Temple lineman Lofton is used to changing positions

Temple's Eric Lofton has moved all over the offensive line, but it hasn't affected the fifth-year senior's performance. Lofton has started 11 games for the 10-2 Owls: one at left guard, four at right guard and six at right tackle, where he has appeared in each of the last four games.

With Lofton playing a major role, the offensive line has been among Temple's most improved units from last year's 6-6 team.

The 6-foot-5, 302-pound graduate of South Jersey's Rancocas Valley High said he doesn't mind shuffling along the line. "It's all about winning," Lofton said earlier in the week as Temple prepared for the American Athletic Conference championship Saturday at Houston. "I told coach [Matt Rhule] I will play anywhere and that it doesn't matter."

This is Lofton's second year as a starter. He was at right tackle for all 12 games last year. Lofton's versatility was rewarded earlier this week when he was named a first-team all-AAC guard.

"It feels great, considering where I've come from last year," Lofton said. "It's just a credit to [offensive line coach Chris] Wiesehan. He was on me all offseason, during camp and even in the season now. It's really a credit to him how much better I've gotten, him and Coach Rhule.

Temple has blocked six kicks - five punts and a point-after attempt. But if there were a statistic for near-blocks, junior receiver Sam Benjamin probably would hold a considerable lead.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Benjamin deflected a punt this season at South Florida. The punt traveled 26 yards. Benjamin has been close several times, including in a 27-3 win over Connecticut on Saturday.

"It gets kind of frustrating getting close almost every weekend," Benjamin said. "But it's a process and I block one or two in practice and hopefully I can come up big in the championship game."

Redshirt senior Robby Anderson is four receptions away from 100 for his career. It's only his second full season as a starter. Anderson appeared in six games with no receptions as a redshirt freshman in 2012, had 44 receptions for 791 yards and nine touchdowns in 2013, and was academically ineligible last season.

This year he has 52 receptions for 723 yards and six touchdowns to lead Temple in all three categories.