April 26, 2020 –
After a record number of players were drafted into the NFL, another four Temple players signed with professional teams as undrafted free agents bringing the total of number of Class of 2019 Owls into the NFL to eight. Players who were not drafted, but are now in the NFL ranks are; lineman Jovahn Fair with Kansas City, linebacker Sam Franklin signing with Carolina and former Temple coach Matt Rhule, defensive end Dana Levine going with the New York Giants, and wide receiver Isaiah Wright going to Washington.
At this time there are 28 players currently in the NFL with 26 joining the league in the last five seasons. The last 12 Temple players who were draft selections, starting in 2012, all are active members of NFL teams.
A recap of the four free agents are below.
Jovahn Fair was the first player in school history to start all four bowl games in which the team played. Given a coveted single-digit he played in the middle of an experienced offensive line. Fair earned second team all-conference honors in 2018 and 2019. He appeared in 45 games starting in 42.
Sam Franklin appeared in 53 games over his four year career, one game shy of a program record, playing as many as five different positions on defense. Franklin wore a single-digit. He was named second team all-conference in 2019. Over the course of his career Franklin had 194 tackles, 24 for a loss. He added 8 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries, forcing one. He joins Matt Rhule who is looking to upgrade the Carolina Panthers defense.
Dana Levine played in all 13 Temple games this past season. At defensive end he recorded 91 tackles, 18.5 for a loss in his career. He also had 11 sacks and 4 forced fumbles. In his senior year Levine set a career-mark with 11 tackles that resulted in a loss for the opposing offense, and a collegiate best 5.5 sacks.
Isaiah Wright was a versatile, single-digit performer for the Owls. He played multiple offensive positions and was a kick and punt returner. In 2018 Wright was named as the AAC Special Teams Player of the year and first team all-conference. That year he was second in the nation with 1,122 combined kick return yards, ranking second in the nation, and was one of two players who scored a punt return and kick return for a touchdown. Over the course of his career Wright had; 552 rushing yards, 1,552 receiving yards, and 2,473 return yards, for a total of 4,577 all-purpose yards.
Franklin joins four other Owls on the Carolina roster; Robbie Anderson, Keith Kirkwood, Phillip Walker, and Tahir Whitehead. Wright will be a teammate of Matt Ioannidis in Washington.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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