As the Owls took the field for their opening drive of the team’s 49-10 win against Tulane Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, something was different.
Lining up in the backfield behind junior quarterback P.J. Walker was freshman running back Ryquell Armstead—not junior Jahad Thomas, who sat out the team’s first drive due to tardiness at a team activity earlier in the week.
On the second carry of his first career start, Armstead fumbled, leading to a Tulane field goal and a 3-0 Temple deficit.
After Thomas resumed his featured role for the rest of the first half,coach Matt Rhule gave his freshman another opportunity in the third quarter.