Temple’s task against Penn State was always going to be steep. Now the Owls may head into Saturday even thinner along the offensive line, with head coach KC Keeler laying out a string of injury concerns at his weekly press conference Monday.
The biggest hit is at left tackle. Giakoby Hills will miss six weeks after getting hurt in Temple’s season-opening win over Rhode Island. Keeler also said the Owls could be without their other starting tackle, Kevin Terry, and left guard Eric King, both of whom are expected to be game-time decisions.
“We have guys who are starters for us at one position that played a different position in high school, and so it’s not going to be unusual for them to have to bounce out to another position if we need to for depth,” Keeler said. “But we feel good.
We have eight or nine offensive linemen that can play at this level. It’s just a matter of moving guys around.”
Temple’s quarterback situation is still unsettled as well, and that could carry into Saturday. The Owls used two quarterbacks against Rhode Island, including Jaxon Smolik, who spent three seasons at Penn State before transferring to Temple over the winter.
Smolik completed 4 of 6 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in that game. Temple also gave snaps to Ajani Sheppard, a former Washington State and Rutgers quarterback, who finished 5 for 10 for 85 yards against Rhode Island.
Keeler said neither player has separated from the pack yet.
“Right now, we’re still trying to figure it out,” Keeler said. “I don’t think either one of them was like, you know, it’s my job.
I think they both did some good things, and I really I would like to get away from you get a couple series, you get a couple series. Eventually someone’s going to play more snaps than the other guy.
It just so happened we had 31 plays for each of them.
“There are some good things you can take, but we need more consistency, and that’s for both of them. So I think as the week goes on, we’ll decide which is the best path to go, and I think you’ll see one of the guys get maybe some more snaps than the other one.
They both have unique skill sets. I think we’re in a situation where we’re going to play both at some point on Saturday.”
For now, the matchup reflects the gap on paper: Penn State is listed as a 23.5-point favorite.
In Other News...
Penn State Just Put Its Recruiting Board On Notice
Matt Campbells first game at Penn State doubled as a recruiting showcase, with multiple prospects from the 2027 through 2029 classes on hand. The guest list included current commits and a handful of targets the staff is still trying to bring into the fold, a reminder that big-game Saturdays in State College are as much about the future as the present.
Among the names in attendance were 5-star cornerback Nasir Richardson from the 2028 class and 4-star edge rusher DJ Dockery from the 2029 class, both the kind of young blue-chippers Penn State wants to keep circling. The staff also added to the board by extending an offer to 3-star defensive lineman McCoy Richardson, a prospect viewed as a possible flip from Wake Forest, leaving the rest of that recruiting picture to keep developing after the visit. [Read more 🡒]
DAnton Lynn Just Raised A Big Penn State Defense Question
Penn States secondary is already looking a little different as the season settles in, and DAnton Lynn made it clear why true freshman Josiah Zayas is getting first crack at cornerback. Lynn pointed to Zayas mental strength and steady development, a notable endorsement for a young player stepping into a demanding spot on a defense that is still sorting itself out.
Lynn also signaled that the scheme itself is going to keep evolving, with the staff planning to add complexity gradually rather than overload the group early. With Temple next on the road, he emphasized communication and preparation as the big keys, which leaves an obvious question hanging over the defense: how quickly can a young corner and a growing playbook handle the next test? [Read more 🡒]
Nick Sirianni Has A Surprising Penn State Tie Coming To The Linc
Nick Siriannis path to the NFL and Matt Campbells climb to Penn State have followed different routes, but the two coaches have stayed connected since their days as roommates at Mount Union. Now both are in prominent places in the sport, with Sirianni running a Super Bowl-winning operation in Philadelphia and Campbell settling in as Penn States head coach, a turn that gives their old bond a fresh wrinkle as the seasons unfold.
Campbell said he spoke with Sirianni after Penn States debut win, a reminder that their friendship has carried through the pressures of becoming head coaches. The next meeting between their worlds comes when Campbell brings his team to Lincoln Financial Field, putting a longtime Penn State connection in the same building where Sirianni coaches and adding a personal layer to an already notable trip. [Read more 🡒]