On Thursday, the Temple Owls held their annual pro day, featuring 12 participants showcasing their skills in front of 19 NFL scouts, including representatives from the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, and Carolina Panthers.
The athletes who took part in the event included offensive lineman Diego Barajas, outside linebacker Charles Calhoun, cornerback Jaylen Castleberry, safety Louis Frye, long snapper Isaiah Hayse, wide receiver Kajiya Hollawayne, safety Jamere Jones, quarterback Gevani McCoy, safety Javier Morton, cornerback Ben Osueke, quarterback Evan Simon, and outside linebacker Cam”Ron Stewart.
Cam”Ron Stewart delivered a strong overall performance, particularly excelling in the 40-yard dash. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall, Stewart has been training in Tampa, Florida, with Cooper Performance. Although he has not received direct communication from any NFL teams, his agent has been in contact, and Stewart hopes to visit some teams ahead of next month”s draft. After transferring from Rutgers, where he had limited playing time, Stewart expressed gratitude for the opportunity he received at Temple, where he transitioned from defensive end to linebacker last offseason. He recorded five sacks in the previous season. “When I came to Temple, I had to give everything I had. When I did that, the sky was the limit,” Stewart stated.
Kajiya Hollawayne stood out with the longest broad jump, measuring 10.6 feet. He demonstrated his rapport with Simon during positional drills, where he served as Simon”s pass catcher. “To be honest, I got a little anxious during my first 40, but I realized it”s game day,” Hollawayne admitted. “You can”t be anxious on game day. That”s where you get your money.” Initially starting as a quarterback at UCLA in 2021, Hollawayne switched positions after transferring to Grambling before joining the Owls last offseason. He became one of the most reliable receivers, finishing with 489 receiving yards and leading the team with six receiving touchdowns.
The sidelines were filled with family members supporting Evan Simon as he showcased his abilities in front of the scouts. Simon performed well, completing the majority of his passes to Hollawayne, receiver Rameir Hardy, and tight end Ryder Kusch. While most of his throws were short, he managed a few successful deep passes, although he did have one overthrow intended for Kusch. Last season, Simon achieved career highs, throwing for 2,097 yards with 25 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He has been training in North Jersey to prepare for the draft. Having faced quarterback competition throughout his career since 2020, Simon noted, “There”s been a chip on my shoulder for about six years now, starting at Rutgers and finishing here. It”s been a very big motivator and something I thought of before almost every drill today.”
