EJ Warner committed to Temple (a basketball school) on Wednesday:

I was critical of Stan Drayton originally, but he continues his hot streak. Temple opened their pockets up and put together a coaching staff heavy on local guys who have success recruiting in the area. They have the highest average per recruit rating in program history, and now they add some Hall of Fame blood to the program. EJ Warner is a three-star QB who who slings it just like his dad.

From Ryan Wallen at 247Sports:

“A three-star prospect according to 247Sports, Warner played in 22 games at Brophy College Prep and finished his high school career having completed 66.4 percent of his passes totaling 3,483 yards to go along with 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for a pair of touchdowns.”

Warner was under-recruited because of a major fibula injury his junior season that sidelined him, and so teams shied away due to lack of tape:

Despite putting up successful numbers while in high school, Warner did have to overcome some adversity during his junior year. In the first quarter of the 2020 season opener, he suffered a clean break of his right fibula, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.

“It was a tough injury, but there’s definitely stuff you can take away it,” Warner said. “The love for the game can grow because it can be taken away from you at any second, so I just fought back as hard as I could to get back as fast as possible.”

Though admittedly the injury hurt his recruitment, Warner says that his dad was one of the people who provided him the inspiration to overcome not just the injury, but any setback he may face in life both on and off the field.

Could we be looking at a sequel to American Underdog?

Temple’s QB situation is up in the air right now after D’Wan Mathis left the team mid-season, put his name in the transfer portal, and then decided to re-enroll after Rod Carey was fired. Behind him there isn’t much experience on the depth chart. I just want to know what sold EJ so fast on Temple that he committed three days after his visit?

What was it that set Temple above the others?

“It felt like a family there,” Warner said. “We got to go out with some host players and all the guys just love each other, and they’re just having fun, having a good time. So kind of just that family culture that everyone has bought into to turn the program around and win some games.”

Gotta know if it was the basement of KDR that swayed his decision. Or does the hockey or rugby house still throw down like they used to? Maybe he just saw the SAC had Chic-Fil-A, Burger Fi, and a taco joint all in one place and thought “I could do this.” The spoiled ass kids of today will never understand the hard times of a half-frozen Einstein Bagel or the fake chicken and rubber rice on the Dos Manos burrito bowl. But that’s why I’m #TempleTUFF.