Miami Football Game Preview: Week 4 vs. Temple

Temple's starting quarterback, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, has had a mixed performance this season. The team has found success with a freshman running back, and their safety is making an impact on defense.

Temple's starting quarterback, who happens to be the son of NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, is entering his second season as a starter. While he has shown some promise, his performance this season has been average at best. In the previous year, he threw for over 3,000 yards and scored 18 touchdowns, but also had 12 interceptions in 11 games and struggled to complete 60 percent of his passes. However, in the first three games of this season, he has managed to avoid turning the ball over against Akron and Norfolk State, leading Temple to a 2-1 start. Unfortunately, he has struggled against Power Five opponents, such as Rutgers, where he completed only 42 percent of his passes and threw two interceptions in a 36-7 loss. Despite his limitations as a pocket passer, he has demonstrated the ability to put up impressive passing numbers, including two games with over 486 passing yards, and has recorded six multi-score games in his 14 starts.

Temple has discovered a hidden talent in true freshman running back Joquez Smith, who hails from Florida and previously played for Tampa Jesuit. Although he has only played in two games so far, Smith has already emerged as the team's leading rusher with 187 yards, with the majority of those yards coming from a standout performance of 142 yards and two touchdowns in his most recent game. Despite his smaller stature, Smith possesses the traits of a powerful and agile runner, displaying exceptional vision and balance when facing contact. Temple will aim to maintain a balanced offensive approach this season, as even with a 3,000-yard passer last year, they struggled to achieve a winning record. None of their running backs surpassed 700 rushing yards last season, but Smith appears to be on track to surpass that mark in his debut season. While Miami has faced some talented running backs in previous games, Smith may prove to be among the most formidable opponents they have encountered thus far.

It is not often that a safety leads a team in tackles, but Temple's Tywan Francis is defying expectations. As a sixth-year transfer from Colorado State, Francis has seamlessly transitioned into his role with the Owls, mirroring his impressive production from the previous year, where he recorded 110 tackles in 15 games. He has been a force on the field, making impactful plays such as an interception, 1.5 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups so far this season. In the opening game against Akron, Francis secured a game-clinching interception with just two minutes remaining, showcasing his ability to make crucial plays when it matters most. He has become the defensive anchor for Temple, comparable to Kamren Kinchens, and will undoubtedly be the player to watch on the defensive side of the ball.

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