Anderson no longer at Temple

Temple will be heading into spring practice next month without its top wide receiver.

Robby Anderson, who just completed his redshirt sophomore season, is no longer with the team and no longer enrolled at Temple, a source told OwlScoop.com Thurday morning.

Temple football coach Matt Rhule confirmed that Anderson is no longer with the team or at the university but deferred comment on the specifics of the situation. Another source familiar with Anderson's situation said the wide receiver's dismissal is academic-related and not a disciplinary issue.

After not playing in Temple's first three games, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound Anderson broke out to become the team's leading receiver, catching 44 passes for 791 yards and nine touchdowns. His best game of the season - and his career - came at SMU on Oct. 26 when he caught nine passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.

Anderson, who was recruited by former Temple coach Steve Addazio out of Florida's South Plantation High School, redshirted in 2011 then played six games in 2012 at wide receiver and on special teams but didn't record a catch. He practiced at defensive back last spring and then left the team over the summer to return home to deal with what were said at the time to be personal issues.

With Anderson and Ryan Alderman (graduation) now gone as the team's top two receivers from last season, Temple will have to look to players like Jalen Fitzpatrick (38 catches, 429 yards, 3 touchdowns) and John Christopher (31 catches, 331 yards, 2 TDs), who will enter spring practice as the team's top returning receivers. The Owls are hoping to get a boost from wide receiver Sam Benjamin and tight end Romond Deloatch, both of whom redshirted due to injuries in 2013, this coming season.