Way to Early Defensive Depth Chart Predicitions

Tagged under: News, Pennsylvania Colleges, Temple

Mike Livingston | March 17, 2026

Temple Football’s defense was the main cog in a resurgent 2025 season for the Owls. Guys like Curly Ordonez, Avery Powell, and Jaylen Castleberry made the Temple defense one of the best units against the pass in the American Conference and helped keep the Owls level in many games throughout the campaign.

However, as the calendar turns to 2026, Temple sees a plethora of players depart while bringing in a troop of new names in the revolving door that is the college football offseason.

In the second part of this way-too-early depth chart prediction piece, we’ll take a look at how the Owls’ defense may shape up come August as the spring practice season gets into full swing.

Defensive End
DE1: Jaylon Joseph
DE2: Davier Bishop
Backup Rotation: Cameron Jones, Quante Gillians
Other: Brandon Enarusai, Uyi Igiehon, Yamael Wiggins

Defensive end was a position that didn’t see much turnover for the Owls over the course of the offseason, with Jamere Jones being the only departure as he graduates.

And while the on-roster talent wasn’t anything to drool over, K.C. Keeler and his staff did a knock-up job of bringing in transfer and recruited talent.

Headlining the group of newcomers is Jaylon Joseph, a senior joining the Owls from another local school, FCS Lafayette College. Joseph, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound monster from North Shore, Texas, played in all 12 games for the Leopards last season, totaling 23 tackles (15 solo) with 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Assuming Joseph can keep pace and continue to progress this year, he should project as one of the top guys on the edge of this defensive line.

On the other end of the line, it’s Davier Bishop, a redshirt junior who transferred to Temple from East Mississippi Community College, where he put up stellar numbers last season for the Lions. In 10 games, Bishop totaled 36 tackles, seven sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble while earning All-MACCC second-team honors.

As for the guys who could see rotational snaps, Quante Gillians and Cameron Jones—two players right on the weight threshold of making the move to defensive end—should be solid bets to take on those roles. With Gillians coming from Syracuse and seeing limited snaps while Jones did the same for Temple last season, both project to get big opportunities throughout camp.

After that, guys like Brandon Enurusai, Yamael Wiggins, and three-star freshman Uyi Igiehon should fill out the position group and could all see time while certainly getting a chance to compete for the starting job.

Defensive Line
Starting Rotation: Joseph Auzenne, Kaleb Artis, Deshon Dodson
Others: Kevin Hornbeak, Antwuan Rogers, Troy Cunningham, Lamar Fairfax, Jude Okelele, Russell Sykes IV, Sem Odedele

Defensive line comes in as perhaps the Owls’ deepest position in terms of sheer numbers, assuming defensive coordinator Brian Smith continues to run his 3-4 scheme in 2026.

That scheme would likely feature a rotation-heavy nose tackle position, considering the number of capable players Smith would have up front.

The group is headlined by one of the Owls’ top defensive returners in Joseph Auzenne, who was a steady part of the defensive line rotation last season and should now headline it this year. He’ll be assisted by Penn State transfer Kaleb Artis, who missed his entire redshirt junior year with an injury in State College.

However, in a limited time during his sophomore season, Artis totaled four tackles and a tackle for loss in 11 games for the Nittany Lions.

A second transfer, Deshon Dodson, could also slot into the rotation. Originally from Woodlyn, Dodson attended Neumann-Goretti, where he played under Albie Crosby and was named a first-team All-Catholic selection in his senior year (2023–24) before heading to FCS Albany for his freshman season and putting up 27 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.

After Dodson, things could go several ways depending on how deep Smith wants to go, but guys like Kevin Hornbeak, Antwaun Rogers, Troy Cunningham, and Lamar Fairfax could all see meaningful time.

Outside Linebacker
OLB1: Jamair Diaz
OLB2: David Kpeglo
Others: Brian Adderly, Adriano McLean

In contrast to defensive tackle, one of the Owls’ thinnest positions numbers-wise is outside linebacker, where the team has just four players.

Outside backer—and linebacker in general—is, however, where Temple has made its money in the past, serving as the heart of the defense.

Headlining the group could be Jamair Diaz, a Sam Houston State transfer who, in just four games for the Bearkats, recorded 14 tackles. He also recovered a fumble and returned it 43 yards against Western Kentucky while posting six tackles and a tackle for loss against Hawai‘i.

Joining Diaz is David Kpeglo, another Neumann-Goretti grad who has spent the last three seasons with the Owls after joining as a walk-on in 2023.

Kpeglo could benefit from a lack of depth at the position, with an inside track to secure the starting job, though the two players behind him could also have something to say about that.

A pair of second-year players who spent their freshman season on the bench—Adriano McLean, a Penn Wood High School product, and Brian Adderley from Glasgow High School in Delaware—will compete for snaps.

While experience may not be on his side, McLean is the only recruited player among that group, possibly giving him a stronger push during camp.

Inside Linebacker
ILB1: Curly Ordonez
ILB2: Eric Stuart
Rotational: Willy Love, Wesley Brown
Others: Jayvant Brown, Jordan Montgomery, Tyree Alualu, Reggie Jones, Cookie Desiderio, Aiden Britton

Inside linebacker may end up being the Owls’ strongest position in 2026, led by what could be the team’s best all-around player.

Curly Ordonez, entering his second year on North Broad Street after transferring from Independence Community College, was the biggest contributor on the Temple defense last season, totaling 66 tackles and producing across the board.

Opposite Ordonez is another returner in Eric Stuart, the East Palo Alto native who earned team captain honors twice last season while recording 44 tackles and serving as a consistent presence.

Below Stuart, Willy Love and Wesley Brown slot in as two players who could make a big jump in 2026 but have yet to show it. However, based on their depth roles last season, a consistent rotation spot is expected.

Jayvant Brown, Jordan Montgomery, Tyree Alualu, Reggie Jones, Cookie Desiderio, and Aiden Britton will provide additional depth and compete for larger roles through spring and fall camp.

Cornerback
CB1: Denzel Chavis
CB2: Earl Kulp
Rotational: Adrian Laing, Nakeel Lawrence
Others: Devontae Ward-Grant, Asa Locks, Jett White, Bryson Goodwin

The consensus CB3 last season, Denzel Chavis, played behind starters Ben Osueke and Castleberry while putting up impressive numbers and positioning himself well for the CB1 role.

As for Earl Kulp, the former Purdue Boilermaker appeared sparingly in his first season but is in position to compete for a starting job in 2026 after recording five tackles last year.

Adrian Laing could overtake Kulp during camp after leading the team with two interceptions despite limited playing time, while Nakeel Lawrence, a transfer from Butte Community College, was lockdown last season, not allowing a reception in conference play and earning unanimous all-conference honors.

Additional names like Devontae Ward-Grant, Asa Locks, Jett White, and Bryson Goodwin should all get opportunities to work into the rotation.

Safety
S1: Avery Powell
S2: Pooh Lawton
Others: Saboor Karriem, Orel Gray, Jack Paessler, Josiah Jackson, Kolin Dinkins, Alex Hanks, Jamarcus Pierre, Nyil Powell, James Paessler, Jaeden Gould, Ihsim Smith-Marsette, Demacio Cooper, Daron Harris

Another position stacked in numbers is safety.

The group is headlined by Avery Powell and Pooh Lawton. Powell worked his way into a starting role last year and has become the heartbeat of the defensive backfield, while Lawton progressed throughout the season and looks poised for a breakout year.

Top FBS transfers like Kolin Dinkins (Penn State), Saboor Karriem (Illinois), and Jaeden Gould (UCF) will also have strong cases for starting roles, while JUCO additions Josiah Jackson and Orel Gray cannot be ruled out.

Players like Daron Harris and Alex Hanks may be candidates to redshirt given the depth at the position.

Special Teams
K: Carl Hardin
P: Dante Atton
LS: Sam Wolfenden
Other: Darren Wu

The Owls enter 2026 with a solid special teams unit headlined by punter Dante Atton, one of only two returning players to wear a Temple TUFF single-digit jersey and the first specialist to earn the honor.

Carl Hardin should continue as the primary kicker, while Darren Wu waits in the wings after showing starting-caliber ability during his freshman season at Lafayette.

Sam Wolfenden is the only new face, transferring from UNLV. After not seeing game action as a walk-on last season, he is now expected to take over the long snapper role.

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