QBs Ajani Sheppard and Jaxon Smolik could both play in Temple’s season opener
“I still don’t think anyone has really separated themselves,” said Owls coach K.C. Keeler, who will continue to look at both quarterbacks until one separates himself from the other.
After months of speculation, Temple coach K.C. Keeler said on Thursday that transfer quarterbacks Ajani Sheppard and Jaxon Smolik could both play against Rhode Island in their season opener on Sept. 5.
“I could see us playing two. ... I still don’t think anyone has really separated themselves,” said Keeler. “The nice thing is they both have a little bit different skill set, and [coach] Tyler [Walker] did a phenomenal job running two quarterbacks at Montana State. I think we’re trying to let it all unfold and take as much time as possible, but I’m not going to force it.”
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The competition between Smolik and Sheppard goes back to when the two pledged their commitments to the Owls this past offseason. Smolik transferred from Penn State, and Sheppard came over from Washington State, where he had transferred to the previous offseason, but never saw the field there due to injury.
They have played in a combined nine college games and attempted a combined two passes in their careers.
Keeler still seems intent on naming a starter at some point in the season.Last season he neglected to name Evan Simon the starter until after the Owls’ Week 2 win over Howard.
“I’m not saying we’re going to play two all year,” said Keeler. “I don’t want to have a mindset where it’s only going to be one quarterback and backup. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting close to figuring it out. And we will probably have an idea of what that first play looks like [against Rhode Island].”
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Single-digit honors
Peter Clarke, Dante Atton, Colin Chase, Eric Stuart, Grayson Mains, Saboor Karriem, and Sam Brown were nominated by their teammates and members of the program to wear single digits during the 2026 season. It’s the program’s highest honor.
“It’s so exciting, and it was so cool calling their names out and seeing how their teammates reacted,” said Keeler. “It’s so great having guys like that [the single digits] that take on all that responsibility, so it’s a really good group. We’re really pleased with the leadership they’ve given us, and I think they feel very honored because of how stringent the process was.”
Mains, Clarke, Brown, Karriem, and Stuart were first-time selectees, while Atton and Chase held their designations from last season.