Owls Nab First Verbal

South Jersey native Jerry Watters verbally committed to Temple on Saturday, becoming the first member of Coach Al Golden’s fourth recruiting class. Watters, a 5-11, 170-pound wide receiver/defensive back from Lindenwold, N.J., took about a week to accept a scholarship offer from the Owls.

Watters attends Camden Catholic High School, where he totaled 46 receptions for 672 yards and eight touchdowns for an 8-2 squad last season. He picked up the scholarship offer – his first from a major college program – after attending Temple’s one-day camp on the first weekend in June. Watters was also hearing from Rutgers, Syracuse, Maryland, and Iowa, among others.

“I’m known as one of the best receivers in Jersey,” Watters stated.

Prior to attending Temple’s camp, Watters participated in the 2008 U.S. Army National Combine in San Antonio, where he clocked a 4.68 time in the 40-yard dash and posted a 30.5-inch vertical leap.

By committing to the Owls on Saturday (June 14), Watters goes into the books as the earliest verbal commitment of Golden’s tenure. Last year, linebacker Geoffrey Prather verbally committed to the Owls on June 16 (exactly 52 weeks earlier). Two years ago, Temple didn’t secure any commitments until the last week of June.

The Owls held their second of five one-day camps on Saturday. If recent history is any indication, they’ll likely pick up another verbal commitment in the next few days.