Meet the 2008 Owls

By Mike Gibson
It's this time of year that Al Golden checks the plug in fax machine at the Edberg-Olson Hall Football Complex and makes sure the tray is filled with paper.
Heck, if necessary, he'll bring in a backup fax machine or two just in case.
Fortunately, all the other work has been done and the fax machine should be humming on Wednesday with commitments in the form of signed letters-of-intents from your newest Temple Owls.
If there's a theme this season, it's that playmakers make plays and there is an abundance of playmakers in this current class.
These are the guys likely to fax their letter-of-intents Wednesday. The good news is that they are have a long history of making winning football plays. The better news that, with the exception of one or two players at the MOST, all of these guys will be in uniform by summer practice.
It is by OBJECTIVE accounts, especially the one published by Scout.com, the No. 1 class by a lot in the Mid-American Conference.
That's the third straight year Golden has pulled in a class rated No. 1 by either Scout.com, Rivals.com, collegefootballnews.com, all three (last year), just both or just one.
If you don't think that's going to translate into results on the field of play sooner than later, you are just not paying attention.
Or you are an Ostrich.
Many thanks to Scout.com, Rivals.com and informed fans like tchaump for helping us crosscheck this list with what's available off reliable internet sources.
It may not be exact, but it's darn close and in no particular order:
Adrian Robinson, LB, Harrisburg _ A three-star linebacker who the premier recruiting expert on the Scout.com network, Matt Alkare, says, "I've seen this kid play several times and he's a big-time stud." Has already academically qualified. Could become an immediate starter at either outside or inside linebacker.
Tony Cornelius, RB, Boca Raton, Fla. _ An Iowa de-commit who committed to Temple and a second-team All-State running back (large schools) in Florida. An immediate factor in the Owls' starting backfield.
Alex Jackson, DE, Dunnellon, Fla. _ A 6-foot-4, 225-pound end who one Palm Beach Post writer told us reminds him of "a young Reggie White." Nuff said.
Anthony Rapley, TE, Georgia _ Was a first-team all-state tight end in Georgia.
Ahkeem Smith, RB, Bethlehem Liberty _ Scored 15 touchdowns for Liberty and rushed for over 1,000 yards. A two-time Allentown Morning Call all-area first team selection.
Deven Baker, WR, Bound Brook, N.J. _ How this excellent wide receiver escaped the clutches of his hometown Rutgers' squad is RU's loss and Temple's gain.
Cedric Hammond, WR, Washington, D.C. _ One of the best wide receivers in Washington, D.C., Hammond developed a reputation for great hands.
Vaughn Carraway, WR, Laureldale, Pa. _ First three-star wide receiver ever to turn down Michigan to accept a Temple offer. Carraway will get a chance to show his considerable skills here. Will push for a starting job as a freshman. Already academically qualified.
Kevin Kroboth, athlete, Nazareth High _ Playing for a traditionally losing program, the coaches there had to use Kroboth at a variety of positions from safety to wide receiver to punt returner to quarterback, his most recent position. Temple coaches will use him the same way to fill an area of most need.
Shahid Pauhill, DE, North Catholic _ Think Michael Strahan and you get the kind of game this North Catholic Falcon has.
Josh Williams, DE, Arizona Western _ Is already a Temple student and ready to play spring ball. That gives him a leg, or two, up on the rest of the class.
James Nixon, RB, Connecticut (via North Bridgton, Maine) _ A Connecticut signee out of high school, was rated the top running back out of that state as a high school senior. He could be the sleeper of this class only because a lot of fans don't know how good he is. From our reports, he's every bit as explosive a running back as Smith and Cornelius are. Could end up a starter. Academically qualified already.
Malcolm Williams, RB, Reading _ Played the same type of "wing T" quarterback position at Reading High that Boston College recruit Eric Reynolds sometimes ran snaps out of at Central Bucks South. Didn't have the RB snaps Reynolds did, hence his less impressive stats. Don't let that fool you, though. Reports we get from the Reading Eagle guys are that he's every bit the RB Reynolds is.
Steve Caputo, OL, Unionville _ Big and strong with impressive speed and bench press numbers, Caputo is a beast with a brain. Turned down solid Syracuse offer to come to Temple and could probably start right now if the Owls played a game tomorrow.
Wayne Tribue, OL, Central York _ Comes from the same high school that produced former Owl quaterback Matty Baker and with Caputo-type street cred.
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Hargrave (Va.) _ Played his prep ball for Hargrave Military Academy, but was a top high school player at Linden. Tremendous explosiveness off the ball. Not only one of the best football players in the state of New Jersey as a senior, but one of the top basketball players as well. Big Mo should immediately become a part of the most fiercesome four-man DE rotation in the MAC. Think what the Giants did to Tom Brady and just times it by four.
Tahir Whitehead, S, West Side, Newark (N.J.) _ A fierce hitter at safety, he will fit right in with assistant head coach Mark D'Onofrio's attacking defensive schemes. West Side experienced a "mini-Temple" like rebirth, going from 1-9 to 7-3. Whitehead was a big part of that resurgence.
Jeffrey Legree, QB, Fort Hamilton, Bronx (N.Y.) _ A quarterback with an outstanding skill set, speed and elusiveness and a strong arm, Legree is working hard to get qualified. If he does, great. If he doesn't, there's a chance he'll go the prep route. Either way, he figures to be in the Owls' quarterback plans once he qualifies.
Ryan Murray, OL, Bok _ A 6-6, 335 lineman with great physical tools, played for former Owl quarterback, Tom DeFelice, in South Philly. Should provide depth on the line.
Marlin Terrell, DB, Coppell, Tex. _ High school football is a religion in Texas and Terrell made enough plays on film to wow the Temple coaches. Anyone who has seen the film on this kid, as I have, knows he's a very special player. If Daryl Robinson gets moved to lock-down left corner, this guy can easily lock down the other side.
Geoffrey Prather, LB, Archbishop Carroll _ A perennial all-league and all-Delco linebacker who has the speed to play safety, if needed, for the Owls.
Others (that we could not find film or enough written reports to make an informed evaluation) include Maurice Jones, athlete, Belleville, N.J.; and Sean and Pat Boyle (Calvert Hall brothers and offensive linemen), Quinten White, a linebacker from Cardinal Dougherty and Lawrence Turner, a linebacker from Newport News, Va.
If we left anyone out, we apologize.
There's about 24 hours left to sort this all out for good.