Owls' Granger is hanging tough

CLINTON "Juice" Granger is ready to prove himself - again. He is ready to show his talents at the collegiate level - again. But Granger finds himself as Temple's second option at quarterback - again.

Like Granger, quarterback Connor Reilly made big improvements in the offseason. Both players have had a strong training camp, but coach Matt Rhule used Thursday's media day to name Reilly as his starter against Notre Dame on Aug. 31.

After Tuesday's practice, Rhule had stated that the spot was still up for grabs, even though Reilly finished the spring season as the favorite to win the job. The coach said that day, "They are both playing pretty well. Juice has made a big push in the last week."

Granger proved to be tough competition, and Rhule waited longer than initially expected to announce his choice. Both Granger and Reilly saw time with the first team throughout camp and in the final practice before Rhule's decision, Granger was first to practice with the first team.

"I think [Reilly] has played well and I think Clinton Granger has played very well," Rhule said. "I'm going to watch the film and see who played better, but those guys are both neck and neck fighting it out. We let Juice start it off [Tuesday] and they both worked with the ones and twos to keep it equitable."

During the spring season, Reilly emerged as the starter based on his performance on the field and his strong leadership qualities off the field. But the first-year coach was quick to praise Granger as well.

"I just have been improving on my knowledge of the offense and just going out there and knowing what my assignments are and just putting the team in the best position to be successful," Granger said last week.

If there is one advantage Granger has over Reilly it is experience. After spending a year in junior college, in 2010, at Pierce College in Los Angeles, Granger played in one game for the Owls in 2011 and seven games, including two starts, last year. Granger finished his junior campaign 31-for-55 for 370 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 206 yards and a touchdown in 42 attempts. Reilly has yet to take a snap under center for the Owls in two seasons.

Granger was told by the coaching staff that he still will see a fair amount of playing time this season as the team's backup. Granger does not plan to change his approach as a player or a leader based on the team's decision.

"Well, I talked to the coaches and they said they would start Connor," Granger said in a phone interview Friday. "They told me that I need to prepare as a starter and continue doing what I have been doing."

Despite the competiton, the relationship between the two quarterbacks has not soured, but has only gotten stronger, according to Granger.

"There is no animosity toward each other," Granger said. "We always try to help and encourage each other and we battle and have fun. Even though it's a competition, we don't fight or anything. That's my boy and I will try to help him in any way and I know he will do the same thing."

Granger says both quarterbacks want what's best for the team, and that the competition only help both improve.

"There are times when you don't like it and there are times when it's the best thing for you," he added. "It matures you, it helps you to work for the competition and it gives you the energy and drive and I accept competition and I wouldn't want to be in any other situation because it has only made me better."

On Aug. 15, Rhule began assigning numbers 1 through 9 to those players considered the toughest on the team. Last week, there was one spot left, to be voted on by the players. Three players were considered by Rhule to be the favorites to wear No. 3: H-back Chris Coyer, defensive back Tavon Young and Granger.

Granger, who wore No. 3 for the Owls during his first two seasons, had switched to No. 17 before training camp started. He earned his number back the day after Temple's Cherry-and-White scrimmage on Wednesday, when his peers voted him as the recipient of the final single-digit number.

"It is definitely a privilege and an honor to be associated with those guys," Granger said. "It shows that all of my hard work over the summer has paid off and prepares me for the best situation to be successful."

Although Granger will begin the season second on the depth chart, he plans to be a difference-maker and a leader in Temple's upbeat offense. His goals for the season include leading the Owls to numerous victories and into the team's first bowl game since 2011.

"I still have high expectations for myself and I set goals for myself that I'm still going to accomplish," Granger said. "I still plan to lead the team, and I will be ready to lead this team when I need to."