- Paul Palmer is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Tyler Matakevich won the Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik Award.
- Phillip Walker holds many records at Temple, including passing yards and passing touchdowns.
The Temple Owls football program was established in 1894, and despite its long history, the team was once expelled from the Big East conference due to its lack of competitiveness.
In 2004, the Big East voted to expel Temple due to its poor facilities and consistently losing records.
As a result, the school was an independent program for two seasons before joining the Mid-American Conference.
Temple rejoined in 2012, but after the Big East’s reorganization, it was officially part of the AAC.
Now, football betting on college football odds for all their games is available at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
See the top five Owls below.
5 Best Temple Owls Football Players, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | Owls Years |
| 1 | Paul Palmer | RB | 1983-1986 |
| 2 | Tyler Matakevich | LB | 2012-2015 |
| 3 | Phillip Walker | QB | 2013-2016 |
| 4 | Anthony Young | DB | 1981-1984 |
| 5 | Henry Burris | QB | 1993-1996 |
Temple Owls All-Time Greatest Football Players
1. Paul Palmer
Palmer played running back for Temple from 1983 to 1986.
He ran for 4,895 yards (first) and 39 touchdowns (second).
He holds the top two single-season rushing records with 1,866 yards in 1986.
Palmer was a unanimous All-American, second-team All-American, ECAC Player of the Year, ECAC Rookie of the Year, four-time first-team All-East, and two-time All-ECAC.
He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
2. Tyler Matakevich
Matakevich played linebacker for the Owls from 2012 to 2015.
Throughout his career, he recorded 493 tackles, a program record. He also holds the record for the most tackles in a single game, with 24 against Idaho in 2013.
He also had five interceptions in 2015, which is tied for the third in a single season in Owls history.
Matakevich won the Bronko Nagurski Award (top defensive player) and the Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player).
He was also a consensus All-American, AAC Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-AAC, a freshman All-American, Big East Rookie of the Year, and second-team All-Big East.
3. Phillip Walker
Walker was the quarterback for the Owls from 2013 to 2016.
He threw for 10,669 yards and 74 touchdowns. These are both Temple records.
In fact, no other quarterback in program history has surpassed 7,500 yards or 50 touchdowns.
He holds the record for most passing yards in a single season, too, with 3,295 in 2016.
Walker also holds records for total yards (11,432) and total touchdowns (85).
4. Anthony Young
Young played defensive back for Temple from 1981 to 1984.
He had 20 interceptions, which is a program record.
Young had six interceptions in 1982 (second in a single season) and had five in both 1983 and 1984.
He was a second-team All-American, two-time first-team All-East, and second-team All-East.
5. Henry Burris
Burris also played quarterback for Temple.
He was there from 1993 to 1996.
Burris threw for 7,495 yards (second) and 49 touchdowns (second). He held both records until Walker came to the program in 2013.
He also held the single-game and single-season passing yardage records until the mid and late 2010s.
He threw for 445 yards in 1996 against Pittsburgh (now ranked fourth), and in 1994, he threw for 2,716 yards (sixth).
The content provided in this blog is intended for entertainment purposes only. All views and opinions expressed are the authors and reflect their individual perspectives on sports, betting, and related topics. This content should not be considered professional betting advice or the official views of BetMGM LLC. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know is experiencing issues related to gambling, seek help from a licensed health professional. This blog is not liable for any losses, damages, or consequences resulting from betting activities.
