Dec. 8, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Redshirt junior quarterback Adam DiMichele (McKees Rocks, Pa.) received the 2007 Owl Award as Temple's most valuable player at the annual football banquet, sponsored by The Owl Club, on Saturday evening at the Doubletree Hotel in Center City.

The Owl Award is presented annually to the man that is totally dedicated to the Temple Football program and is immensely respected by his peers, all members of the football program, and the Temple University community. The player must also possess the desire, integrity, and talent to excel both on and off the playing field and, above all, be a leader and winner.

A team captain, DiMichele was the model of efficiency for the Owls this season. He re-wrote his career highs for TD passes (4), completions (27), and attempts (41) at Bowling Green. At Army, DiMichele passed for a season-high 314 yards. Leading his team to three consecutive wins in Mid-American Conference play, DiMichele orchestrated a dramatic comeback at Akron, leading the Owls from a 20-3 fourth quarter deficit to a 24-20 win with three touchdowns. He earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the East division and OwlSports.com Athlete of the Week honors. Against Miami (OH) DiMichele went a perfect 4-of-4 for 36 yards before suffering a season-ending injury. Two minutes prior to the injury, he also rushed for a one-yard touchdown, putting the Owls ahead 14-7. In eight games, DiMichele finished 138-of-223 for 1,595 yards and 12 touchdowns. He rushed 75 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Alex Derenthal (Davie, Fla.) earned offensive most valuable player honors and the Top Hog Award as the top offensive lineman. Last year's recipient of the Owl Award as the first-ever sophomore to receive the honor, Derenthal has played every snap of his career, starting 35 consecutive games. A Rimington Trophy candidate and a 2006 ECAC All-Star, the team captain was named to the 2007 American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team® for his involvement with several organizations in the Philadelphia area.

Junior tackle Terrance Knighton (Windsor, Conn.) was the recipient of the defensive most valuable player honor. A starter in 11 games, he recorded the first two fumble recoveries of his career at Army. The tackle also broke up a pass, blocked a field goal, and added a sack. The junior recovered his third career fumble against Northern Illinois, ran the ball 66 yards, and scored his first career touchdown. For his efforts, Knighton was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week. In the final game of the season, Knighton blocked two kicks. He finished with 56 tackles, 8.5 TFL, three sacks, and a team-best three fumble recoveries.

Freshman Jaiquawn Jarrett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) received the special teams most valuable player award. He played in all 12 games with six starts at free safety. One of 12 true freshmen to receive a starting nod this fall, he helped the secondary that led the MAC in pass defense while also playing on the kickoff, punt, and punt return teams. Finishing with 61 tackles and a team-best five pass break-ups, Jarrett earned four citations from the coaches as special teams player of the week in addition to a defensive player of the week accolade.

Running back Jarred Kinney (Feasterville, Pa.), wide receiver Jason Kinney (Feasterville, Pa.), and defensive end James Namude (Potomac, Md.) shared the scout team player of the year honor. The Kinney twins walked on the team last spring and played on special teams in three contests. Namude saw action in eight games. The sophomore walked on the team last fall.

Senior fullback Josh Bundy (Ambler, Pa.) earned the Carlos Diaz Award as the team's most improved player. The Owls' lone scholarship senior saw action in all 12games with six starts. He finished with five rushes for 18 yards and seven receptions for 59 yards. Bundy also worked on the kick return unit.

Junior DL Marcques Henderson (Sacramento, Calif.) received the Dr. Arthur N. Cook Most Courageous Athlete Award, while redshirt junior DE Leyon Azubuike (East Stroudsburg, Pa.) was the recipient of the George M. Illman Award for Leadership on and off the field. Redshirt junior RB Jonathan Metz (Souderton, Pa.) was presented with the J. Myron Honigman Award for Spirit, Dedication & Loyalty. Senior defensive back Abioye Oyeyemi (Minneapolis, Minn.) earned the John Rienstra Award for excellence in off-season conditioning.

Captains' Awards were presented to Azubuike, CB Anthony Ferla (Waldwick, N.J), Oyeyemi, Derenthal, and DiMichele for their leadership during the season. The John D Award for the top student manager went to sophomore Dan O'Connor (Roxborough, Pa.) who completed his second season with the Owls.

Redshirt junior tight end Travis Manger (Newtown, Pa.) received the Owl Club Academic Award, sponsored by Dr. Peter Chodoff. The journalism major sports a 3.24 GPA and has been cited on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. Junior defensive back Richard Sheppard (Philadelphia, Pa.) captured the Athole Jacobi Award for Outstanding Community Service. During the last year, Sheppard spoke to students at Germantown High School about the "Play it Smart" program and to Ferguson Elementary School. He also met with the Lower Southampton flag football team and volunteered at the Philadelphia Triathalon.

The Owls also announced that 57 student-athletes earned varsity letters for their contributions to the team this season. Among the letterwinners were seniors Bundy and Oyeyemi, who have concluded their careers for the Cherry & White.

Under second-year head coach Al Golden, Temple concluded the season, its first as a member of the Mid-America Conference, with a 4-8 overall record and a 4-4 MAC record. The Owls played 22 true freshmen, the most in Division I-A for the second consecutive season. The Temple defense led the MAC in several statistical categories, including total defense, and finished first in the nation in red zone defense.