PJ Walker Offers Hope for Young Owls Offense

It’s unusual to label a season as “hopeful” when your team finishes tied for the worst conference record. But by comparing Temple’s recent trends to its 2013 season, it’s tough to disagree with that tag.

In 2008, quarterback Adam DiMichele heaved 1,911 yards, 18 touchdowns and only six picks. Since then, the Owls have had a messy rotation of mediocrity at the quarterback position. Between Vaughn Charlton, Chester Stewart, Mike Gerardi, Chris Coyer, Clinton Granger, and Connor Reilly, the Owls floundered to find one consistent QB (albeit on mostly run-first teams) in the last five years.

Enter PJ Walker, the new record holder for passing yards (2,084) and touchdowns (20) in only seven starts as a freshman at Temple. Walker took the reins from Reilly midway through last season. Despite a 2-5 record as a starter, Walker transformed the Owls offense: Pre-Walker Owls scored 15.8 points per game and were on pace to rank 120^th in the nation. Post-Walker: 31.4 points per game. Only 51 FBS teams beat that over the course of the year.

Although Walker’s Owls did lose three more games than they won, the duel-threat QB’s opponents were a bit tougher than those of his predecessor (like Fordham and Idaho). Plus, the margins of defeat became much smaller—four of Walker’s five losses were by 10 points or less including three-point losses to Rutgers and AAC champion UCF.

In his final three games, Walker averaged a delicious 330 passing yards with a side of nine combined touchdowns. He topped off his true freshman campaign with a 41-21 pulverizing win at Memphis—his (and Temple’s) best game of the year. Oh, and he can run, too—92 rushing yards against SMU and 59 against Memphis.

Walker’s surge comes just in time. Head coach Matt Rhule, entering his second season, embraces a more pass-heavy spread than Temple has seen in years.

Now Walker must capitalize. He’s on the watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award and Maxwell Award, but his resources aren’t as abundant this year. Leading receivers Robbie Anderson and Ryan Alderman have graduated. Jalen Fitzpatrick, who caught 38 passes last year, figures to be Walker’s top target. The other starting receiver spots and tight end position are all vacant.

But one bigger concern may be the Owls’ offensive line. Only anchor center Kyle Friend and right tackle Zach Hooks return as starters. Experience is a big issue as freshmen are likely to be placed at the top two of the depth charts at multiple offensive line positions. This includes left tackle where freshman Leon Johnson has a good chance to start. Added pressure could mean more interceptions—Walker had eight as a freshman. He must show an improvement in knowing when to throw the ball away. His ability to scramble will help, but he’ll need some surprise production from young linemen if he wants to top his freshman campaign.

One area that could relieve some pressure on Walker is the ground game—the only offensive position with reliable depth. Smash-mouth senior Kenny Harper figures to share the ball with a very underrated sophomore Zaire Williams. Harper is more physical while Williams is speedy, but both were very effective last year and both can catch passes.

Another element in Walker’s favor is that Temple’s expectations are tenuous: A second-year coach still transitioning his new style, ambiguous youth at many positions, a sophomore quarterback … three wins would be an improvement. Progress is inevitable.

Despite the dissatisfying record last year, Temple has ultimately found an answer at quarterback. The skilled but ripe pieces around Walker must fall into place for the Owls to capitalize on his talent. This will come with time. And help is coming. Some of it has already arrived (Rivals.com ranked Temple’s class No. 59) while others (an already promising crop of 2015 recruits) are on the way.

As we saw last year, Walker can’t do it alone. But he may have led Temple to the single most hopeful two-win season in the history of college football.