Recruiting Central: Temple no longer interested in QB recruit Onett

Quarterback recruit Ben Onett and Temple have decided to go in different directions.

The Owls told the St. John's College High (D.C.) senior he still had a scholarship offer. But they also indicated that he wasn't in their plans.

"I got a call from [Temple quarterback] coach [Scot] Loeffler a few weeks ago after I was sent a request for my 'official visit,' " Onett told The Inquirer via e-mail Tuesday morning. "He indicated that they were going to a different offense than what was originally indicated to me. He said that he didn't want me to show up for camp and be surprised that they were going with a more run-dominated system, which would have required the QBs to be much more decided to the run."

The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder said that's why he pursued other options and eventually gave an oral commitment to Monmouth University, a Football Championship Subdivision school.

Monmouth "will need a QB in 2013," Onett said, "and I have an opportunity to compete for the starting role as a redshirt freshman in a system that throws nearly 30 times a game.

"Monmouth is a great school that is on the upside, like Temple is, for their division."

One would assume that the standout is actually more disappointed than he's letting on.

Onett was Owls coach Steve Addazio's first oral commitment at Temple. After making that commitment, Onett bypassed invitations to visit Arkansas, Syracuse, and Purdue. He said Marshall, Cincinnati, and Buffalo kept recruiting him for a while after he committed to Temple.

But ...

"Coach Loeffler and Addazio have always been super complimentary to me about my next-level potential and I believe in what they are doing 100 percent," he said. "It's just that their overall immediate needs and personnel demands, that they can't change [because of] their direction on offense, is not the best for how I'm built as a QB."

Deloatch visits Temple: Romond Deloatch, a senior wideout at Phoebus High School in Hampton, Va., will take official visits to Temple and Virginia Tech this week.

The 6-4, 213-pounder will visit North Broad Street on Friday, then be at Virginia Tech on Saturday and Sunday.

"Those are the two I'm down to," Deloatch told HokieHaven.com. "They are both good programs with good coaches who take care of their players and graduate them. At the same time, [at] both places I can get good looks from the NFL."

Unlike Temple, Virginia Tech has yet to offer him a scholarship. But he could receive one soon.

National signing day is Feb. 1.

"If it's not on, it'll probably be right before signing day," Deloatch said regarding a commitment. "It's hard right now, because I'm trying to find a school not just for football, but surroundings, somewhere I can graduate, get the best education I can, and have fun at the same time."

Deloatch is squeezing in the visits, because he'll be heading to Texas for this year's Team USA vs. The World all-star football game, which will be played Feb. 1.

Matteo no longer committed: Broad Run High School (Va.) senior offensive lineman Jackson Matteo withdrew his commitment from Temple last week to pursue preferred walk-on offers at either Virginia Tech or Virginia. His high school coach, Matt Griffis, told the Washington Post Matteo wants to play for a "bigger conference team."