Temple running back Edward Saydee credits offensive line for his career day

Temple’s Edward Saydee was named the Doak Walker co-running back of the week alongside Kansas’ Devin Neal. This came after Saydee picked up 334 total yards, including 265 yards and three touchdowns on the ground against in the Owls’ 54-28 victory over South Florida.

With neither of Temple’s transfer running backs — Jakari Norwood (Illinois), who is no longer on the roster, and Darvon Hubbard (Texas A&M) — not panning out, Saydee has become the Owls’ every-down back.

Before last Saturday, Saydee had 290 yards and one touchdown on 85 carries in eight games. Against USF, the worst team in the American Athletic Conference, the redshirt sophomore from Penn Charter broke out.

“I know I had to do my job,” he said. “Stay composed, trust in my O-line, who was doing a hell of a job the whole time.”

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Saydee will look to build on last week’s performance when Temple plays Saturday at Houston (3 p.m., ESPN+), a team that lost to SMU 77-63 last weekend. The Cougars rank near the bottom of the conference in total defense and rushing defense.

Temple coach Stan Drayton was a running backs coach for more than two decades before being hired last December. Drayton expressed his discontent with Temple’s running backs for much of this season as the Owls sat in last place in total rushing in the American Athletic Conference.

Now, it’s Saydee’s job, and Hubbard will also take a few snaps in the backfield.

“Entering the fall, we knew that all those running backs were going to have to grow this season and continue to improve,” Drayton said. “Saydee’s definitely trending in the right direction right now. He cares, he’s playing hard, he’s starting to get his pads forward, he’s starting to try to play through contact. … He’s not as hesitant, he’s starting to have a firmer understanding of what’s happening in front of him.”

Saydee was also named to the AAC honor roll for his performance. He was beaten out for the conference’s offensive player of the week by SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai, who passed for 379 yards and accounted for 10 touchdowns against Houston.

The running back wasn’t the only Owl to earn conference honors this week: Camden Price was recognized as the special teams player of the week after scoring 18 points against USF, the most ever by a Temple kicker.