Meet the 2009 Temple recruits

Highlight video of Jerry Watters, Camden Catholic.
By Mike Gibson
By Wednesday, you'll be reading the list of Temple football recruits in the two major Philadelphia newspapers.
That will be a rough draft because it doesn't become official until the signed National Letters of Intent reach the Edberg-Olson Center at Temple University.
By Wednesday at 4 p.m., the list will be a rock-solid one of commitments with signed signatures.
I've gone over the lists of the two scouting services and come up with information on 90 percent of the class. If I've left out one or two guys, I apologize and we'll get to you after your signatures are received.
With that in mind, here's a sneak peak at your 2009 Temple Owls:
CODY BOHLER, OL, Immaculata (N.J.) High _ This 6-foot-7, 300-pound behemoth came up with one of the two best recruiting quotes of the season. "I'm super excited for Temple," the Somerville, N.J. native said. "They are the greatest bunch of guys I've ever met." More importantly, he'll pancake any defender headed for a Cherry and White quarterback. Opened huge holes for Notre Dame RB recruit Theo Riddick. They'll likely close once Riddick gets to South Bend.
LEVI BROWN, DL, Bethlehem Liberty _ Extremely athletic for a 6-3, 312 body and comes from the same school as Temple sophomore running back Ahkeem Smith, so there is a familiarity and comfort level at Temple for him. Also led his team to a large school state championship. Probably has the ability to play right away or at least compete for a starting spot.
BLAZE CAPONEGRO, FB/LB, Wall Township (N.J.) _ Gotta love the 4.5 speed for a fullback, who one paper referred to as the "best fullback in the state" and that's when he was a junior. We've chronicled his achievements here before. He was named Asbury Park Press Offensive Player of the Year. In his final high school game, he carried the ball 40 times for 397 yards and four touchdowns. Probably will get the Owls a lot of first downs on third and twos and fourth and ones.

CHRIS COYER, QB, Oakton (Va.) _ Despite what you hear from one naysayer (not even a Temple fan, we understand) on the Scout.com message board, was offered a scholarship by Ohio State as a "condition of a visit" a week ago. The specific coaches were coach Nick Siciliano and coach Joe Daniels, assistants to Jim Tressel. If you run into either, ask them. The offer was tendered and it was real and firm. It doesn't matter, though. All that matters is that Temple now has two quarterbacks in this class who can throw AND run at a high level. That's two more than they had after Adam DiMichele played his last game. Extremely smart kid who can figure out complicated mathematical equations in his head. Great-great uncle was the late Dr. Harry A. Cochran, Dean of the Business School at Temple from 1939-60.
KADEEM CUSTIS, OL, Neumann-Goretti _ An argument can be made that Kadeem is the jewel of this class, if you go by the stars and we're not talking astrology here. Custis is, depending upon the scouting service, a three- or four-star recruit. He's 6-5, 275 and he can run. Offered by West Virginia, North Carolina State and Pitt but chose Temple.
ELIJAH GRANT, OL, Piscataway, N.J. _ Teammate of heralded Owl defensive end Aaron Hush, who is also part of this incoming class. Grant is 6-5 and 340 and a punishing run-blocker.
AARON HUSH, DE, Piscataway, N.J. _ Hush is the defensive player of the year as named by two large Central New Jersey newspapers, the Bridgewater Courier-News and the Home News of New Brunswick. He's 6-4, 211 pounds and extremely quick to the quarterback. I've always said that the key to winning in football, taking turnovers out of the equation, is protecting your quarterback's backside and putting the other guy's quarterback on his ass. Grant and Custis will do the former; Hush the latter.
ALEX JACKSON, DE/TE, New Berlin, N.Y. (via Fla.) _ Temple coach Al Golden offered Jackson upon seeing him play a basketball game in Florida. Not unheard of since former Dallas Cowboy Cornell Green never played football until he arrived in Dallas and Gil Brandt offered him a contract based on Green's college basketball. Green became an all-pro. Jackson is a super athlete, a 6-4, 215-pound end, with great hands and 4.4 speed. Not too many quarterbacks (read: none) will be running away from him.
MARCUS GREEN, LB, Scotch Plains, N.J. _ A guy who had an amazing 16 tackles in a 26-20 win over Warren Hills on Nov. 15. I like that. I'll take performance on the field over 40 speed and vertical leap any day. A good enough pedigree and perfect size (6-1, 225) and speed (4.53 40) to compete for one of the linebacker spots.
MAURICE JONES, DB, Chatham, Va. _ Comes from one of the best high school football leagues on the Eastern seaboard and was also recruited (and offered by a number of BCS schools). Signed with the Owls last year, but is back after a brief stop at Hargrave Military Academy (Va.). Is 5-10 and 178 and will probably compete for a cornerback spot.
BRANDON McMANUS, K, North Penn _ All you need to know that about Brandon is that he was rated the No. 3 kicker in the country last summer. It's also nice to know that McManus had 58 touchbacks in 70 attempts last year for the 14-1 Knights. You can count the number of touchbacks Temple kickers had last year on one hand, minus the thumb.
DEON MILLER, WR, Fork Union, Va. _ Gives the Owls what they haven't had in recent years, a 6-6 wide receiver who is a blitz-buster. All Temple quarterbacks will have to do is see the blitz, time a pass to Miller (ala Plaxico Burris) and any sane defensive coordinator will call off the dogs.
GARY ONUEKWUSI, LB, Baltimore Dunbar _ At 6-1, 215, this linebacker is a freak of an athlete whose highlights are available on Utube and pretty easily accessed. They are the only highlights connected with any Onuekwusi in the world. He was a first-team LB on the Baltimore Sun's All-Metro team.
BYRON PARKER, DB, Virginia Beach _ Also a defensive back who received numerous BCS offers, Parker ended up at Temple due to some solid legwork by Al Golden, who tracked him down via contacts at the University of Virginia. Parker is listed as an "athlete" by Temple, so he could play DB, offense or special teams. He's 5-11, 173 and scary fast (4.45 40).
DEONTE PARKER, Lakeland (Fla.) _ A DB not to be confused with Byron (no relation), Deonte was the unquestioned defensive star of the Lakeland (Fla.) Dreadnaughts, the USA Today's No. 1 team of the 2004 season. He took a long and winding road to Temple, via California, but we're glad he's here.
CHRIS PARTHEMORE, TE, Camp Hill, PA _ Gotta love a 6-4, 275-pound tight end with great hands and 4.7 speed and Owl fans will. First team Harrisburg Patriot-News all-area tight end.
SHAHID PAULHILL, DT, North Catholic _ One of five Temple Owls who started in last year's Big 33 game. He made a pair of solo stops and three assisted tackles in the win over Ohio's best high school players. He's 6-4, 275 and eligible to play spring ball after a season at Fork Union.
BERNARD PIERCE, TB, Glen Mills _ One of the sleepers in the class, if you can call a sleeper a guy who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. Glen Mills plays an independent schedule and, even though it is located in suburban Philadelphia doesn't get much coverage in the local media, except for this story. Pierce is legit, though, a speedster who shows up at the leader of the sprints every week in the Philadelphia Track and Field Coaches Association rankings.
GEOFFREY PRATHER, LB, Archbishop Carroll _ A big-time linebacker out of the Philadelphia Catholic League a year ago, Prather honed his skills at Valley Forge Military Academy this past season and put himself in a position to win a starting job on Mark D'Onofrio's defense. He's 6-2, 196 and runs a 4.6 40. Decked out in all that Temple Owl garb, the former first-team All-Catholic has the best mug shot on this page.
DARRYL PRINGLE, OL, Reading High _ He's 6-7, 300 pounds and athletic. Golden spotted him during a basketball agility drill at the Al Golden Camp during the summer, called him over, and offered him a scholarship on the spot. Has improved every year. Made second-team all-league two years ago and first-team all-league this season so he's combining raw talent with technique.
EVAN REGAS, OL, Toms River (N.J.) _ In the same league, both literally and figuratively, as Wall Township's Cody Bohler both in their size (6-4, 323) and enthusiasm to make an impact at Temple.
JERRY WATTERS, WR, Camden Catholic _ Watters has potential to make an immediate impact as a punt returner and slot receiver. The 5-foot-10, 167-pounder has 4.5 speed and dynamic moves in the open field. His film reminds me of former Widener (and Atlanta Falcons) star, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. Maybe call him Jerry "Running" Watters. Or not. He was the first verbal of the Class of 2009.
Others scheduled to arrive who we haven't found photos and/or news stories of include Jeffrey Whittingham (DT, Atlantic City), Ryan Murray (Bok), Kwame Johnson (Valley Forge Military Academy) and Justin Gildea (Hollidaysburg).