisher’s roster?: 20:42 – 26:55 Mailbag (with Ryan’s dog Sasha making an appearance): 26:55 – end  

USC transfer point guard Jordan Marsh gave Temple’s roster a big boost when he signed with the Owls this week. Marsh is one of four portal players – along with Deuce Drake, Cam Scott and Sir Isaac Herron - who have helped replenish Adam Fisher’s roster over the last seven days. We have you covered with scouting reports on each player on this week’s podcast, along with details about Pleasantville High School running back Ta’Kiesse Barnes, Temple’s first 2027 football verbal commitment. 0:00 – Intro 5:12 - Three guards – AND A BIG – bolster the men’s hoops roster 23:48 - Ta’Kiesse Barnes is Temple football’s first 2027 commit 29:33 - Women’s lacrosse falls to USF in American Conference tournament 30:28 - Mailbag

Division II All-American Dallis Dillard, one of Temple’s two newest portal additions, joined us on the pod this week to talk about why he chose the Owls and what he can bring to yet another revamped Temple men’s basketball roster. We also discussed the addition of former UTSA forward Baboucarr Njie, a player who dropped a career-high 25 points on the Owls earlier this season, and we’ll tell you why NCAA Tournament expansion is a bad idea and why Bonnie Rosen’s Temple women’s lacrosse team could upset top-seeded USF in the American Conference tournament Thursday. And on the football front, four Temple players are getting NFL opportunities as undrafted rookie free agents. We looked at their chances of latching on to a pro roster and got to all of your mailbag questions, too. Intro: 0:00 – 4:10 Temple lands a D-II All-American: 4:10 – 23:42 Portal pickup Baboucarr Njie might remind you of a past Owls forward: 23:42 – 31:34 5-for-5 -- What if Derrian Ford and Jordan Mason could have returned?: 31:34 – 37:14 Why we think NCAA Tournament expansion is not a good thing: 37:14 – 41:35 Which Temple football UDFA can make an NFL roster?: 41:35 – 48:02 Temple women’s lacrosse team returns to the conference tournament: 48:02 – 51:12 Mailbag: 51:12 – end *Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements.